I look up at the chains again and decide the only way out is to see how these chains are attached. I have a little wiggle room with my wrists, so I hook my hands on the chain and pull myself up.
“What are you doing?” Zane asks in a desperate tone.
“Shut up,” I grit out, pulling myself up further. Putting one hand as far as it will reach in front of the other, thanking Ryder and Dex for every grueling upper body strength training they put me through, the ones that I used to cuss them for.
Zane laughs, then coughs. “There’s the Les I know and love.”
I pause. “Don’t say that.”
“Say what? That I love you? It looks like this might be the only chance I get, Beautiful.”
“Tell me when we get out,” I grunt, moving again.
He snorts, then groans. “Fuck, that hurts.”
I get closer to the top and look at the rings holding the chains to the beam, they’re at least four inches thick and soldered together. “Shit.”
“What is it?” Zane asks, and I finally look down at him. I’m about twenty feet off the ground, and he looks tiny from up here.
“I’m not going to be able to get out of these chains or break them.”
“Get down from there then,” Zane demands, and I shake my head.
“Yes, Daddy,” I mutter.
“What did you say?” he asks darkly.
“Nothing,” I say quickly, lowering myself as slowly as possible.
I get about halfway and lose my grip, sliding down the rest of the way. I grab ahold before the chain can straighten back out so it doesn’t break my wrists.
I can feel the fire burn over my shoulder and down my arm. I know I tore something in my shoulder from grabbing the chains and jerking my body to a stop. I breathe through the pain to stop the scream.
“Fuck Les. Are you okay?”
I breathe in through my nose. “Yeah,” I answer raggedly.
“Look at me, Beautiful.” I turn my eyes to him, and I see the hopelessness in them. “I love you.”
I shake my head because he’s saying it like he knows we’ll likely die here. “Please, Zane.” To be honest, I think we will too.
“I love you,” he says more forcefully. “I love you so fucking much, Les. I hate myself for doing that to you. If we get out of here, I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you.”
I swallow the tears and guilt. “I love you too.” Finally, admitting it brings a sense of relief, and I hate myself for not saying it sooner. We’re facing the unknown, and I don’t know if we’ll ever get a chance to tell each other that again. “I always have.”
The door swings open, smacking the wall with a bang. “Well, isn’t that fucking sweet.” A man drawls from behind a white skull mask. I look to my right, where he walked in, trying to place that voice. It’s muffled with the mask, but I’ve heard it somewhere.
“Who the fuck are you?” I ask, drawing up as much bravado as I could.
“You don’t remember me? What a shame. I sure as hell remember you,” he comments, ambling closer. I listen closely as he talks andstill can’t pick up from where I’ve heard him. I’ve been around too many people, and I’ve pissed off most of them.
He signals behind him, and three guys spill in wearing the same masks, heading straight toward Zane. “Can’t have you drowning in your own blood. I need you alive for the show.”
They roughly untie Zane and jerk him to his feet. Zane moves before his feet ever find purchase, head-butting the guy in front of him, then swings a mean right hook toward the other. The third guy punches Zane in the face, making his head snap back before they all grab him. “Get him the fuck out of here. Make sure he doesn’t die.” The guy, who I’m assuming is the leader barks, and they hustle Zane out, still struggling between them.
“Goddamnit! Let me go,” Zane growls, throwing his body forward and fighting their hold. He throws an elbow back, catching the guy in the face and making him grunt. The guy loosens his hold, and Zane swings the other way, hitting that guy with his elbow and then landing a solid boot on the last guy’s chest. He makes a beeline to me and slants his mouth over mine before they can grab him again, ignoring the blood on our faces. His kiss fills me with butterflies just like it used to, and I pray to whoever listens to me anymore that we can share many more.
They grab him again, and he lets them this time. A fire is burning in his eyes now, and I know Zane hasn’t given up. “I love you, Beautiful.”
“I love you too,Tesoro.”
They shove Zane out of the room, and the guy that first walked in turns back to me. “You aren’t the only one with resources,” he says and reaches up and slowly pulls his mask off.
I can’t help the gasp of shock. Of all the people, I never thought it would be him.
“Jay?”
