Autumn glanced out the door to see if Elijah was back, then rushed to the open bag. There were multiple knives, a couple of scalpels, and some other items she couldn’t identify. They were like instruments Fox used all those years ago. She didn’t know where Elijah got these, but she would not dwell on them either. Finally, she found a pair of surgical scissors and took one of the larger knives.
“You should have just left me here. You didn’t need to play martyr, y’know?”
Autumn’s eyebrows lowered. “And let him slice and dice you? I don’t think so, my friend.” She brought the scissors up. “I’m going to cut the rope around your neck first. Don’t move.” At Reagan’s slow blink, Autumn carefully inserted the scissors beneath the rope and cut until it finally gave way. She unwrapped it around Reagan’s neck and pushed it to the floor.
Reagan coughed when it came loose and opened her jaw, extending it then turning her head back and forth. “I didn’t think it would ever come loose.” She watched Autumn, who had her brows furrowed, “What’s wrong?”
“I’m trying to figure out if I have enough time to loosen your hands or legs before he comes back.”
“Just go, it will be better for you.”
Autumn got in Reagan’s face, “You think I rode in a damn taxi just to hear you say this shit to me?” She shook her head, “Over my dead body.”
Reagan pursed her lips, but a glint lit in her eyes, “Mr. Scala put a pep in your step, didn’t he?” Autumn didn’t answer but she felt heat fill her cheeks. Reagan chuckled but it got caught in a coughing episode. “I think he’s just what you needed.” She nodded down, “Since your sudden reckless nature is saying to save me, get my hands first. It’ll be easier.”
“Okay…”
Autumn glanced down at the wicked-looking knife in her hand. She didn’t know if this was going to work, but she was going to do her damnedest. She brought the blade to Reagan’s wrist and could cut through the twine of the rope. When she finally got it loose enough, she cut around it with the scissors, and finally, Reagan could pull her arms apart.
“Oh, thank God,” she breathed out.
Reagan rubbed the abrasive red marks on her wrists, “I’m pretty sure I was close to losing circulation being like this for at least ten hours.”
Autumn crouched down and reached for the knife as a laugh escaped her lips. She shook her head as she quickly set about working on the gnarled rope.
“What’s so funny?” Reagan choked out.
“Nothing actually,” Autumn stated as she manically sawed through the rope. She was going to keep this knife, she thought, working it through the binding. If she got the chance, Autumn was going to mark Elijah before she gave him to the authorities.
“Then…?”
“He’s been watching me and those I interact with daily. He’d planned on taking someone I cared about from the very beginning.”
“Aww, I’m touched.”
The sarcasm came through loud and clear, which made Autumn’s lips curve up slightly. “Yeah, well, I’m as warm as a teddy bear,” she retorted.
“Don’t beat yourself up, Autumn. We care about you.”
Autumn didn’t respond as she worked. This one was more difficult, but she finally got the knots out and unraveled the rope. Again, Reagan had those marks on her ankles, similar to her wrists. She tucked the knife behind her back and stood. “Can you stand?”
“Let’s see,” Reagan murmured. She slid off the table and took a step. Autumn noticed her legs were shaking and when she took another step, she nearly fell. “Apparently not,” she grunted.
“Here, let me help,” Autumn wrapped her arm around Reagan’s waist.
“Going somewhere, girls?” Autumn turned rigid. She looked up to see Elijah’s eyes were a brilliant green color. The drooping eye was even more pronounced in his excitement. “I brought a gift, just for you, Autumn.”
It wasn’t until she looked down to see Elijah holding a knife to Nico’s neck. The blade cut into his skin. Nico’s eyes met hers. There was no remorse for the psychopath catching him. In those cerulean depths, she saw something else.
And then his lips moved.
Trust me.
Chapter 23
Minutes Earlier...
Nicoandhispossewalked inside the unusually warm house. He spotted the reason right away.
