Page 85 of Deceptive Lies

“I hear being raped to death is one of the most horrific ways a woman can go,” he said, then crushed his lips to hers in a bruising kiss.

They were both breathing hard when he pulled back, although for very different reasons. While he might be turned on, she was one step away from a full-on panic attack.

“We’ll be back, Ms. Purcell. We must go and pray before we come back and enjoy your body.”

The men trailed after him as he left the room, and Willow just lay there, frozen in terror.

Cooper had to be close by, she got that he and his brothers hadn't been able to follow the van close enough that they’d be spotted, but she’d been there several minutes now, they had to be outside.

The problem was, if she waited for them to rescue her it might be too late.

She had no idea what was involved in this prayer time the professor and his men were going to engage in, but she’d seen the hunger in their eyes and knew it wasn't going to last long. They were eager to get to work violating her body, and tied up as she was, she couldn’t stop them.

Waiting wasn't an option.

She had to take charge of her own fate.

Tugging on the tape that was wrapped around her wrists and ankles, binding her to the bedposts, she tested its strength. It hadn't been wound too tight, and there was a chance she might, given enough time, be able to work herself free.

Time was the one thing she didn't have, though.

Then she spotted it.

The box cutter.

Lying just an inch away from her right hand. Her good hand.

How could they have been so stupid as to leave it right there?

Were they really that drunk on lust that they’d make such a potentially idiotic mistake?

Stretching her hand as far as she could, she ignored the pain in her muscles, something she was, thanks to the professor’s violent beatings, quite good at now. Her fingertips brushed across the box cutter, but not enough to get a hold of it.

Tears of frustration burned her eyes.

She had to do this.

Flat out.

There was no other option.

There were a thousand reasons why Cooper and his brothers hadn't stormed the house already, but whatever they were, if she just lay there and waited for them it would be too late for her. That she was certain of.

If she wanted to live, she had to fight for herself, same way she always had to.

And she did want to live.

For whatever reason Cooper wasn't already there by her side, it wasn't because he didn't want to be, that she knew for sure.

Trying again, she strained as hard as she could, pulling on the tape, and it gave just a little. Enough that her fingers were able to scoop the box cutter off the mattress and into her hand.

There was no time to enjoy her brief victory, she was still nowhere close to being free.

Sawing at the tape was awkward and the blade slipped, cutting her skin more times than she could count.

But Willow didn't give up.

She couldn’t.

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