“I know. I just wish—”
“I don’t want to hear it,” she snapped, sounding angry with me for the first time. I suppose I had that coming. I was determined, though. I wouldn’t fail her again. I’d get us out of here and I’d get her home safe to her boy, no matter what it took. I wasn’t just any twenty-two-year-old girl—I was a Reaper’s daughter, and Sophie was part of my family through Ruger. She was my sister and my responsibility.
I wasn’t going to let anything f**k up this escape, especially not a man.
Not even a really cute one.
• • •
We gave it an hour before making our move. I pulled out the little Leatherman multitool I’d stolen from him and picked our locks in under five minutes. Once we were both loose, we snuck over to the window to look outside.
What we saw wasn’t encouraging.
The house was in the middle of nowhere. There were scruffy shrubs all around, but nothing big enough to hide a person. The few scraggly pine trees weren’t much better. At least there weren’t a bunch of bikes parked out there—no reason to believe there was anyone besides Skid in the house. It was better than nothing.
“If he chases us, we don’t have a chance,” Sophie murmured, looking spooked.
“He won’t chase us,” I told her firmly. “Here’s what we’ll do. We’re going to sneak downstairs. We’ll figure out where he is, then you go out one side of the house and I’ll go out the other. I can see a back door from here.”
“And if he sees us?”
“Whoever he sees has to slow him down long enough for the other one to get away and find help,” I said, holding her gaze. I tried to impress my confidence on her, my belief that she could do what needed to be done. “No matter what it takes. And I’m going to be the one closest to him.”
“Why?”
“Because you have a kid. All other issues aside, Noah needs you and nobody needs me.”
That was unfortunately the truth, as much as it hurt to say it. Sure, my dad loved me, but I wasn’t a mother.
“Your family, the whole club, they all need you!” she protested.
“You know I’m right,” I said flatly, thinking of Noah’s little face. I’d only met him once, but he was a great kid. A kid who deserved a mother. I’d lost mine in high school and I’d be damned if I’d let it happen to Sophie’s boy. “Don’t even try to be noble here or something. If only one of us gets out, it’s you. Let’s not fight about it, okay?”
She nodded, still looking nervous but also more determined.
“Okay, promise me one thing,” she said. “You need to seriously try to get away. Don’t let yourself get caught or something just because you want to keep Hunter safe.”
I scowled at her. I wouldn’t do that . . . would I? No. Definitely not. I wasn’t stupid enough to throw away our safety just because some ass**le kissed me.
Oh wait—that’s what got us into this in the first place. Ugghh . . .
“Might as well go now,” I said, feeling a little deflated. “I’ll keep the knife, unless you know how to use it?”
“You mean to fight?” she asked, looking startled. I bit back a wildly inappropriate laugh. “Um, no. I didn’t take knife-fighting class in school. You can keep it.”
This time I did laugh.
• • •
We crept down the hallway together, pausing at the top of the stairs, my f**k-me heels clutched in my hand. They wouldn’t be much good for running, unfortunately. Not to mention the unholy racket they’d make on a wooden floor. At least Sophie had somewhat sensible shoes on, little fake boots with soft soles. I could hear Skid in the living room, either watching TV or playing video games. Hopefully the latter, since that would be more distracting.
“I’ll go down the stairs first,” I whispered. “Then I’ll wave you on. Be ready to go whatever direction I point you, based on where I see him. If I point back at the bedroom, go up and get yourself back into your handcuffs, okay? If I wave you on, that’s it. We’ll only get one shot, so don’t f**k it up. I’m counting on you to send help for me if I have to distract him.”
“I can do it,” she whispered back. “Let’s both get out, though, okay?”
I nodded at Sophie and started down very slowly. When I reached the bottom, I peeked around the side of the stairwell. Skid sat on the couch, facing away from us. Some sort of loud game filled a giant, flatscreen TV, the sounds of shots echoing around the room.
Perfect.
I touched Sophie’s hand. Then I pointed at myself and the front door. That was the route I’d take. I pointed at her and toward the back of the house.
She nodded tightly, her face determined.
Okay. Time to do it.
I held up three fingers and then counted down. Two. One.
Sophie slipped past me, walking quickly through the living room and into the back hallway.
Skid didn’t even pause in his shooting.
Holy shit. She’d done it. I decided to wait a few minutes before trying for the front door. Instead I studied it, and that’s when the plan started falling apart.
It had three locks, including two deadbolts.
Would I really be able to open those without making any noise? Probably not. Time to change it up . . . I’d wait a little longer and then go to the back.
But not until I was sure Sophie had a good head start.
Unfortunately, Skid turned off the video, set down the controller, and stood, stretching. Then he casually strolled over to the window and looked outside.