Celine rushed from the bed as she recognised her missing friend. “Laura, are you okay? We were so worried about you.”
Laura opened her arms as Celine moved to embrace her. Seconds later she was joined by Marco. “Celine! Marco! Gillian!”
Tears ran down Celine’s face as the friends huddled together. “I was worried we’d never see each other again.”
Laura, now crying too, kissed each of her friends in turn. “I love you guys.”
Rebecca stood outside of the huddle. “You four all came down here together?”
Celine, still clinging to her reunited group, answered in the affirmative. She turned her attention back to Laura. “That man at the door—not the white-haired freak, the other one— who was he?”
“He’s here to save us. He said he was Clay’s brother.”
“Clay?” Hope surged in her chest. “Did you see Clay too?”
“No, only… I think he said his name was Danny?”
“Yeah. That’s Clay’s brother. I’ve seen him a few times over the years, but he looked quite different back then. His hair was always very short. He always looked kinda angry. Clay talks about him all the time.” Celine closed her eyes, saying a silent prayer of thanks. If Danny was here to rescue them, then Clay was here too. “Danny and Clay are here for us. When they come, we’ve got to be ready to move.”
Marco nodded. “You think they can get us out?”
“It’s what they do. They used to be soldiers.” Celine recalled a few of the wilder stories that she’d heard about the Gunn brothers over the years. A small but emotion-filled sob escaped her chest. “Uncle Clay will kill every last one of them!”
The corners of Laura’s mouth turned down before she spoke. “I hope you’re right, but the white-haired dick just pulled a gun on Danny, got the drop on him good. That’s how I ended up in here with you.”
“Don’t worry. Even if they’ve managed to corner Danny, Clay is still out there. He’ll get us out.”
Marco shook his head, his hands scrubbing at his hair. “So, we’re down to one man already? This just gets better and better.”
A flash of anger ripped through Celine, taking unexpected voice. “And what fucking good have you been, Marco? You hardly knew your name a moment ago, so shut your mouth. Clay is coming for us.”
Marco reeled as if he’d received a physical blow.
“I… I didn’t mean…” He reached out to Celine, his hand hovering awkwardly in the gap between them.
Taking a deep breath, Celine forced herself to calm down. She knew Marco was as scared as the rest of them, and he was a soft-hearted goof at the best of times. The pain showing on his face and the waxy sheen of perspiration that coated his features made her soften as quickly as she had angered. She squeezed his hand. “It’s okay, Marco. I know you’re as scared as the rest of us.”
Rebecca gestured to the locked door. “What the hell do we do while we’re waiting for the rescue party to arrive?”
Celine visualised Clay’s hulking frame bursting through the door, guards lying motionless at his feet. “We think, talk, prepare. And when they come, we move our asses as fast as possible.”
Rebecca lifted her chin. “What about me? They’ll be coming for you and your friends. Will they take me with them too?”
Celine stared back at her with bold intensity. “We’re all going home. Clay won’t leave you here. I promise you that.”
Celine looked at the faces surrounding her, all now looking to her for leadership. A brief sensation of nausea rolled through her stomach. She was unsure if it was the remnants of the mystery concoction of drugs or a nervous reaction to the thought of Clay and Danny being so close. Her initial excitement wavered slightly, now turning into an octopus of doubt, each tentacle that now writhed in her torso carrying a different fear. Was this the drugs? Were they making her paranoid? She still didn’t know what the hell was in the concoction they’d been doped with. What had Rebecca called it again? The essence? Damned mind-scrambling Devil’s breath. Her memories were jumbled. An image: a muscular arm around her throat, a rough hand down her pants, invading.
“You okay?” asked Laura, reaching for her friend.
“I’m fine. We just need to stay ready.”
Laura glanced up at the camera dome near the door. “You really think Clay and Danny will be able to get us out of here?”
“I do.”
“But there’s all those men out there and you’ve just seen what they’re capable of.” A single bead of sweat rolled down the side of Laura’s face.
“Clay has always been so big and gentle around us—my family, I mean—but I’ve heard a few stories from my dad. I know he’s really tough. He worked as a doorman in some of the worst bars in Texas and he didn’t do it because he needed the money.”
Marco glanced warily at Celine. “Knocking a few drunks around is one thing, but these guys are another kind of threat altogether.”
The muscles in Celine’s jaw bunched with tension. “I’m telling you, Clay and Danny will get us out. They managed to save a British journalist a while back against a squad of trained soldiers.”
“But how are they—”
“Shut up, Marco!” Gillian’s voice caused him to jerk his head back. “Listen to what she’s saying. We’ve got to be ready to run like hell when the cavalry gets here.”
Celine balled her hands into fists. “Not just run. We may have to fight as well. We’ve all seen the faces of the men here. You’ve all seen enough movies to know that once you’ve seen the face of the killer, you’re as good as dead.”