Page 42 of Rogue’s Path (Sweet Chaos #1)

Dylan

As soon as the lock clicks, I start to shimmy, lift my butt, press my body down, and then slide up over and over again until my hands are free.

The hooks on the side that he used to tie us down aren’t that far away.

Ouch. Don’t think about the pain. Being in pain is better than being dead. Keep working. My nail snaps back, and I almost scream. There’s no way I can reach the ratchet straps that he used to tighten the ropes down. That would be so much—Got it.

How long did that take? It doesn’t matter. First, find a weapon in case he comes back. A screwdriver will do nicely. I stick it in the pocket of my pajama bottoms.

Now to do the hard thing. Check to see if the other woman is alive.

You will not pass out. If you need to throw up, do it in the corner.

Go. You don’t have time to waste on your petty little drama.

Just as I get close enough to check her pulse, the woman’s chest goes up and down. It was probably doing that the whole time. I was just too stressed to see it.

The next step is to unlock the door. I’ll need some paperclips or…two tiny screwdrivers will work. They were right next to my weapon of choice. Though the crowbar in the corner might be more efficient, it looks like it would be too heavy for me to swing.

Insert the first mini screwdriver, push down gently. Then shove the next in and tap. The door unlocks, or the lock breaks; either works.

“We’re going to get out of here,” I say to reassure myself more than the sleeping woman.

The door opens less than two inches, then stops.

I peek through the gap and come up eye level with a padlock.

There’s no way I’m going to be able to pick that. My hands can’t contort enough. It’s going to need brute force.

Am I going to be able to swing that crowbar hard enough?

How didn’t I notice the hinges are on the inside?

My stalker was a fool. You don’t lock a door with the hinges on the inside if you want to trap a person.

All it takes is a couple of whacks with the crowbar on my handy-dandy screwdriver, and the door is listing on the padlock like a drunken sailor out for a night on the town.

There are just a few feet from the door to the steps that lead outside. With my weapon in hand, I slowly climb them. Is the door hanging over what is probably a tornado shelter locked?

Am I going to need to find a way to break it?

There isn’t a point to insert the crowbar. And the hinges of these things are always on the outside. I checked for a book once. If it’s locked—

The door pushes open easily.

I’m free.

Run.

Get out of here.

Run.

Get help.

But I can’t leave her.

My stalker might kill her and leave. I’ve got to get her out of here. How? I’m not strong enough to get her up those steps by myself.

If I could find a board to tie her to and something to act as a fulcrum. I might be able to get her up and out.

Do that. Then, figure out the next step.

The sound of an engine makes me freeze.

Hide.

I close the door to the shelter and run towards a tree. You can do this. You’ve fought a grown man before. You can do it again.

The engine stops just as I slide behind a big bush. The tree was too far away.

Breathe quietly.

Don’t shake or the branches will vibrate.

Remember your training. A calm mind is a strong mind.

You strike first, and you never stop.

He’s just a man. They have weaknesses.

Ears.

Eyes.

Nose.

“The cabin is empty. Search the property.”

I know that voice.

“He might have stashed her in a shed or a storm shelter. That’s where Bear—”

Bear. That’s Rogue’s voice.

He found me.

“Rogue!”

“Rogue!” I crawl out of the bush.

“Peaches? Where are you?” His voice gets closer and closer.

“I’m here. I’m here.” I run, stumbling towards him. Flinging myself into his arms. “You’re here. I knew you’d come for me.”

“I’ll always come for you.”

He scoops me up into his arms, and I fuse my lips to his, letting all the terror be replaced by love. This man came for me. He will always come for me. Rogue is my own private superhero.

“Let’s get you out of here.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“He’s coming back. We need to get her first.”

Integer strides over. “Her?”

“Down in the storm shelter, there’s a woman. He drugged her and kidnapped her so he could kill her in front of me. We need to get her out. I’ll show you.”

Rogue squeezes his arms around me. “You don’t need to go anywhere with those bare feet. Integer.”

“On it.”

Rogue carries me to the truck and sets me on a seat. “You’re bleeding.”

“They’re nothing.” I’m alive, nothing else matters.

“Your pain always matters.” He opens a compartment under the seat and pulls out a first aid kit.

“Is there anything this truck doesn’t have?”

“Not much.” He grins as he pats my fingers with antiseptic.

“Got her.” Integer walks up with the woman in his arms. “I think the drugs will wear off soon.”

Rogue looks away from the scratches on my arms to ask, “Is he coming back?”

“Yeah, I sent him to get red notebooks.”

Rogue tips his head to the side.

“Long story. I’ll tell you later.”

“You’ll tell me everything later.”

Sweet man. I lean forward and kiss his fuzzy lips again. “I love you.”

“I love you too. Integer, take them back to the hotel and keep them safe.”

What? “You aren’t coming with us?”

“No. I promised you this guy would be taken care of.”

That’s what I asked for. And I wanted. “Can’t the police do that?”

“No. Any man that hurts you like this is mine to take care of.”

There’s no talking him out of it, even if I were to pitch a fit. Rogue’s path is set.

“I’ll need a cleanup crew.”

A cleanup…oh.

“The plane landed a few minutes ago. I’ll have them on their way to you immediately.” Integer sets the woman on the backseat and starts to buckle her in.

“Maybe I should sit in the back so she isn’t scared when she wakes up.” And so I don’t spend the whole ride worrying about Rogue.

“Good idea.” Rogue lifts me up and gently places me on the backseat.

Before he can walk away, I pull him close and whisper in his ear, “Remember, you owe me a look at your tattoo.”

Rogue chuckles. “I love you too.”