Page 90 of Cruel Vows

Footsteps echo on the polished concrete floor before stairs creak and a door slams shut.

The bright lights stay on overhead as I make my way to the bars, sitting against the solid stone wall that separates me and Sean.

He clears his throat. “Everything is going to be okay.”

“You don’t really sound like you believe that, you know that?” I force a light laugh, though my stomach is rocking like a boat in the middle of a hurricane.

My heart races as I press against the bars, looking up and down the long hallway. There’s a door on either side, and though I know what waits behind one door, I don’t know what’s behind the other.

And if I have things my way, we’re never going to have to find out.

I just need them to leave the cell door unlocked.

The men I’ve seen so far are shaped more like brick houses than people. They’re not going to be able to move quickly if I start running.

All I have to do is outrun them once I get out of here.

It’s the mantra that plays through my head as I reach through the bars and around the wall between us. “Turn around and give me your wrists. I’ll get the rope off.”

Sean sighs and turns. “I don’t know how the hell we got into this mess, but I’m going to get us out of it.”

“No, you’re not.” I lean as close to him as I can, working through the knots until the rope falls away from his wrists. “They’re going to be watching you. They’re already underestimating me. If anyone is going to be able to get out of here and get help, it’s going to be me.”

“No.” His tone is sharp and firm as he reaches for my hand, taking it in his and holding it tight. “You’re not going to risk getting yourself killed.”

“You just want me to sit back and do nothing? That’s not going to happen.” I scramble back from the bars as the door at the top of the stairs squeaks open again.

The footsteps that come down this time sound the same as before, and sure enough, Jace stands in the hallway, grinning as he punches in the code to my cell, the box lighting up white before a loud click echoes.

He cracks his knuckles as he hauls open the door and walks into my cell. “Looks like you’re going to receive the first punishment of the day.”

I scramble back, forcing tears to fall as I shake my head. “Please. I don’t know why I’m here. Please don’t hurt me.”

Jace chuckles, his foot slamming into my thigh. “You’ve been marked. There’s a reason for you being here.”

Sean roars from the other cell. “You get your fucking hands off her. When I get out of here, you’re the first one I’m going to kill!”

“Promises, promises,” Jace says as he takes me by the hair, dragging me to my feet.

The scream I let out is real, though a little exaggerated. “Please let me go. You don’t have to do this. Please.”

His fist collides with the side of my face, a metallic taste filling my mouth as he drops me to the ground.

I curl in on myself, protecting my head with my hands, tight into the fetal position as he slams another kick into my ribs.

When I yelp, Sean slams into the bars in the other cell.

Jace chuckles, crouching down beside me. “It looks like your husband cares about you more than anyone thought he did. This is an interesting development. Noah is going to be so happy to know.”

I sob, trying to shift away from him as he lines up another kick to the other side of my ribs, a crunch filling the small space.

Pain radiates through my body, and I gasp, trying to draw in a deep breath. I don’t think my lung is punctured, though I’m sure my rib is cracked.

Jace smirks and strides for the door. “It’s only going to get more fun from here, Lynde bitch. You better get your rest.”

He slams the door shut, but there is no flash of green. No little beep that comes from the pad being locked.

Sean slams against the bars again. “Ellie, come here. Please. I need to know you’re alright.”

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