You had screamed through the tape on your mouth till you had no strength left. The sackcloth made your skin itch and sweat and you felt as though you couldn't breathe through it.

Please, somebody help me. You willed someone to come to your rescue. You'd been like this–cuffed to a chair for a couple hours or more. You were exhausted from fighting and trying to free yourself. Not to mention your wrists were killing you as well from the struggle you'd put up.

You'd passed out from your panic at one point, and you had no idea how long you'd been out. In fact you had no idea if you were dreaming or not as the sackcloth disappeared from your face, and a hand began patting your cheek gently to rouse you.

You opened your eyes and looked up weakly to see Max, looking scared.

He gently worked the tape off your mouth and cupped your face in his hand.

"Oh, baby, what did they do to you?" he asked, examining your wrists.

"Hon-Honestly, nothing," you replied, with a dry throat. "I did most of it to myself just trying to get free." You motioned to Austin lying on the floor beside you. "He's got the key in his pocket."

No sooner than the words were out of your mouth, then Max was searching Austin's pockets for the key. Frustrated that it was taking him so long, he gave Austin a kick to the ribs. Then he had the key and was unlocking your wrists from the chair.

"What happened to your head?" Max asked as he freed your second wrist.

"I tried headbutting Jay. His tooth hit my hairline."

Max cursed and then you were being helped to your feet, but your legs wouldn't hold you up after the trauma of what you'd been through. You sank back down toward the chair and you felt Max's strong arms instantly go around you, hold you up–then they lifted you up completely, cradling you to Max's bare chest. He began carrying you to the elevator to get back to his rental.

"I can't tell with how dark it is in here, but it looks like you may need stitches. We need to get you to the ER. Check you for a concussion while you get stitched up.

"No, Max, I'm fine," you argued. "I just want to go to bed and get some sleep."

"That's exactly why you're going to the hospital, sweetheart."

You sighed. Sometimes there was no reasoning with this man.