Page 109 of Merciless Prince

“Thank you,” I said, voice almost breaking again. “I literally owe you my life.”

Cooper glanced at the padlock on the bars. “How do I get you out of here?”

“You can’t. Killian has the key. He usually lets me out at five.”

Cooper glanced at his watch. “It’s half past three now,” he said. “Don’t worry, I’ll figure out a way to open this thing before he gets back. Just give me a few minutes.”

He turned on his heel, and my eyes widened. “Wait. Don’t leave me!”

Cooper turned around again. “It’s all right. I’ll come back,” he said in a soothing tone, patting my arm. “I promise, I’m going to take care of you. I just need you to sit tight for a few minutes, okay?”

I nodded and watched him hurry away. He returned a few minutes later with a short man in a navy blue maintenance uniform.

“My sister is in there,” he said, pointing over to me. “I need you to get the door open so we can get her out.”

The maintenance man’s brows furrowed. “Sorry, sir. I don’t have the right key for that.”

Cooper folded his arms across his chest. “Go and get it, then.”

“I think one of the owners has it right now. But I can try to get in contact with him,” the man said, fumbling in his pocket to retrieve a cell phone.

Cooper lifted a palm. “No, don’t call him. He’s probably busy, so it’ll take too long to sort out. Just find a spare key or something.”

“I don’t think there are any spares.” The maintenance man glanced at his watch. Then he looked over at me. “Your shift finishes in an hour and a half, right? Can you wait until then?”

“No, I can’t!” I said, hitting my hand on the bars. “I need to leave now!”

“Listen,” Cooper said in a low voice, laying a hand on the man’s shoulder. “I just received some terrible news about our grandfather. Shay didn’t get it because she isn’t allowed to have a phone on her while she’s working, so I came here to let her know and get her out so we can go to the hospital. That’s why we need you to open this door.”

“I’m very sorry to hear that, sir,” the maintenance man said, looking nervous. “I hope your grandfather is okay.”

“He’s not. He had a massive heart attack, and we have no idea how much time he has left. So I need you to figure out a way to get Shay out of this cell right now,” Cooper replied. “Grandpa could be dead by the time her shift is over, and then she’ll have lost her only chance to spend a few more minutes with him. Do you want that on your conscience?”

“No, of course not,” the maintenance man said. “I just don’t know how to get her out without the key.”

“Break the lock!”

“I… I could lose my job for that.”

Cooper’s nostrils flared, and he straightened his spine and shoulders, making himself appear even taller. “You do realize this isn’t arealprison cell, right?” he said, eyes narrowing. “You people have no right to keep my sister here during a real-life emergency, and the fact that you don’t have a spare key is an absolute fucking joke.”

“I know, sir. I’m sorry.”

Cooper’s jaw clenched. “Get her out of thereright now. Our grandpa isdying.”

“But—”

Before the maintenance man could get another word out, Cooper lifted a palm. “You know what? Fuck this,” he said, whipping out his cell phone. “I’m calling my friend at CBS. Once the media hears about this shit, you and your boss will have the Fair Work Commission so far up your ass that you’ll—”

“Wait! There’s no need for that,” the maintenance man cut in, head shaking vehemently. “We can work something out. Please, just give me a few minutes.”

He turned and hurried away from the cell. Cooper followed him.

The two men returned a few minutes later with a bolt cutter and used it to break the padlock and chain on the bars.

“Thank you,” Cooper said to the maintenance man as the door swung open. “You’ve been a great help.”

I hurried outside, heart pounding so fast that I thought it might leap right out of my chest. Cooper took my hand and pulled me away from the cell, toward the north end of the courtyard where the exit lay.