Page 56 of Trapped (Sheppard & Sons Investigations #6)
Ashley
W ith Jack and Jamie’s hands under my pee-soaked ass, and Nathan’s hands under my sweaty armpits, I wanted to die from embarrassment. Thinking about that instead of the bomb that might explode made it easier for me to stay calm-ish as Nathan counted.
When he reached three, I squeezed my eyes shut. He yanked me off the chair, and the next thing I knew, he was crushing me, his arms wrapped around my head.
I held my breath and waited. No explosion.
There was a lot of thudding and grunting, then Jamie said, “Tie him so he doesn’t fall off.”
“On it,” someone answered. It must be Nathan’s friend, because I didn’t recognize the voice.
I’m alive . We were all alive. I no longer cared about the tears flowing freely down the sides of my face or my pee-stained pants.
When Nathan finally got off me, my lungs moved a little easier. He sat back on his heels, my legs trapped between his.
“Flirty is safe. Bomb is secure,” Jack said. He and Jamie hugged me as soon as Nathan released me from his bone-crushing hug.
I ignored my shaking legs and weak knees and acted like I didn’t need them to hold me upright.
“Thank you,” I said, sounding more like a maniac than a damsel in distress.
“You didn’t think we’d leave you here, did you?” Jack asked.
“No, but I was terrified you’d all die trying to save me and I’d starve to death in a chair full of piss and even the raccoons wouldn’t want to eat me,” I babbled.
Nathan pulled me back into his chest, his arm around my back supporting me. “Never gonna let that happen.”
“Let’s move,” Jamie said. He and Jack climbed out the window first.
Nathan’s friend picked up Havoc, who had a bandage around his front leg, and handed him out the window before jumping out.
“Is the dog okay?” I asked, more tears falling at the thought of Assfucker hurting an innocent puppy.
“Havoc will be fine. It’s just a scratch.” He wiped tears off my face. “Let’s get you out of here.”
Nathan picked me up like I weighed nothing before handing me out the window, where Jack caught me. He held me until Nathan landed on the ground beside us.
Doug was the last one out.
Nathan picked me up again as soon as Doug’s feet hit the ground.
“I can walk.” I argued. At least I think I can . My legs still felt a little wobbly.
“Please? Let me do this,” Nathan begged.
I was ready to argue, but I turned and saw Al. My legs turned to jelly. If it hadn’t been for Nathan scooping me up, I would’ve landed on the ground in a heap of trembling Ashley.
“Thanks,” I whispered as I wrapped my arms around his neck. I lifted both hands off Nathan’s shoulder and flipped the assfucker who tried to kill us two birds.
When a gun went off in front of the cabin, I flinched.
Nathan crushed the air out of my lungs when he folded me in half, holding me tight to his chest.