My head’s throbbing, and I can’t see out of one eye. “Kady, baby, are you okay?” I force out the words a little louder. Nothing on my body seems to want to work right.
“Oh thank God!”
Wherever we are, it’s dark and dry, but stuffy.
I wheeze in a breath and start cataloging my injuries.
Head. That seems to be the worst. My brain feels too big for my skull. Chest. I can’t take a breath without it hurting like a motherfucker. My hands are bound to whatever I’m sitting on. Numb. I wiggle and flex my fingers, trying to get some blood flowing. I hiss as pins and needles stab my sleeping hands. My legs ache and burn. Through my torn jeans, I get a glimpse of dried blood, dirt, and gravel. My skin’s raw as if someone went at me with a cheese grater.
Something thunks against my head and stars explode behind my eyelids. “Kady?”
“Behind you,” she whispers.
“Where are we?”
“I don’t know. I only woke up a couple minutes before you.”
“Are you hurt?”
“I hurt everywhere, but I think I’m intact.”
“Okay. Good.”
My head’s throbbing. I’m one burning ball of searing pain, but I push it aside and focus on figuring a way out of here.
“Do you see a door or window or something?”
“Yes. There’s a door in front of me. There’s a crack with a little bit of light showing through.”
“Hear anyone?”
“No.” She lowers her voice. “My ropes are loose, though. I’ve been working them against the back of my chair.”
This is a side of Kadence I’ve rarely seen. She showed me a hint of it last night hanging out at the Iron Bulls’ clubhouse. Now we’re in serious danger, and she’s calm. No hysterics. No fear while helping me plan our escape.
Ol’ lady qualities.
If anything made my dad uneasy about Kady, it was her hot temper and willful-to-the-point-of-dangerous spirit.
Not that it ever stoppedme.
ThisKadence is worth all the shit my brothers will give me when I tell them she’s getting my patch. If we make it out of here alive anyway.
“Kady, listen to me.”
She stills her movements.
“It’s gotta be Red Storm.” I hate even suggesting this next part. “Get flirty.”
“Ew, no.”
“You’ve got fantastic tits, baby. Use them to distract whoever comes down here.”
“After that spill we took, I think I look more like roadkill.”
“Impossible. You’re beautiful no matter what. Just be friendly. Pretend you don’t give a shit what happens to me.”
A soft sob escapes her, stabbing me in the heart. My girl doesn’t even want to pretend. Fuck, I wish I could kiss her.
