Page 79 of Before and After

I switched to trying to pull my blindfold off. I did some pretty impressive acrobatics, rubbing my face against my shoulder. They’d tied it tightly and it was digging into the side of my head. I had no idea where my kidnappers were, or if they were coming back. I wasn’t planning to wait around.

The blindfold slipped down around my neck.

“Yes.” I blinked, glancing around. It was dark, but there was a faint light coming through some windows at the front of the building.

I was in a huge, empty warehouse.

Pressing my tied hands to my stomach, I took a quick stock of the situation. I was alive. I wasn’t badly hurt. I was alone.

And I was damn well getting out of here.

I pushed to my feet, shivering. It was so cold.

I hurried to the front of the building, my footsteps echoing. The place looked like it had been abandoned for a while. The dust was thick on the scarred floor and there wasn’t anything around. I peered out the dirty windows. There were several other warehouse buildings nearby, but no cars or people. It took me a moment, but I figured out where I was. It was a small industrial area just outside of Windward.

Okay, Allie. Get out. Flag down a car, and call for help.

Suddenly, I heard the sound of an engine and the crunch of tires on gravel. I ducked down, as lights flickered across the warehouse.

Oh, God. Had my abductors come back?

Gut churning, I tried to make a plan.Get outside and hide. That was the best I had.

I heard the low murmur of deep voices.Shit. It had to be my captors.

Hunching over, I darted across the front of the warehouse, then paused with my back pressed to the wall. The handle on the door rattled, the sound echoing through the warehouse.

My pulse went crazy.

Then I heard muffled voices out front. “I’ll head around the back.” It was a man’s voice I didn’t recognize.

Crap. I darted along the wall, away from the voices. I needed another way out.

I paused again. Were those footsteps? I bit my lip, my fingers numb from the cold. I reached another window and peered through it. All I saw was darkness and dancing shadows.

But as I stood there, the huge bulk of a man emerged from the darkness. I sucked in a breath and stumbled backward.

Oh, hell. He was looking around, then his attention centered on me through the glass.

Run, Allie.

He stepped closer and our gazes met.

Caden.

As I sucked in a breath, relief crashed through me. I watched numerous emotions cross his face.

Then he took several steps back, and suddenly ran toward me.

My mouth dropped open. As I watched, he lowered his shoulder and leaped through the window.

Glass shattered. I watched him roll across the concrete floor, then come up to his feet. My heart fluttered.

He’d come for me. Like some sort of superhero or a super-spy.

“Allie.” He closed the distance between us.

I’d been doing okay up until now, riding my wave of fear and anger.