Oh, god!
Fear left Cassie frozen in place, her thoughts racing as she tried to come up with the best course of action. He was blocking the door, so that option was out. There was a window centered on the wall to her left, but it wasn’t the type that opened.
Phone! Get your phone and call Archer!
She slid a sideways glance toward her desk. The phone was visible from where she stood, and though it wasn’t a great plan, her gut told her it was her best shot.
The cops won’t get here in time. Call. Archer!
Feeling as if she were moving in slow motion, Cassie looked back down at the rope in the man’s hands. He was still twisting it with his fists, tightening it in a way that conjured up all kinds of horrible, terrifying images.
Move. Your. Ass!
Cassie took off in a dead sprint toward her desk. From her peripheral, she could see the man running after her. Drawing in the deepest breath she could muster, she screamed Archer’s name as loudly as she could.
Her hip smacked the edge of the desk, but she ignored the pain and reached for her phone. A leather-clad hand slammed down on top of hers before wrapping its meaty fingers around her wrist and jerking her arm away.
No!
Cassie struggled to get free, but the asshole was strong. Her wrist burned and ached as he squeezed harder. So hard, she was certain he’d snap her wrist in two.
Another ear-piercing scream left her throat burning from its efforts, and she began fighting like a wild woman against a man who clearly meant her harm.
“Let me go!” she demanded.
Of course, the man in the mask refused to comply.
From the corner of her eye, Cassie spotted something shiny. Risking a quick glance away from her attacker, she realized it was exactly what she needed to escape.
With her right arm still trapped in the man’s tight grip, she flung out her left hand toward the ornate silver letter opener that had been a gift from Russ. He’d surprised her with it the day she’d gotten word she’d passed the Bar.
Even in the midst of the fight of her life—literally—Cassie had the fleeting thought that she was damn glad she’d decided to useit for its intended purpose, rather than keep it on display as she’d initially considered.
Her left arm flailed to the side as she reached for the makeshift weapon. The tips of her fingers brushed against the decorative handle, but her attacker noticed her intent and pulled her farther away.
“No!” Cassie yelled out in denial.
Yanking on the arm still held in his painful grip, she called upon all her strength and jerked that same arm toward her. Not expecting the move, her assailant stumbled forward a step, but when she tried reaching for the opener again, Cassie discovered she was still a few inches shy of being able to grab it.
“Bitch!”
The menacing growl reached her ears half-a-second before she felt herself being spun around. Feeling disoriented from the sudden change in direction, she didn’t see the balled-up fist flying toward her face until it was too late.
Pain exploded as the man’s leather-clad knuckles slammed against the left side of her face. The powerful blow sent her flying to the floor, white, flashing stars filling her vision as she landed with a painful thud.
Nearly rendered unconscious, Cassie fought to keep her eyes open. As she lay there, struggling to recoup from the unprovoked attack, she prayed with all she had for Archer’s return.
Please come back, Archer. Please. I need you. Please come ba?—
Rough hands grabbed her shoulder and flung her onto her back. Thanks to her unfocused sight—and the hair that had fallen across her face—Cassie could no longer see the man as clearly as before.
But she could see enough.
His dark silhouette stood over her. That rope was still there, dangling from one of his hands. A moment of clarity brokethrough the fog, and she realized the trouble she was in now was real. Very,veryreal. And if Archer didn’t come back soon…
Archer.
He should have been back by now. Archer had only gone outside to look for their food. He wouldn’t have stayed away this long. Not unless something had happened. And he absolutely would’ve locked the door behind him as he left.