Page 58 of Second Chance Serenity

“Rights that became invalid the moment Homeland Security was threatened.”

“Homeland Security?” I ask, brow furrowing. “You’re wrong. Whatever it is you think you know, it’s wrong.”

“I don’t think it is.”

“I do.” I slam both palms on the table. “And I’m not telling you anything until you let me see Michael.”

Asher glares up at me, then stands, though he leaves the folder on the table. “Maybe some more time in here alone will help. I tell you what, though, how about I go let Mr. Anderson know you’re asking about him. He and I have already had one great conversation this morning.” The way he says it makes my skin crawl.

He starts toward the door. I have mere seconds to act, so I quietly lift the chair and sprint over toward him, reaching him right as he turns the doorknob.

“Fine,” I say quickly. “Maybe I do know something that can help.”

“I thought—” He turns, and I slam the chair into his face. He stumbles back, so I hit him again and again, using every ounce of strength I have to take him to the ground. As soon as he’s still, I rip his firearm free, grabbing the cell phone, a set of keys, and his wallet, then I kick off my heels so I can keep my movements quiet, before I slip out the door. After checking to make sure the door is locked behind me, I head down the sterile hallway, firearm cocked and at the ready.

I’ve not used guns much in my adult life, but Michael and I used to go to the range with his dad nearly every summer, so I keep that training in mind as I creep down the hall, checking every door I pass.

There are no cameras in the hall.

No guards roaming around.

It all feels very—odd.

I reach a door that locks from the outside just like the one to the room I’d been in, so I unlock it and pull it open. A man is practically dangling from the ceiling, his arms chained above his head. His feet barely touch the ground, and his head is hung low. He has no shirt on, and the muscles of his back are strained, his skin coated in a mixture of dirt and dried blood.

Michael.

My heart pounds as I use Asher’s wallet to prop the door open and rush forward, moving around to the front of him. His shoulder has been bandaged, though blood has already started staining the white gauze, and his chest is covered in both fresh and dried blood.

It drips down his face from a cut along his strong cheekbone and is splattered on the floor beneath him.

I’m horrified at what must have been done to him, but even as I want to tend to every injury, I know there’s no time.

“Michael?” I whisper as I reach out to touch him. He looks up at me, and relief pushes past my fear—momentarily. Both eyes are bloodshot, his lip is bleeding, and there’s that cut along his cheekbone.

But he’s alive. And if we’re together, I know we can make it out of this. Thank you, God.

“Reyna. What are you doing here?” He chokes the words out, as if speaking causes him pain.

I set the gun and phone down on the table, then rush over with the set of keys. “I hit someone named Asher with a chair and stole his keys.”

He grins, but it falls quickly. “You are amazing, do you know that?”

“Yeah. I know.” I drag one of the folding chairs over and stand on it so I can reach up and get to his locks. Fumbling with the keys, I find one that fits the locks binding his wrists and unlock them. The moment I do, Michael falls to the ground.

He crouches low, catching his breath, and I jump down to help him to his feet.

“You need to go,” he tells me. “Get out. Use that cell to call Lance.”

“I’m not leaving you,” I tell him.

“Reyna, I can barely walk.”

“Then you need me to help you.” I wrap his good arm over my shoulders and stand, biting back my own pain from my soreness after the accident, as I help him to his feet. Then I retrieve the gun and cell phone from the table and start toward the door.

It takes all of my energy to keep Michael on his feet, as well as ensuring we both keep moving forward.

He’s wheezing, each breath strained, and my fear for him grows. Please, God. Please. I don’t even have the words to continue pleading, so I focus on pushing my fear down once more. We can do this because we have God. He will see us through it.

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