Jude…
I fought frantically with the ropes on my wrists—causing my gums to bleed slightly as I bit at them. I needed to get free before he returned and I didn't know how much time I had until that fated moment. Looking around frantically, I noticed a pocketknife hanging off the side of Ethan's desk and I lunged for it only to gasp when a pain shot through my side. The idiot had tied me to a post on the bottom of his sofa, and I couldn't lift it up to get myself free. Shit! Squirming, I pulled as hard as I could—cheering silently in my head as I felt the couch give way—moving with me slowly as I edged toward the desk. Just a little more….
There! I kicked the desk—hard—and watched with unadulterated glee as the knife shook vigorously from side to side before finally flying off the edge of the wood straight at my foot. I moved the appendage just in time to save it from a bad cut. Sweet Holy Mother gospel of Jesus! Like I needed to leave a parting gift for the guy or something. Working the gag out of my mouth, I leaned over and picked up the handle of the knife with my teeth—praying as hard as I could that I wouldn't cut anything that wasn't supposed to be cut as I sawed slowly at the ropes on my wrists. I was definitely going to have to remember how I did this for the next talent competition that came into my life. Cutting with my mouth. Wow! It brought to mind that whole stick your lipstick into your boob and apply it to your face bit from that movie The Breakfast Club. Classic, I know. I sighed with relief as the fibers finally tore apart on the strips he had tied around my arm, and I worked my wrists free as it loosened enough to slide off. Yes!
The rest was easy after that. All I had to do was cut the strips off my ankles before pulling out my cell phone. I bit my lip to keep from crying out as I thanked the fates that the battery wasn't dead before flipping it open and dialing frantically. The first number I tried was busy so I tried another—cursing the air as I realized Sadie was probably phoning the entire family. I needed to reach someone, and I eyed the number warily as I saw Tom's name pop into my display window. What choice did I have? I pressed the send button quickly—placing the phone up against my ear as I paced—glancing at the bolted door with ire. He had locked me in with a lock that locked from the outside, and I didn't have a key. Someone picked up the phone on the third ring as I walked over to the window hoping to find a fire escape. The only thing I saw was a neon sign flashing an announcement about erotic dancers. Where the hell was I?
"Hello?" A voice asked hesitantly and I gasped.
"Tom?" I stated on a maniacal laugh—just glad that I finally had someone—anyone on the line. I could hear him breathing heavily from the other line as he knocked over what sounded like a chair.
"Jesus Jude! Where are you?" Tommy asked loudly as I heard several people yelling in the background when they heard him say my name. I just winced.
"I don't know, Tom." I answered honestly as I walked around the room trying to look out windows that had been boarded firmly shut. Damn it! I couldn't get out of here.
"Jude…Do you see anything outside?" Tommy asked quietly as I just let my shoulders sag in defeat.
"He had me tied up, Tom, and I managed to get loose from that, but the door is locked from the outside and all of the windows are boarded up except for one that looks out over an alley. I'm about five stories up and the window's too small to climb out of." I stated on a shaky breath as Tommy groaned from the other end. A rattle at the door had me turning quickly.
"I think he's back." I whispered as I started to hang up only to hear Tommy yell.
"Don't hang up, Jude. Hide the phone—anywhere. Do you hear me? Keep me on the line and try to get clues out of the guy as to where you might be. I'm running out to my car now. Hide the phone, Jude, and keep him talking." Tommy uttered frantically as I whispered 'okay' before hiding the phone under the couch where he had had me tied up before. I stiffened as the door started to creak open. I couldn't put the restraints back on. He was going to be angry.
