Footsteps sounded on the other side. I bolted away, the darkness whirling around me, and sat in what I hoped was the middle of the room so Rafe would have enough slack in the chain. The welts on my ass burned, but there was no time to change position. Someone pushed a key into the lock, and I held my breath, trying to calm my trembling limbs. This had to work. God, please, let this work.

The door burst open, and someone stood in the entrance, their tall build a silhouette against the bright backdrop of the tunnel. “Whaddya bitching for?” His beam tore through the blackness and lit me up like a spotlight.

“I’m bleeding,” I said, leaning back on my elbows and spreading my thighs. “I need a tampon.” I bit my lip, which probably came across as coy to him, but I was really trying to mask my fear. This plan was screwed if I couldn’t get him into the room.

The guy took a step inside and shone the light between my legs. “Where’s your boyfriend?”

I spread my legs further, hoping to keep his attention. “Can I get a tampon? Please?”

He took another step toward me, the beam of his flashlight casting over the bed, and I let out a sigh of relief.

“I asked you a question, bitch. Where’s the guy?”

“On the shitter.”

He swerved the light to the other end of the room, where the unoccupied bucket sat, and let out a curse under his breath.

Rafe’s shadow moved from behind the door, and he flung the chain over the guy’s head, bringing him down with a bone-jarring thud. The flashlight dropped to the ground and went out. I fisted my hands as the pull of the chain on my neck tightened. A scuffle broke out, and grunts and groans ensued. A bundle of shadows wrestled.

“Rafe?” What would I do if he didn’t answer? What would I do if this didn’t work? What had we done? They could kill him. This was stupid. So stupid.

“Rafe!” I said in a loud whisper.

One of the shadows rose and yanked on the chain, propelling me across the ground. I grabbed at it with ineffectual hands, barely rising to my feet, and dug my toes into the dirt. Fear constricted my throat with each step forward. Strong hands grabbed my shoulders, and that’s when I recognized the heavy breathing. Rafe’s breathing.

I slumped against him, close to losing it, and his arms wound around me for a moment.

“Gotta get moving, baby.” He let me go, and a few seconds later, the flashlight switched on. He aimed it at the prone form of the guy who’d opened the door. He didn’t look like he was waking up any time soon.