Page 48 of One Way Out

“Thank you,” I say, swallowing thickly as the cuffs are locked around my wrists. “Is there any way you can help?—”

“Once you make it out of here, I suggest you forget about the facility completely. Don’t talk about it. Don’t try to stir up trouble or stick your politician father on trying to get it shut down. Very powerful men keep this place in business. You want those men to forget you even exist.” McCabe drops to a crouch by my feet. He slides something small and metal into the side of my tennis shoe, and it jabs into my foot almost painfully. “If the shit hits the fan, unlock your cuffs, and get low to the ground. There’s no shame in hiding if it keeps you alive. Remember that.” He pops back up, grabs my forearm, and pulls me toward the van they’re loading Omen and Valor into.

God.

This guy is ridiculously confusing. I still don’t understand if he’s an ally or not.

* * *

The scent of my fear is heavy in the confined space of the van. They blindfolded me. It’s not as bad as a hood or bag or whatever they put on Omen and Valor, but it’s got my anxiety trying to convince me I’m dying.

I understand I’m okay for the minute, but all my anxiety can focus on is how quickly I’d be done for if this vehicle went off the road and into a body of water.

It’s irrational.

I don’t know if we’re anywhere near any lakes or oceans or rivers, but my head won’t let it go.

I replay scenarios over and over, trying to come up with a way I could save Omen and Valor if we ended up submerged in a cold river. I’d first have to go for the handcuff key and get my cuffs undone, then I’d get them out of theirs. I just have no idea how I’d deal with the guards.

There are at least three in the vehicle with us. Two up front and one on the right side of my row. I don’t think there’s anyone in the back row with Omen and Valor, so it’s probably just three.

* * *

I’m hyper and a little manic as I bounce in my seat, trying to keep from crawling out of my skin.

The vehicle comes to a stop, and the guards converse in what I think is German. A whole new set of regrets take over. I really should have studied more languages in school.

The front doors open, and it sounds like the guards slide over the seats as they push themselves from the vehicle.

“You’re going to duck your head and exit to your left,” a man’s voice says close to my right ear. My seat belt unclicks and flies back into the holder as the door to my left rolls open.

“We’ll be right behind you,” Valor says, speaking for the first time since we left the facility garage.

“Shut the fuck up! No one told you to talk,” the guard at my side growls. “You, scoot forward and twist to your left. You’re going to have a step down. Don’t miss it.”

“Slide your foot forward, once you hit air, you’ll know you need to stretch for the ground,” Omen says, completely ignoring what the guard just said.

The guard’s warmth leaves my side, and a low thumping sound fills the air, followed quickly by anoomphfrom Omen. My head whips to the right, but a hand wraps in my hair, shoving me back the other direction.

God.

I hate everyone from the facility.

They’re fucking awful.

As proved by the fact the man doesn’t even give me the chance to get my bearings before he slides his other hand under my left arm, shoving me from the vehicle with no further warning.

I pull my feet free of the floorboard and fly from the vehicle before I can right myself. The guard keeps me from face-planting by tugging my hair and holding my ribs.

I stagger into a body that shoves me back, still unable to see anything due to the blindfold. In my panic, my cuffed hands rise, and I pull them to my face, ripping the cover off before I even know what I’m doing.

“Who the fuck told you to do that?” a different male voice asks from just beside me.

The first guard releases me and climbs back into the vehicle, likely to help Omen and Valor out…if you can even call what he’s offeringassistance.

Warm hands land on my biceps, and my head whips up.

An older man with blond hair and blue eyes smiles down at me. It’s a dangerous kind of smile that has me whimpering as I try to back away.

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