Chapter 53 Collette
Sergi came into the room, beaming with excitement.
“I have the best news. One hour after breakfast you get to take on all three of my dogs!”
He peered into the cage at me. “It’ll be better than Ian Holdt, I bet. Bigger dicks. Get ready to enjoy!”
The blood I had in my face drained away. I had to get out of here. I didn’t answer him because at that moment I had no words.
“You have held onto your dignity much longer than most women. Not for any longer, though.”
He laughed. “I’m looking forward to sending the video to your boyfriend.”
The lights went off, and I sat there, shivering, unsure of what to do next.
Erin waited in her cage until he was out of earshot.
“Now that you’ve lost everything, he’ll continue to up the torture. He wants to break you once more before he finishes you off. He’ll want to be certain that you are at the end of your rope.”
“Do you think they’re really dead? Or did he just say that to make me want to abandon all hope?”
I lifted a shaky hand to wipe away tears.
How could I end it before Sergi did this?
Erin pressed something cold into my hand. Sharp metal on one end, wrapped in a twist of cloth at the other end. “Use it.”
I had never been a person who thought suicide was the way out. This was different, though. I wouldn’t be ending my life, but keeping Sergi from accomplishing his goal and making Ian watch me be violated like that.
The need to get out of Sergi’s hands was getting more urgent, but there seemed to be no way left to leave under the circumstances. And if I had to die, I could at least try to take him with me, both for revenge and to keep Ian safe.
Erin tried talking to me, but after a few times with no response, she shut down.
I couldn’t tell her what I was thinking.
The guards had just come in to do their check when I heard the sound of the dog toenails clicking on concrete. The sound sent a chill down my spine. I clenched the fingers of one hand around the cloth wrapped shiv. My ruined jeans still had enough of a pocket to conceal it.
Sergi stepped into the dimly lit room, his silhouette framed by the three dogs at his side. Their elegant forms betrayed the menace in their sharp, alert eyes.
“Well, Collette,”
Sergi said, his voice smooth and cold, underlain with a hint of sick excitement. “It’s time.”
He unlocked the cage and grabbed my arm, dragging me out. His grip slipped before I got hold of me, thanks to the rancid butter I was covered with.
I staggered, He yanked me forward a step, turning me, so we were in a parody of a hug, my back against his chest.
“Lick,”
he ordered. The dogs paced forward, panting. I tried to jerk away from him, but he had a good grip on me. As I twisted, I slid one hand into my pocket, ingring the dog licking my torso and legs.
“There’s a lot more to come, Collette.”
Sergi laughed.
Before I could respond, Erin’s voice rang out from the cell across the hall.
“You’re nothing but a pervert, Sergi!”
she shouted, slamming her hands against the cage. “Can you even get it up?”
Sergi turned his head, his icy blue gaze snapping to Erin. That split second was all I needed. I rammed the shank into this thigh, twisting it before I pulled it out. He bellowed and I used his momentary distraction to twist free of his grip.
Blood sprayed everywhere, pulsing in a fountain. I must have hit an artery.
“Attack!”
he snarled as he sank to his knees, blood pooling around him.
The first dog was nearly on me, its teeth bared—
A gunshot shattered the chaos.
The dog yelped and collapsed, and I turned to see Ian standing in the doorway, his face pale but determined.
“Get down, Collette!”
he shouted, his gun already shifting to the next target.
I dropped to the floor as the remaining two Borzoi charged him. One leapt for his arm, but he sidestepped, firing as he moved. The second latched onto his leg with terrifying speed, its powerful jaws sinking deep. Ian grunted in pain but didn’t falter, firing again.
The first dog dropped instantly, and with a final shot, the third crumpled, releasing his leg. Blood stained Ian’s pant leg as he limped forward, his breathing heavy.
“Are you okay?”
he asked, his eyes locking onto mine.
“I’m fine,”
I said, pushing myself up, though my legs trembled. “But you’re bleeding—”
“No time,”
he interrupted, his gaze flicking to Sergi. In the moments intervening, he’d tried to improvise a bandage,his shirt twisted around his thigh. He sat there, glaring at us.
“Die.”
Ian shot Sergi.
Erin clapped and stepped out of her cage. “Great, now we’ve got about three hours and it’s our best chance.”
“What the hell? If you could get out of your cage, why didn’t you?”
Ianstared at Erin, exasperated.
I smiled at how sexy he looked.
“This is Heather’s sister, Erin. She’s been helping to keep me alive.”
I knew we had to take her, even if Ian disagreed. He’d come to the realization in time that it was the right thing to do.
“Hmpf. Well, that explains a few things, but it doesn’t change the fact you could have walked out of here at any time.”
“True.”
Erin headed for the door. “We didn’t have any way to escape beyond walking and they would have found us before we got somewhere where we could get help.”
“She’s on the same side, I promise.”
I got up. Ian’s touch soothed me and calmed me instantly.
“We just need to go. Rossi and I got separated, and I want to find him and get out of here.”
“Rossi is okay?”
“He should be. Let’s get out of here, and then we can discuss all of this.”
He gave Erin an impatient look.
Carefully navigating the hallways, we made it to the outside door.
Ian put in the codes, and we were free.
It seemed way too easy, but I wasn’t going to protest because I couldn’t even if I wanted to.
Ian was alive, and here, and that was all that mattered. I was so relieved and excited I almost didn’t feel any pain.
The fresh air felt refreshing, and I suddenly had more energy. “We can pick up the pace.”
Rossi ghosted out of the building, gun up, and stopped, eyeing Erin.
“Let’s make sure that we’re long gone before they figure it out,”I said.
“Why not have her go in one direction and we’ll go the other. Then they’ll be looking for us in two different directions.”
Ian protested.
“No, she comes with us. We might not be able to save both sisters, but we need to be able to save this one. She’s the reason that the baby is alive and safe.”
I moved slowly but steadily in the direction of the trees where she said the truck was parked.
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea, but we can fight about it later.”
Ian had a strange look on his face.
We made it to the car, and Rossi helped me and Ian in. “Get in the front seat where I can keep an eye on you.”
Erin got in the front seat.