Play With Me

hallway with my back resting
against the windowed wall. The chain of the cuffs rattled mockingly. With them
on, I wouldn’t get far on an escape for fresh air. I might as well surrender to
my horrendous fate.
    Utterly
miserable and confused about my new future, and no less annoyed by the glances
of passing officials, my head dipped back, my gaze focusing on the blank
ceiling. Out of habit when I was by myself—and stuck knee-deep in shit—I
started humming a song I didn’t know the name of. It always had a strangely
soothing effect on me. Odds were I had made up the melody myself over the
years. But I’d hummed, whistled or tapped the rhythm with my fingers so often
the tune wouldn’t get out of my head ever.
    The door to
Abe’s room opening opposite me didn’t disrupt my low singing. But when my
mother’s blond friend came out and leaned one shoulder casually against the
column in the middle of the hallway, the hum died in my throat.
    “Hi,” he said
with a compassionate look that made me wish the traitor, Quinn, had taken off
those damn handcuffs so I wouldn’t look like a complete idiot.
    Lips pressed
together, my fingers waggled in a feeble greeting. The mere sight of him sent a
quiver of excitement to my stomach.
    “That was quite
an interesting…situation in there.”
    With an evil
grin, I hoped to send the message ‘Mind your own crap, buddy,’ but out loud, I
said sweetly, “Glad you enjoyed the show.”
    “I didn’t
really.” He wrinkled his nose. “Getting involved with Laurel and Hardy in there
wasn’t your best idea. Even a smart girl like you might get hurt in a fight
with those two.”
    Yeah, sure. My
eyes narrowed to slits. But his words warmed my heart in an unfamiliar way.
    The young man
nodded his chin at my tied hands. “They seem rather uncomfortable.”
    And they bloody
well were, but I shrugged it off like it was nothing unusual. “The latest
fashion. You heard the judge, I wear them quite often.”
    A teasing smile
played around his lips that spiked my blood pressure. “Shall we take them off?”
he said.
    He must be
kidding. “Unless you’ve got teeth like a hacksaw, I don’t see how that would
work.”
    Grin widening,
he crossed the hall to me, pulling out a key-ring from his pocket. He squatted,
leveled his eyes with mine, and shook the ring in front of my face. The
friendly jingle of metal filled the high hallway.
    My mouth sagged
open. “Where did you get these from?”
    “Chief Madison.”
    “You stole them
from Quinn?” I pulled my hands reflexively out of his reach.
    “Of course not.”
The blond god gave me a pointed look. “I asked for them.”
    Why would this
guy ask my officer friend to release me? Frowning, I concentrated on the safety
pin in my jeans. “Quinn wouldn’t unshackle me when I asked him to.”
    His intense blue
eyes locked with mine. “I had to solemnly swear to keep an eye on you. Now hold
still.” Cool fingers curled around my wrist to fix my hand while he unlocked
the first cuff. Sparks tingled on my skin, my hand trembled slightly.
    Why would he
give his word to an officer, to free me? Why even care? He’d do well to stay
behind that door, holding my horrible mother’s hand instead of setting mine
free. With a click, the other cuff came off. I flexed my hands and rubbed my
burning wrists. The shackles had left bright red lines on my skin.
    “Better?” He
tilted his head and arched one beautiful brow.
    My head bobbed,
but I found no breath to answer.
    “Okay then.” He
used my knees to push himself up and stretched to his full height.
    He probably
expected a thanks following his selflessness. My gaze focused on the ripped
hems of his jeans, my lips remained sealed.
    When he turned
on his heel and marched off to the left, I glanced up. “And now you’re going
where?” The words shot out before I could stop myself.
    “Bathroom
break.” His arched brows dared me to object.
    My lower lip
threatened to pop from between my teeth as I chewed on it. Don’t speak! “But
you’re supposed to keep an eye on me.”
    After studying
me for a couple of seconds, his expression softened even more. “You’re not
going to get me into trouble.”
    A balloon of
warmth exploded in my chest. I let him take another stride away from me. Two.
Three. Four. “How can you be so sure?” Shut the hell up, Jona. “After
everything you know about me, I’ll probably be gone when you get back.”
    A shrug of one
shoulder and his beguiling smile