Page 5 of Freed

“Philip!” Erica gasps.

“I can help. Who knows what sort of security they have there.” There are some murmured words, like they’ve covered the phone with their hand before Philip comes back on. “I’ll be there in ten. Hang in there.”

“Thanks.”

I place the phone on the bed as I try to breathe. I manage to lift my head to see Chase helping Bain sit back on his ass, leaning against the wall a few feet from Juliet’s severed head.

Hunter helps Gage sit on the other side of the bed as Chase stands and looks around at the three of us. Then he turns and punches a hole in the drywall.

“Feel better?” Hunter asks and he shakes his head. His brows have been in a permanent pinch since we first went down.

“Not even slightly.” He glances at me again. “We need help.”

“Philip’s coming.”

“No,” he says, shaking his head. “We need help from someone who’s been in a facility before.”

I open my mouth to ask as another spasm of pain hits me, and I just end up groaning as I try not to stay upright.

“I’m calling Finn.”

Chapter 3

Chase

Ipace the kitchen, running my hand through my pink hair as I try to collect my thoughts.

Get to Cherry.

Kill the bad guys.

Watch for Finn and Philip.

Get to Cherry.

Grab the weapons.

Make sure Bain doesn’t fall into his own vomit.

Get to Cherry.

Check in on how Hunter’s feeling.

With the other three out, I need to take charge.

Fuck we’re screwed.

Make—

“Ah!” I scream, jumping backward when a hand lands on my shoulder. With my heart racing, I turn and see Hunter’s worried face.

“Sorry, I called your name like four times.”

“Fuck, sorry,” I say, pulling at my hair as I start to pace, and my to-do list starts to repeat again in my head.

“Chase!” I turn my eyes to Hunter, stopping mid-pace. “I said, you need to calm down a tad. It’s going to be okay.”

My arms drop to my side as I face him with a look of incredulity. “Are you kidding me? How is any of this okay?”