No!
Lucky refused to let his mind go there. As far as he was concerned, Ellie was alive and unharmed and waiting for him.
I’m coming, El. We’re not far, baby. I just need you to hang in there a few minutes longer. I’ve got you.
Those last three words had been promised to her before, when they’d first made love. Lucky had kept good on his promise then, and he was damn sure going to keep good on it now.
Chapter 18
Ellie sat with her back against the rough wooden boards. Her hands were tied behind her back, her ankles had been bound with the same, rough rope, and there was a nasty-tasting rag tied around her head for a gag to keep her from screaming.
Her cheek throbbed from where the masked asshole had punched her, but she barely noticed it for the sharp shards of pain slicing through her heart. All she could think about were her friends.
The last thing she remembered before being knocked out was Cassie’s screaming, crying form hovering protectively over Natalie. And Nat…God, poor Nat…
She’d been so still, and there’d been bright red blood spreading on the ground beneath her.
Please don’t let her die. Not because of me. Please!
Tears fell freely down her cheeks, the foul rag absorbing them as they hit. She’d been kidnapped by someone—she had no idea who—and at least one of her friends had been shot.
And she’d woken up here, in a boathouse, of all places. Tied, gagged, and without the first freaking clue as to why.
The why doesn’t matter, sweetheart. Not right now. You need to find a way to get yourself to safety.
As if Lucky were sitting right beside her, Ellie heard his voice as plain as day. It wasn’t his, of course. It was her own wild, frantic imagination. But there was a certain comfort in pretending it was him who’d said the encouraging words, and if hewerehere, she had no doubt, that’s exactly what he’d tell her to do.
Okay, El. Think. Look around at what you could possibly use, and think!
She took in her surroundings. A few life preservers hung from the structure’s wooden slats. Some decorative signs about lake life hung in various places. A fire extinguisher was mounted over next to the boat house’s main entrance, and there was one of those outdoor chests she assumed housed lifejackets, pool noodles, and whatever else people who own boats would use.
The fire extinguisher was promising, but with her hands and feet tied together, she’d play hell trying to get to it. Unless…
Remembering a move she’d successfully maneuvered on a dare once, Ellie began working her bound arms over the swell of her hips and butt. Her shoulders burned like mad, and she was dangerously close to pulling them straight out of their sockets, but if she could just get it a little further down, she might be able to—
There!
Her shoulders and arms relaxed as her wrists made it to the backs of her thighs. Blowing out a relieved breath, Ellie wasted no time working them down far enough to slide them up and around her feet.
Though she wanted to give herself a minute to catch her strained breath, she knew she couldn’t risk it. Instead, she frantically began tearing at the knotted rope still keep her from running to freedom.
Come on, come on, come on!
To her surprise, the rope gave way much easier than expected, and soon, Ellie’s feet were complete free of any restraints. Next came the gag, which now hung loosely around her neck. Now if she cold just get her wrists free…
She rolled to her feet and stood. With a plan in place to free her hands as soon as she could, Ellie sprinted across the woodendock toward the bright red extinguisher by the door. Even if she couldn’t get her ropes free, she’d at least have a heavy makeshift weapon to use to defend herself.
Better than nothing, I suppose.
She reached the wall, but stopped long enough to look around. Not seeing anyone else nearby, she brought her hands to her mouth and began using her teeth to get herself free.
The rope was rough, its fibers scratchy and unpleasant, but a few raw spots on her skin were mild compared to a bullet to the brain.
If the guy wanted to kill you, wouldn’t he have just shot you in the garage and left?
Her inner voice had a point, but one she’d worry about puzzling out later. For now, she continued pulling and gnawing at the tightly drawn knot as if she were a Saint Bernard and the rope was her bone.
Ellie’s heart kicked into high gear when she felt the rope begin to loosen. Just a little more pull and…