Page 101 of Extracted

Angst pressed against her temples. Now was her chance. She peeled the tape from her lips. Her body wanted to get up and run, but there was only one way out—through the door Ash had exited.

She couldn’t attack with her hands bound. She could run, but if he caught her, she’d be defenseless. Bringing her front teeth down to the tape, she bit into the material. The sickly sweet taste of glue touched her tongue as she pulled on the edge.

C’mon, dammit.

She had a minute or two tops.

The tape split the tiniest amount. Yes! She grabbed one edge and pulled harder, separating her wrists at the same time. It tore more. Chomping into the tape again, she pulled her head back and pushed her hands downward. The last of the tape snapped.

Relief choked the back of her throat as she yanked off the tape and stood. She dove for her purse a few paces away on the workbench. Her hands shook violently as she opened the bag and grabbed the gun—to hell with being quiet this time.

She’d rather get shot than burn alive.

Her phone slipped out of the bag. She shoved it back in her purse and slung the bag over her shoulder. She also couldn’t leave without her phone. If she had to run, she needed to call Dallas.

“Yeah, just take the road out by the lake.” Ash’s voice grew louder. “House number 1103.”

He was coming back. She forced down a dry swallow. She was still shaky, and her heels sure didn’t help. This time she’d ditch them. She needed all the speed she could get.

Kicking her feet out of her shoes, she stayed near the workbench. When Ash opened the door, he wouldn’t see her immediately.

Her finger twitched on the trigger. Ash didn’t seem as bad as the rest of them, but if she didn’t kill him, she risked a horrific death.

The door swung open. “All right, bye.” Ash stepped over the threshold and froze, facing the chair she’d escaped from. “What the—”

“Don’t move.” The words came out on a wave of uncertainty. Emotion drew the sides of her throat together.

Ash whirled toward her. He lifted his hands near his head. “Hey, I’ve got nothing to do with this.”

“You brought me here. You have everything to do with this.” The chill in her voice frosted her tongue.

Ash pressed his lips together. “If you’re going to run, you’d better hurry. I went to the house and they’re stitching up Silas’s bullet wound now. You don’t have long.”

Indecision warred inside her. She flicked the gun toward the chair. “Sit.”

He did as she instructed. She scanned the room. She wasn’t stupid enough to try tying him up. She’d have to get too close. She either had to make a run for it or shoot—

“Go.” His tone was firm. “I won’t be able to hold them back long. I’ll have to tell them you fled or they’ll kill me. But if you run now, I can give you a two-minute head start.” The earnest look in his brown eyes made her lower the weapon.

He could have tried to fight her or screamed for help, but he hadn’t. “Okay.” She backed up toward the door. “Thank you,” she said softly.

“Be fast.”

She turned away and dashed for the doorway. The warm outside air surrounded her and—

Smack

Her face connected with a thick chest. The scent of cigarettes and French fries engulfed her.

A hard set of arms enclosed her. She let out a scream as the gun and purse were wrestled from her fingers and shoulder. A laugh boomed out. “Looks like she was going to escape.”

Silas stepped out from behind his guard. He kept his hand on his waist, but a smirk danced on his lips. The light from the garage shined on his face. His normally tanned skin was a pasty white.

Then Silas’s smile fell. “Where the fuck is Ash? Take her inside.”

The man holding her loosened his arms and spun her in the opposite direction. “Walk.” His fingers pressed between her shoulder blades, shoving.

Her feet resisted.

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