Page 44 of Trapped (Sheppard & Sons Investigations #6)

Ashley

“ I made a special throne, just for you,” Al said as he walked in without knocking. “Want to see it?”

“I’ll pass.”

“Not an option.” He waved, and a second asshole entered the room. “Cuff her before unchaining her. Then bring her out.”

His asshole friend was none too gentle when he yanked my arms behind my back and closed the handcuffs too tight.

“Ouch.”

“Shut up or I’ll gag you again.”

The cuffs dug into my wrists, but at least my left arm felt ten pounds lighter when the steel cuff fell off. Dude pushed me out of the room so I could see my throne.

Al stood proudly behind a big, boxy, wooden chair with a metal plate on the seat.

“It’s brilliant, if I say so myself.”

“What’s that?” I asked, using my eyes to point at the plate.

“This?” He reached down and lifted it up. “This is a pressure plate. When Nathan and his friends get close, I’ll make you sit on it. If you move.” He dropped the plate with a clang. “Boom!”

I jumped at the sound, my entire body trembling as I realized what the black box under the chair contained. “It’s…” I couldn’t bring myself to say the word, but Al had no such issues.

“A bomb? Yes. So even if Nathan gets by me and my guys, he’ll blow you both up when he tries to save you.”

My knees gave out, and I landed with a thud as I sank to the floor. “No.”

“Yes.” God, I hate him. “If Nathan surrenders, and his friends don’t do anything stupid, things will be easier for you. I might even keep you around for a little while. The guys think you’ll be fun to play with.”

I dropped my head forward and cried. How foolish of me to think this could end well.

Even if Nathan killed Al and all his men, he couldn’t save me. He couldn’t save us. Al had made sure he’d get his revenge no matter what.

“Take her back to her room.”

The guy yanked me to my feet and dragged me back without a word.

The click of the thick metal cuff locking on my wrist had a finality to it that drained the fight out of me.

How do I warn Nathan and the guys at SSI?

I’d never be able to steal a phone, and it wouldn’t matter anyway. Everyone’s phone number was saved in my phone. I couldn’t even remember the last time I’d memorized a phone number.

Except Grans and Ashley’s parents, because they still had the same landline phone numbers from when we were kids. I could call them and ask them to warn Nathan and everyone at SSI.

How the hell can I steal a phone if I can’t leave the room?