I looked around. “We can't leave. There's a safe behind that desk, in the wall. The book is in there.”

“How do you know?”

Ryan's wrists and feet were tied to his chair like mine, and he pulled and twisted his arms, ineffectively attempting to escape.

“Jack told me. We have to get into that safe.”

Ryan raised an eyebrow. “Did Jack tell you how to do that if you're tied to a chair? Because I got nothing.”

I sighed. “Didn't the Special Forces teach you anything?”

Ryan smiled. “Yeah: Keep a knife with you at all times.” He wiggled his right leg. “In my boot.”

The chairs complained against the wood as we positioned ourselves so that I could reach the knife. After several minutes of grunting and groaning, I finally felt the handle.

“I think,” I grunted again, straining against the tight restraints, “I think I've got it!” I said, grasping the hard plastic between my fingers.

“Don't drop...it,” Ryan said too late, watching the knife fall from my fingers to the ground.

“Crap,” I huffed, blowing my bangs from my face.

“Okay,” Ryan said, taking a deep breath. He jerked to the side until his chair tipped over, and then maneuvered his body until his hand was within inches of the knife. “Nothing's ever easy when I'm around you, Grey.”

“Shut up,” I said, unamused.

“What the hell is going on in here?” Claire said. She stood in front of the half-open window sill, arms crossed, her hot pink duffel bag over her shoulder.

A wide grin erupted across Ryan's face. “Better late than never, Gorgeous.”

“Shut up,” Claire said.

“Wow, I'm getting it from every angle,” Ryan said, letting his entire body relax and fall against the floor in protest.

“Where's Jared?” I asked.

“Behind me. We don't have much time,” Claire explained, tearing the cloth around my wrists and feet with a flick of her finger.

“I'm on the floor, bleeding, and you save her first? I'm hurt,” Ryan said to Claire.

Claire freed him, and then lifted Ryan to his feet. She pushed back his head to inspect his wound, overly rough. “You'll live.”

Ryan winced. “Thanks, Honey, I love you, too.”

I walked over to the window, searching through the dark for Jared. “I thought you said he was behind you.”

Claire chomped on the large wad of gum in her mouth. “He had to calm down. When he sees that knot on your head and that hand print on your cheek, he's going to freak out all over again. Back up.”

I took a step back, and Bex appeared in the window, barely making an effort as he pulled himself through. “You smell like beer,” he grimaced.

“Nice to see you, too,” I frowned.

“Where's the safe?” Bex asked.

“Where is Jared?” I said with an impatient tone.