Seeing Danger (Sinclair and Raven #2)(53)

“There's no call for you to speak to me like that!”

“Oh sorry, were the words to big for you to understand?” Lilly cooed. “I meant that you're ugly.”

She watched his face puff up and turn as red as Mr. Davey's nose on a chilly winter's day. Lilly wondered why she was antagonizing the man when she was alone, bound hand and foot, and totally at his mercy.

“I have ladies!”

A man's ego was so fragile, Lilly thought, looking him over slowly and hoping he couldn't hear the thudding of her heart.

“Come now, sir, we both know the women who spend time with you could not be termed ladies, even loosely.” She was pleased with her words, even if they were high-pitched and squeaky.

“My Rosetta is a lady!”

“I need you out here, Joe!” The words came from somewhere beyond the door.

“I ain't untying your hands now.”

With a final glare at Lilly, the man dropped the tray at her feet, taking the lamp with him as he left the room. As the door clicked shut, Lilly was once again plunged into darkness.

Slumping to the ground, she pulled up her knees. How would she ever escape from here? The food smelled bad and she had no intention of putting any of it into her mouth; the way she was feeling it would just come out again anyway. She felt the sting of tears begin to slowly fall down her cheeks and was angry for the weakness. Tears achieved nothing but a sore head and tired eyes, yet still they came. Lying on her side, Lilly gave up the battle, letting them flow in the hopes that exhaustion would help her sleep and, let her escape the darkness.





CHAPTER SEVENTEEN


Dev, with Cam on his heels, made it through the warehouse undetected and up to the second floor. He had seen the colors of several men grouped together in a small room downstairs, but had managed to keep away from there. Passing the door that he knew Lilly sat behind, he noted the lock was large and secure and the door made of sturdy wood. He had nothing to break it, and even if he did, it would alert someone that he was there.

Moving past, he did not tell Lilly he was near, but kept walking to a small door at the end of the hallway. Opening it, he found a balcony.

“You stay here,” he whispered to Cam, then motioned that he was going up onto the roof.

Climbing onto the railing, he pulled himself up. If his luck was in, there would be a window in the side of the building or in the roof and he could get her out that way. Walking slowly, he hoped it would hold him. Dropping to his knees when he was above her, he found a window and looked down. Pressing his face to the glass, he tried to find her.

“Lilly, it's Devon,” he said softly, using his fingers to tap on the pane. He kept tapping until he heard her call his name. He had to take a chance and break the glass—hopefully they would not hear him from below.

“I'm going to break the glass, Lilly. Move away from beneath it.”

Standing, he stomped his foot, and the window cracked instantly. Taking off his jacket, he wrapped it around his fist and cleared the glass from the opening.

“Please hurry, Devon!”

He could hear the panic in her voice and remembered her fear of the dark. Add to that everything else she had endured, and he would say she was close to hysteria.

“Soon, Lilly, I will have you out soon. Just a few minutes more.”

“I-i-it’s dark in here.”

“I know, sweetheart. I am going to put a knot in the end of this scarf and then lower it to you. I want you to use both hands and hold on tight while I pull you up.” Lord, he hoped she was strong enough. The distance wasn't great, yet it would be difficult for her.

“I-I can't. My hands are bound at the back.”

Someone would pay for leaving her bound, helpless, and alone in the dark; he would see to it. Once again on his stomach, he looked down at her.

Dirt was smeared over her face, her clothes were torn, and her hair had come unbound. However, it was the look of utter desperation in her eyes that made him curse. He'd never seen that look before.

“Y-you'll have to get help.”

“I won't leave you, Lilly,” Dev said, trying to work out how the hell he was going to get her out of the room. She sniffed but said nothing further.

“Bend at the waist and slip your hands under your bottom. Then sit on it and try and wriggle them under your legs so they are bound in front of you.”

He watched as she wriggled, trying to push her hands beneath her.

“My petticoats and bottom are too large.”

“Your bottom is not too large, it's perfect. Now wriggle harder.”

She did and finally she sat and began a series of maneuvers to try and get her legs through her hands. If she failed he would call Cam, then drop into the room and lift her up to him.

“It-it's hard!”

Her skirts were now up around her waist as she tried to wriggle her hands past her ankles, and if the situation were not so dire, he would take great pleasure in viewing her long, slender limbs.

“Don't you dare look at my—”

“Knickers?” Dev supplied. At least she had some fight back in her voice.

“I did it!”

“Clever girl. Now stand and take the end of the scarf.”

Sitting upright, Dev braced his feet on either side of the window frame and began to pull her up.