I had to get out.
Without a clock or window in the room, I had no concept of time, and the hours melted away.
Hawk appeared and leaned against the doorjamb. “I’m going back to the house to pick up a few things. Delgado’s men don’t seem to watch the house at this time of night. Is there anything special you want me to grab while I’m there?”
A gun?
“My underwear, some clothes, my toothbrush, my soap because I don’t like using your bar of soap, and can you bring the snacks we keep in the pantry on the third shelf? I have some special protein bars in there. And while I’m thinking about it, I need you to grab the pink box of tampons below the sink and a few razors, unless you want me looking like Sasquatch. There’s an electric razor in the bottom right drawer if you don’t trust me with sharp objects,” I said sarcastically.
Irritation bled on his face.
I spoke in a dispassionate voice, as if we were having an ordinary conversation and I wasn’t shackled to a bed. That was my plan. If I acted like a victim, he would feel empowered and begin to treat me like one. I also wanted Hawk to take longer so I could escape.
I crossed my ankles and readjusted the pillow behind my back. Hawk ran his finger across his dark mustache and lowered his voice. “Don’t make any noise. If I come back and one thing in this room is out of place, I’m going to punish you.”
He shut the door and I almost wanted to laugh. Half my brain was thinking this was still a joke. The other half I blocked out because I couldn’t deal with it. After he left, I waited several minutes before I mustered the courage to stand up.
With my left hand cuffed against the post, it meant I had to move the heavy bed with my back to it. At first, the bed wouldn’t move. But I began bumping my butt against the mattress and eventually it budged. I kept going until I’d moved it about a foot from the nightstand. I fell to my knees and swept my left leg beneath the bed again.
When my big toe touched the cord, I quickly pulled it with my heel. It didn’t come all the way out, but when I stretched my arm beneath the bed, my fingertips recognized the feel of an old phone. I peered behind the bed, but didn’t see a jack.
“Where are you?” I whispered. “Please don’t be behind the dresser.”
I wiped the dust off the phone and wondered if Hawk knew it was under there. When I pulled the nightstand away from the wall, I found the jack.
“Bingo!” I said excitedly.
I reached over and plugged it in, praying for a dial tone.
It was an old phone without a display panel. It came with a cradle, so I held down the hook and let go. My heart soared when I heard a dial tone. My fingers trembled; I had to think about this carefully. The Breed highly discouraged calling human law enforcement because of the records they kept. Despite my current situation, I could wind up in more trouble if they filed a report. Unfortunately, Shifters didn’t have a 911 equivalent.
After deliberating, I called Howlers.
“You’ve reached Howlers. This is Frank. How can I help you?”
“Frank! It’s Izzy.”
“You’re calling in now? Jake’s going to fire your—”
“Frank, I’m in trouble. Is anyone there?”
“No, Rosie’s off and we’re down to two girls. Jake’s on vacation for the week.”
Hell’s bells. My rescue was unraveling into an epic fail. “What time is it?”
“You’re kidding, right?”
“Please, Frank.”
“Just past eight.”
“Is Jericho there?”
There was a slight pause. “He was here earlier but took off with his brother.”
“Do you have his number? Or Denver’s number?” I faced the wall with the phone against my right ear.
“Why don’t you leave me your digits and if he shows up, I’ll have him call you? Look, it’s picking up in here and—”
“Don’t hang up! Just give me his number; this is an emergency.”
“All right.”
After he recited the number, I burned it into my brain and dialed with a shaky hand. “Please pick up.”
“Denver. Who’s this?”
“It’s Izzy. Please don’t hang up. I’m in trouble, and I need help.”
He chuckled. “That sounds about right. What the train wreck is going on?”
“My ex knocked me out and kidnapped me. I’m handcuffed to a bed.”
The line fell silent and his voice lowered an octave. “Say again?”
“Should I call the police? I don’t even know where I am. What do I do?” I said frantically.
“Is this a joke?”
My heart beat at a hummingbird’s pace. Hawk could come bursting through the door at any moment. “Denver, I know you hate me, and that’s fine. But I don’t deserve to be raped and killed over a grudge. Where’s Jericho? He knows what Hawk looks like. I can tell you where he lives.” I rattled off the address to his other house and described his car.