My Great Escape Led Me to You (Emily Blair) novel Chapter 774

She sat slumped in a battered wooden chair, wrists and ankles lashed tightly to the arms and legs. Coarse bandages pressed over her mouth, muffling any sound she tried to make. A thick rope looped around her neck, securing her upright against the chair back—she couldn’t even lower her head.

The rough journey had only made things worse. Emily Blair’s injuries from the accident hadn’t healed yet; now, every jolt sent a fresh wave of pain through her legs and chest. Her breath quickened in shallow bursts, sweat breaking out across her brow.

She tried flexing her hands and feet, but the bindings didn’t give at all. Both her hands and feet were tied so tight they’d probably leave marks.

“Well, look who’s awake.”

Emily’s eyelids fluttered at the sound. Two men stepped out from behind her, both with plain, forgettable faces and a mocking glint in their eyes.

Drawing in a few steadying breaths, she forced herself to focus. Each man held a length of metal pipe—one end gripped in their hands, the other resting against the floor.

The taller of the two also carried a small black box—rectangular, with buttons—though Emily couldn’t quite make out what it was from this angle.

With effort, she calmed her breathing, pushing down the pain as best she could. Her sharp, clear eyes stayed locked on the men, cool and unblinking.

This was a kidnapping.

And kidnappings always had a purpose. Emily waited, silent, for them to make theirs known.

The heavier man plopped down onto a chair across from her, twirling the pipe in his hand and flashing her a grin. “Ms. Blair, you’re pretty composed. I was half-expecting you to be in hysterics by now.”

The tall man glanced at him, then the two of them shared a laugh.

Emily kept her composure. Neither seemed in any hurry to hurt her—not yet, at least.

The tall one stepped closer, offering her a mock-friendly smile. “Sorry about this, Ms. Blair. We’re just hired help. If you want to blame someone, blame the person who paid us, alright?”

Emily lowered her gaze, then looked pointedly at the tape over her mouth, silently asking them to take it off.

He shook his head. “Not happening. If we take that off and you start screaming, well, that’d make things complicated for us.”

She gave a slight shake of her head—she wouldn’t scream.

“If you do”—his eyes gleamed with malice—“I’ll turn up the voltage. Let’s see how much you can take.”

Emily’s heart hammered in her chest, sweat slick on her palms.

The tall man straightened, thumb hovering over the red button on the remote.

The heavier one pressed a finger to his lips, shushing her with a mocking grin.

Emily’s jaw tightened, brows furrowing with dread.

The tall man didn’t hesitate—he pressed the button.

The wires on her calves sparked to life. The current shot through her body in a burning rush, radiating from her legs in an instant.

Emily’s eyes clamped shut, her fingers digging deep into the arms of the chair, fighting to endure the pain.