The Boot (Book 1)

Chapter Thirteen

JOHN

I don't know how long it's been. A few days? A week? It's been long enough that time has begun to lose all meaning to me. I hope that Bailey and the baby got away safely. That was my one goal, to ensure that they would be safe. I may have put myself in harms way, but it was all worth it if it meant that they are safe.

The door opens, allowing the slightest sliver of light to enter before closing once again, covering the room in darkness. Footsteps get louder as my captor approaches.

"Lunch time," he says. I hear a match get lit, the small flame hardly lighting the area around it. He uses the match to light a nearby candle, and the room is now illuminated by its soft glow. I look up through my eyelashes at him, my eyes narrowed in hatrid.

Every day, three times a day, he has given me the bare minimum. Oatmeal for breakfast, ramen for lunch and dinner. One glass of water per meal. Like I said, the bare minimum for survival.

"I can tell that you're getting sick of your meals."

"Can you blame me? I've eaten the same thing, every single day, with no variation whatsoever. For... I don't even know how long!"

"You could tell me where your girl went with my son. Then, I'll let you go."

I laugh mockingly. "You aren't going to let me go. Even you aren't that stupid. Besides, even if I wanted to tell you where they are, which I don't for the record, I can't."

"Why the hell not?" Alejandro asks in frustration.

"Because I don't know where they are. I've been trying to tell you that this entire time!"

"Why should I believe you?"

"I can't make you believe me. I guess that if you can't trust me, then that's on you."

"Sir," a voice says over the intercom.

"Damnit," Alejandro huffs under his breath. "What do you want, Raymond?"

"Our guys think that they might have found them."

Oh no.

A beat. "Where?"

"First street, near Papi's Donuts."

My eyes go wide as I try to mask my surprise. To anyone else, that may just sound like some random place. But it's not. In fact, it doesn't even exist. It's a code word. This is a setup. They've finally found me.

Somehow, it fools Alejandro, who mutters a curse before leaving the room. Once I'm sure that the coast is clear, I start planning my escape. That's when I notice the fatal mistake that Alejandro has made. I've been held captive with ropes, and Alejandro left the candle lit. This is my chance to escape.

I move my arms so that the rope around my wrists is directly over the flame. Soon enough, it catches on fire, and I don't have to wait too long for it to burn through the rope. The only problem is that I'm not able to put it out quick enough, so unfortunately it did burn some of my skin. It hurt like hell, but I could worry about that later. There were much more pressing matters at hand.

I go to the door, but it's locked. Shit. What now? Answering my unasked question, I hear something clatter behind me. I turn around and see that the air vent has been opened. I glance up at it and see Celina. "Come on!" she hisses in a whisper.

"What-"

"Do you want to ask questions or do you want to get out of here?"

"Right, sorry!" I lean down to untie my ankles and then finally the rope on my waist that was keeping me stuck to the chair.