Jamie survived losing his wife and almost losing Emily.
I kept trying.
The rough ropes ground away my skin. Blood trickled down my hands, mixing with sweat.
Jack didn’t give up when some monster kidnapped Meg. Neither did she.
Neither will I.
I kept twisting and pulling.
The knots in the ropes refused to budge.
Blood oozed down my hands.
Jay fought for Cate with every breath in his body.
I kept trying.
The ropes rubbed against exposed tissue.
Blood now flowed down my hands.
Matt. The man I’d done everything in my power to not fall for. I’d never get to tell him how badly I failed, how much I loved him, if I couldn’t free myself.
I released my frustration with a bloodcurdling scream aimed at the ceiling, using my anger to pull harder against the ropes.
Please, God, let them find me in time. I don’t want to die.
Chapter 40
Matt
Madi!
Her scream provided proof of life, so I doubled my efforts.
Holding my now useless left arm against my chest, I kept moving towards the double doors.
I will not quit.
I would save Madi or die trying.
“Madi!” I yelled as I got closer to the doors separating the warehouse from the office. “Hold on.” Cough. “I’m coming.”
I had to move fast. The fire above growled as it searched for more fuel.
“Madi!” I yelled, using my right shoulder to shove through the swinging doors. The jarring motion intensified the pain in my charred and blistered left arm.
The fire roared behind me.
I ignored the loud crashes, except to note that we needed to find a different way out.
“Matt?” Madi’s rough voice reached me as I ran through the door to the warehouse.
Thank God she’s alive. I prayed for the strength to ignore my injuries long enough to get Madi to safely.
“She’s alive.” I relayed over the comms. I ignored the gratitude coming through my earpiece because we weren’t out of danger yet.
