Precarious(66)

“Hey,” I say, slurring the word slightly.

“Hey,” a girl with ratty blonde hair and horrible skin smiles.

“Rockin’ party.” I smirk.

She nods, leaning against the wall and pulling out a smoke. “They’re usually better.”

Maybe not new, then.

“Yeah?” I ask.

“Yeah. When Howard is here, things get hot.”

Howard. The asshole behind all this. An asshole I’ve never seen. Her words relieve me slightly. He’s not here; this is a good thing. Then my chest clenches, because if he’s not here then maybe Claire isn’t either. I stare at the whores; I wonder if they’ll know? I risk a lot asking, but if I play it right they might not notice.

“Yeah,” I murmur. “Bet he’s busy with that stupid whore he brought in.”

“Right?” Blondie mutters. “Stupid bitch keeps screaming. I was sucking Lion’s cock, and all I could hear was her.”

“Me too,” I snort. “I’m about to fuck Jayger and the bitch better not start while I’m doing it.”

Blondie grins at me. “Jayger, nice choice. He’s got a huge cock. I’ve ridden him a few times. And don’t worry about the little bitch. Howard locked her in his room.”

His room. Where is his room? I can’t ask without looking too obvious.

“Well,” I say, flipping my hair over my shoulder. “Hopefully his room isn’t near where I am.”

Blondie nods. “I don’t think it is, Howard is right at the end of the hall. Most of the rooms are up this end.”

“Good,” I say, turning and heading out. “Later.”

“Later,” they both murmur.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

I know where Claire is, but I need to let Maddox know. I pull out my phone, glancing down the hall quickly before punching out a text.

S – I know where Claire is. I don’t know if she’s cuffed, but she’s in the house. Howard isn’t here. I don’t know where he is. The front of the house faces the road. If you can make a distraction I can get Claire out the back. I’m going to check her out now, hang in for my text.

He replies a moment later.

M – Stay safe, darlin’. I’m waitin’ for your text.

I shove my phone into my pocket and glance around again, before walking down the hall. The party is in full swing at the front of the house, but the halls are mostly quiet. I reach the very last door, and pray it’s Howard’s. I try it, but it’s locked. I look around again before knocking softly.

No answer.

Shit.

I try the other doors and they all open, which means that door is where Claire lays. The only way I’ll get in is through the back window, assuming it’s unlocked and actually has one. I rush down the hall and out into the lounge area. I sway my hips, leaning down to a whore and asking for a smoke. She hands me one.

I put it in my lips, making out like I’m going outside to have it. I wink at bikers as I walk past, sashaying towards the back door.

I step out and rush down the back steps. I hear the door creak open just as I am in the darkness, and I suck in a breath, pressing myself to the old, moldy walls of the house. I close my eyes.

A moment later, the door slams shut. I listen for a second longer, but no sounds come my way. Taking a deep breath, I rush to the end of the house to where I would assume the window would be in Howard’s room. I find one; I can see a dull glow coming from inside. I test it, surprised when it slides up easily. My heart pounds as I find something to help me get through. I come up with an old crate.

It takes me a few minutes to silently drag it over. I climb onto it and swing my leg into the window. There’s a girl on the bed, her hands cuffed to the bedhead. I stare at her, saddened. Her face is battered. She’s got a fat lip, a black eye, and her blond hair is matted with blood. Her eyes dart to me and widen.

“It’s okay,” I whisper. “I’m here to help you.”

She stares at me, one of her eyes half shut. I rush over, leaning down close. “My name is Santana, I’m a friend of Ash’s. We’re going to get you out of here. Do you know where the key for these cuffs are?”

She nods, wincing in pain as she rasps, “He put them in the drawer on the desk.”

I turn and run over, sliding the drawer open. I notice the keys just as I hear a voice down the hall. “Yeah, not a sound from her, Prez. Bitch has been quiet.”

Fuck.

My eyes shoot to Claire’s, and her face scrunches with fear. I shut the drawer and run to the window, pulling it down quietly. I don’t have time to climb out. I duck behind Howard’s desk, which luckily for me is positioned near some curtains that I use to shield myself.