Definitely no more talking.
Chapter11
Freya
“You gotta be kidding me,”I growled and rattled the cuffs that tied me to the bathroom rail.
Gunner held up his hands. “We need food that doesn’t come out of a can. And I need to go hunt it. But I won’t be able to concentrate when I know you’ll be at the cabin, plotting your escape.”
I thought we’d been getting along just fine up until this moment. But he’d seemed antsy all day, and now I knew why.
I gave him my best toothy smile. “Why ever would you say something like that? I thought we agreed to turn over a new leaf. Start anew. Give each other a second chance.”
“That’s one scary smile,” he said, winking at me. “I can’t take you with me. You’re like an angry bear stomping through the woods. I’d never catch anything. But don’t worry, I’ll be back in a few hours. Four tops.”
“Four hours?” I shrieked. “Are you insane? You can’t cuff me to the towel rack forfourhours.”
He frowned as if he didn’t understand why I was upset. “You have water, access to the toilet, and I left you a few snacks. You’ll be fine.”
“Forget the new start. This right here means war,” I said and rattled the cuffs.
“That’s my cue to get out of here.” And he left without a backward glance or remorse in his eyes.
Unbelievable.I really thought our shaky truce was going well. Until he got the handcuffs out again.
I’d already been moody after being stuck at the cabin for the past few days with the one person I vowed to avoid for the rest of my life. Turned out staying in the middle of the woods was as unexciting as washing your hair.
Not even Killer wanted to play with me, preferring to sit on Gunner’s lap. But it was worth it just to see the look on his face. So far, he’d made no attempt to remove my bunny whenever he hopped up.
I’d even caught him petting him a few times, but he’d stopped as soon as he noticed me watching.
I wasn’t good at sitting around and doing nothing. And the fact that I’d left without telling any of my clients what was going on made matters worse. I hoped I still had a business when I got back. I’d worked so damn hard to get to where I was, and it could all be gone. The thought made me nauseous.
Gunner had been receiving regular updates from Carter, but they hadn’t made any progress on finding the Irish or figuring out how to get them to back off.
I’d been busy planning a disgusting dinner that included baked beans, asparagus, and beetroot when I was rudely interrupted by Gunner dragging me into the bathroom and once again cuffing me. If I hadn’t hated vegetables before our little cabin getaway, I’d surely hate them by now. A real meal did sound heavenly, but not if it meant I had to be handcuffed again.
I rattled the towel rack until my arms turned into limp noodles. With nothing else to do, I slumped against the wall and worked on a new escape plan.
I grudgingly admitted that Gunner was great at his job. He really did have every corner of the cabin covered. Escaping was also a lot harder when you were stuck in the same room as your captor ninety percent of the time.
Guess it was poetic justice that he’d locked me in the bathroom, since last time it had been the other way around. But since he wasn’t watching me this time, I had time to get out of the cuffs.
As long as I had something pin-like to use, I’d be able to unlock them. And a bathroom would be the perfect place to find something to get me out of them.
At least that’s what I thought until I realized how much Gunner really thought of everything.
My search revealed a toothpick that broke off as soon as I twisted it in the lock and tweezers that were too big to fit. Since the bathroom was bare except for our toothbrushes and toothpaste and my cream, there was nothing else I could try.
I took up my position against the wall again, glaring at the floor.
* * *
The sound of the front door closing ripped me out of my thoughts two hours later.
“Honey, I’m home,” a deep, familiar voice called out before a grinning Gunner appeared in the doorway to the bathroom.
I didn’t respond, trying for more passive-aggressive silence instead. Not that it had ever worked in the past.
