Page 72 of Rescuing Tobias

“Know what?” Tobias asked, attempting to keep his voice as gentle as possible even though he was every bit as anxious as Trinity apparently was to try to find the place she’d run from this morning.

“That I'm not there anymore. That Isabella helped me escape. And they know,” she added, fear making her voice tremble.

“Know what?” he asked again.

“About the baby. That she’s pregnant.” Trinity’s scared eyes met his, and he knew she understood exactly what that meant for Isabella.

“Were they keeping her as a patient? Like you?” Bubba asked when Tobias couldn’t seem to make his voice work.

“No. She was one of the nurses. At first, I thought she was one of them but then she showed me the shock collar, told me that they’d held her captive before, but she was rescued. Then she told me that they knew about her baby.”

If they were still using her as a nurse but also knew about the baby, he suspected they were going to use threats to keep her in line. But Isabella would know that the baby was worth a small fortune, so even though they might threaten her with causing a miscarriage, they wouldn't really want to do that.

Which was obviously what Isabella had been counting on.

“How did you get out?” Gumby asked.

“Isabella untied the leather straps and told me to pretend I was still unconscious. Then she went out into the hall, crying that she was going to be sick. She threw up, must have been on one of the guys because I heard him yelling at her.”

The ghost of a smile curled up Trinity’s lips, and Tobias felt himself smiling too. That sounded like his girl, he would bet anything she did that on purpose.

“Somehow, she got them all out of the hall because it went quiet, and when I got out of bed and peeked out there was no one about. I didn't waste any time, I ran for the door and outside. Isabella said there might be vehicles I could use, but I was worried they’d hear me so I went on foot. There was a road, like a long driveway or something, but I knew they’d realize I was gone and assume I went that way, so I didn't. I went the opposite way, deeper into the woods. I thought it would take me forever to find a road, but it didn't. I did exactly as Isabella said, I waved down the first car I saw, insisted he call the cops, and that they call you.”

“You did great, Trinity,” he assured the woman.

“Did I do enough? Is it too late for her? For all of them? Isabella said when they realized I was gone they might just kill the others and cut their losses. Or she said they might move everyone somewhere else. I ran as fast as I could, but it’s already been hours since I left.” Trinity was sounding more anxious by the second, and Tobias couldn’t blame her.

Either of those scenarios were genuine possibilities.

“I wanted to leave a trail, to show you the way back,” Trinity continued. “But I didn't want it to lead them to me so I didn't. I can find my way back, though. I have a great sense of direction, I can lead you back there.”

Reaching out, Tobias let his hand hover above the woman’s for a moment, giving her a chance to pull away if she wanted to. When she didn't, he gently placed his on top of hers. “You did your part. You gave them all a chance. For that I can never thank you enough. But now it’s our turn to do what we know how to do.”

With a vague location, all they had to do was send out a few drones, get the exact location and any other intel they could, like the number of people who were there, and then they’d swoop in and hopefully save the day. Didn't matter that his back still ached and his movements were stiffer and clumsier than he would have liked. There was no way he wasn't going in with Rocco’s team when they raided the building.

Hold on, little firecracker, I'm coming for you.

April 27th

4:53 P.M.

As she satin the corner of the dark room, her arms twisted painfully behind her back and pinned in place with plastic zip ties binding her wrists together, Isabella prayed that her plan had worked.

Given she’d been on her feet many more hours than she should have been since she was both pregnant and recovering from a concussion, throwing up when she staggered out into the hall hadn't been a stretch. In fact, it had been far too easy.

Aiming for the closest guard, she’d managed to spray him and the two others as well, meaning that although they’d been angry with her, slapped her around a little, they’d also all wanted to go and wash up and change clothes.

Which meant Trinity had the perfect opportunity to escape.

The three guards had handed her off to a fourth so they could go and clean up, and that man had dragged her into a bathroom, shoved her into a stall, and drenched her with cold water to wash away the vomit. Even as she’d cowered on the floor shivering incessantly, she’d been thrilled.

Because her plan had worked.

At least she’d assumed it had.

But it wasn't until an hour or so later, after she’d been left in her wet clothes and put back in the shared dormitory that she knew for certain that it had.

Two rage-filled guards had flung open the door and come right for her. One had backhanded her, the blow strong enough to fling her off the bed she’d been huddled on at the time. The other had pressed his remote, activating her shock collar.

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