Page 2 of Escaped (Snowbound with a Stranger #3)

The Thick of It

Present Day

Eli

Watching Baron slip out into the dark corridor ahead of me, the sound of my racing heart boomed in my ears. It was as though all other noise had been sucked into an airless vacuum, and all that was left was the relentless rapping of the organ keeping me alive.

Boom, ta da, boom, ta da, boom, ta da, boom.

The constancy of its rhythm spurred me on, yet at the same time, it reminded me of my inherent vulnerability—that I was only one man, and without the use of my hands, I was even less capable.

Pushing the niggling self-doubt away, I inched behind Baron, offering the two motionless men left in the cell another cursory glance. Both were sprawled and still, suggesting neither of them was getting up any time soon, but paranoia lingered. What if they were only feigning unconsciousness the way I had? What if, at any moment, one of them jumped up and attacked me?

Stop it.

My jaw tightened as I mentally scolded myself. We’d got that far based on our strategy and experience, and with Baron armed with a weapon, we were going to be all right. I just wished I could say the same for Erin.

Tension knotted in my stomach as I considered what fate might have waited for her since I’d been locked away, my mind landing on the inevitable conclusion: if Hawkins had done anything to harm her, his would be the next unresponsive form.

“He said he was keeping her in his office.”

My voice was hushed as I peered anxiously around the hallway. It was currently empty, but we had no way of knowing how long it would remain that way. Hawkins was bound to have a collection of mindless goons working for him, and any of them could have been just around the corner.

Normally, that would have amounted to little more than just ‘another day in the office’ for the likes of Baron and me, but with my wrists still cuffed behind my back, the energy coursing around my system was less determination and more trepidation.

How would I cope with whatever impending onslaught awaited? Sure, I could kick out and headbutt anyone looking for trouble, but without my hands, my efficacy would be limited. The sense of impotency swelling inside me wasn’t something I was used to.

I have to find a key to unlock the cuffs. Turning toward Baron, I followed him along the wall. The sooner, the better.

“Do you know where his office is?”

Baron risked a glance in my direction, his voice as low as mine had been.

“I realize that’s a long shot, but…”

“No.”

Though, for the life of me, I wished I did.

“But my guess is it’s as far away from our cell as possible. Hawkins never did like to get his hands dirty.”

“Agreed.”

Baron turned away, his focus on the corridor ahead.

“The good news is, this gun is fully loaded. That could help us out.”

“Excellent,”

I breathed from behind him.

We could use more good news.

“Why is it so bloody hot in here?”

Stretching my neck, I wished I could open the buttons of my damn shirt, but naturally, Hawkins’ cuffs prevented that simple deed. I hadn’t noticed the absurd temperature while we’d been locked in our pen, but as soon as we’d made it to the corridor, the malaise had hit me.

“It really is.”

Blowing out a breath, Baron shook his head.

“Perhaps he keeps the heat high because the temperature outside is so low. Do you recall if it was still frozen outside when you arrived? I was bundled in so fast that I can’t remember.”

“Not really.”

I strained my mind to try and recall “I was being dragged by the neck for most of it, so the temperature wasn’t really on my mind…”

“Understood.”

Baron sighed.

“I guess we’ll cross that bridge when we find your woman and get out of here.”

Your woman.

I straightened at the way Baron made that sound. I had no way of knowing if Erin was my woman, but once we made it out of the current hell storm, I’d have loved the opportunity to explore how we both felt about the idea. Before Hawkins’ men had landed, we’d seemed on the brink of being honest with one another, but whatever burgeoning intimacy we’d been creating had been splintered by his arrival.

“The flight they brought us here on wasn’t long, though,”

I added, recollecting the uncomfortable journey.

“So, it’s possible that wherever we are, it’s still snow-laden out there.”

Shoved to the floor, bound and cuffed, the helicopter trip hadn’t been my finest hour, but it had been the last time I’d known for sure that Erin was okay. I swore I’d sensed her touch my ankle as we’d flown, and a pang of regret about her situation echoed in my chest at the memory.

“If only I hadn’t sent that message to you.”

Anxiety clawed at my chest. It wasn’t like me to suffer with remorse or self-doubt, but the more time I’d spent apart from Erin, the more obvious it was becoming that she had changed me. For the first time, I cared about someone other than myself, but with Erin in Hawkins’ hands, my growing feelings for her had become something of a weakness.

“Hawkins would never have been able to intercept it, and none of this would have happened.”

“I get why you’re saying that, Rosen, but I’m not sorry you got in touch.”

Baron shrugged.

“I’d still be tied to that damn chair without your help.”

“Yeah.”

I managed a small smile at his wry tone.

“I understand. I’m just worried about Erin…”

My voice cracked with emotion as, yet again, I attempted not to dwell on what she might have had to contend with. Hawkins was the worst kind of vermin.

“We’re going to find her.”

Baron had no way of knowing that, so as he peered around the upcoming corner, I appreciated the certainty in his tone.

“Don’t give up.”

“I’m not.”

Unable to wipe my eyes, I sniffed back the impending emotion.

“I’m just tired and—”

My excuse was halted by the sound of men laughing somewhere along the adjacent corridor. Baron darted back to join me, pressing himself against the wall as the echo of the men talking went on.

“… exactly!”

One of them was saying.

“And apparently, he had some bitch with him.”

Tuning into their dialogue, my pulse accelerated.

“A woman?”

That was a second, discernible voice.

“Of course, a woman!”

the first barked.

“Hadden said she was older than Hawkins prefers, but he’d have still given her one.”

“Where has the boss got her stashed away?”

the second idiot crooned.

“In his office.”

The first one laughed.

“Hadden says he has her tied up there.”

My jaw tightened at their obnoxious commentary, an image of Erin’s plight flooding my mind.

It was obvious the fools were talking about her.

How many other women were likely to be found in a sketchy outfit like the one Hawkins was pulling? The idea that anyone else had the audacity to bind her riled me, but fundamentally, I was more concerned about what Hawkins would do once he had her bound.

Erin would be as weary and overwrought as I was, without any of my training or experience.

How long could she last under duress?

The knot of tension in my stomach twisted as a newfound urgency washed over me.

A toad like Hawkins shouldn’t have even been touching Erin.

He had no right to bind her at all.

Fleetingly, I recognized how hypocritical it was of me to condemn another man for tying her up when that was precisely what I had done in the cabin, but I pushed the self-criticism away.

I might have overstepped the mark in those early hours together, but I’d never done anything to cause her genuine harm.

I wished I could make the same vow about the odious prick currently holding her.

As though he sensed my anger, Baron flashed me a warning glare, signaling for me to stay behind him as he edged us both back from the corner.

I didn’t love the instruction, but with no available hands to wield a weapon, I accepted that there was little I could add to the initial encounter.

It was better that I stayed out of the way.

“Let me deal with this,”

he mouthed, and, unable to offer much in the way of assistance, I begrudgingly concurred.

He would have to deal with the incoming goons—initially, at least—but once they were taken by surprise and disarmed, I had two sturdy boots waiting to wish them goodnight.

Holding my breath, my eyes fluttered closed as the noise of their banter grew louder, their words merging into meaningless noise.

The heat of the hallway was stifling, burning me up from the inside, as step by step, the noise of their boots on the hard floor grew louder.

My already parched throat dried as I edged backward, giving Baron space to deal with the brunt of the incoming fists and giving me a few precious additional seconds to assess the threat.

By the time the first of the thugs came into sight, adrenaline was coursing around my system so fast I felt as if I could rip myself free from the metal restraining my hands.

Sadly, though, despite my efforts, the feat was still unachievable.

“Hey!”

The ugly idiot’s eyes widened as he pointed at Baron.

“What the hell are you two doing here?”

“Shhh!”

Baron screeched as he brought the gun in his hand down hard on the guy’s temple. His eyes rolled back as his knees buckled, but Baron’s attention was already turned to his friend.

“It’s sleepy time.”

“What?”

As his mate sank to his knees, the second minion advanced, his hands presumably fumbling for his own weapon. That delay bought us valuable time.

“I don’t think so,”

Baron muttered, repeating the action that had knocked out the first moron and sending the second spiraling to the ground with equal efficiency. The two lay sprawled out beside one another, their heads turned to face the other as though they were sleeping lovers.

“You like a good old pistol-whipping, eh?”

Stepping around their limp bodies, I couldn’t help but grin.

Baron chuckled quietly.

“Why not? It’s effective, but quiet. I don’t want to waste bullets and alert any of their chums that we’re on our way.”

“Good thinking.”

I couldn’t have handled the situation any better myself.

“What are the chances that either of them has a bloody key to these cuffs?”

They’d been heading in the direction from the place we’d been held. Perhaps they were planning to stop in and pay us a visit.

Baron’s brows rose as though he hadn’t contemplated the idea.

“I’ll have a quick look, but we don’t want to be caught out here with their listless bodies.”

“I’ll keep an eye out while you look.”

My gaze traveled along the length of the long hallway.

We’d been fortunate to hear those two coming. We might not be so lucky next time.

“Nothing on this one,”

Baron murmured as he rolled one of the men away and searched his partner’s pockets. “Wait…”

My pulse spiked at the hope in his voice.

“What’s this?”

I watched in slow motion as Baron pulled a tiny silver key from the idiot’s front pants pocket.

“That could be it!”

Already turning and shifting in Baron’s direction, I held my breath as he tried the key for size. My focus settled on the wall while I silently prayed for his success, whilst the rest of my senses remained attuned to possible new hazards.

It was only when Baron dragged my wrists apart for the first time in what seemed like hours that I called out with relief.

“Thank fuck!”

Stretching my fingers out in front of me, I wanted to cheer. “Thanks.”

“You’ve got it.”

Glancing up from their bodies, he smirked as he tugged one of each of their hands into the cuffs and secured the metal bracelets.

“This ought to keep them busy for a few minutes when they wake up.”

I laughed at his handiwork, imagining their confusion when they roused with stonking headaches to find themselves cuffed together.

“And look what else he has.”

Yanking a handgun from the same guy’s back pocket, Baron tossed the weapon my way.

“That evens the score a little, I’d say.”

“Two of us, two guns and no cuffs...”

Running my fingertips over the black casing, I was more eager than ever to run into the creep running the operation.

“I like our chances.”