Page 54 of Lyon

“The ex-boyfriend has an apartment on the outskirts of the city,” Sherry said. “I only went there once—when he drugged me.” She shuddered. “If I’d seen his place before, I would’ve dropped him like a hot potato.”

I clenched my fists. “We need to get out before they sell us.Listen to me—when they try to take you, you have to fight.If they sell you, it only gets worse.”

One of the women hesitated. “What if we don’t know how to fight?”

I gave a grim smile. “Then yougrab him by the ballsand squeeze like your life depends on it. Because itdoes, don’t let go. That’ll bring him to his knees. Then youkickhim and run like hell.”

They all nodded.

Then silence fell.

I closed my eyes, but Lyon’s face filled my mind. His blue eyes. The way he looked at me—except now he didn’t even know who I was.

God, ithurt.

I felt a single tear slip down my cheek.

The women would think it was because of our situation.

They didn’t know it was because myfiancé had forgotten me.

The more I thought about it, the angrier I became.

It’s not his fault. At least he’s alive. That’s all that matters.

Now, I had to get out of here.

They had my left wrist zip-tied to a metal ring on the floor and my right handcuffed to a ring in the wall.

I studied the cuff.

It was a cheap one—something you’d buy on the internet.Idiots.

I twisted my hand. Pain flared up my arm—a reminder that my casts had only recently come off.

One more twist—

Snap.

I was free.

The others followed my lead, working at their cuffs. Jada was the first to break hers. One by one, the others slipped free.

The zip ties would be harder.

“Someone’s coming!” Jada hissed. “Put your hands back in the cuffs—now!”

A man stepped in.

“I’m giving you water. Don’t try anything.”

He held out a cup to our lips, and we drank.

Next time,I vowed.Next time, you die.

The next timeI woke up, we were on a boat.

24

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