Page 3 of Reset

“Actuary?”

He cocked his head as he considered her. Something to do with birds, maybe? His dentist had a massive aquarium in the waiting room, so it wasn’t a stretch to think an insurance company would have an aviary. Still, the job didn’t seem to fit her.

Ryan tossed her bag onto the floor beside her and turned his attention to Ms. Davidson. It didn’t seem right to leave her lying on the ground. And even though the platform was made from the same dusty rock, he felt it would be more respectful to put her on it. He took off his brown cord jacket, folded it to make a pillow and placed it on the platform, before turning back and bending to lift her.

There wasn’t a lot of space in the corner, but he managed to get his arms under her. She was a soft bundle and she smelled of strawberries, which made his mouth water and his belly rumble. Straightening, he turned toward the platform again. Only to be pulled up short.

Holding her firmly, he twisted to see what her clothes were caught on—and stilled.

“What the hell?” he hissed.

A wave of adrenaline flooded his system, washing away the last of the drug that’d left him foggy. Something clicked into place within him, and the calm clarity he experienced before every mission slid over him like a well-worn coat.

His jaw clenched as he studied the problem.

There was a manacle.

Around her wrist.

She was chained to the wall.

Fury was a blade, barely sheathed, as he examined the restraint. This wasn’t something left behind by the miners who’d carved out the space. It was rust free and custom made. Recently poured concrete had been used to anchor the chain to the wall. This had been done just for them.

Slowly, so as not to jar Sarah, he managed to place her on the stone bed and untangle the chain so her arm lay naturally at her side. The restraint around her wrist was an abomination against the pale perfection of her skin. A screaming neon sign flashing “ESCAPE NOW” to anyone who saw it.

“This situation is totally fucked up.” His words echoed around the hollow space.

Their kidnapper hadn’t bothered to take their belongings from them. Ryan still had his phone, wallet, and Swiss Army knife. Sarah still had her handbag full of stuff. That told him nobody expected them to use those things to get out of the cavern. Their captor had deemed their belongings useless.

Sarah groaned loudly, and her thick, dark eyelashes fluttered.

Ryan was at her side in an instant, trying to appear unthreatening—like that’s possible when you’re over six foot tall and built like a bruiser.

“Hey,” he said softly. “You’re okay.”

He started to pat her arm, in reassurance, but quickly drew back. They were strangers and he wasn’t shackled, which meant there was a good chance she’d think he was her captor.

“Don’t get hysterical,” he told her. “Everything is going to be okay.”

She moaned again, her head turning toward him while she blinked.

Ryan smiled, in what he hoped was a reassuring manner but feared might come across as sociopathic. “I’m not going to harm you. We’re in this together.” Why did everything he say sound deeply creepy?

Sarah blinked several times as her eyes began to focus. The cutest little frown furrowed her brow, right between her eyebrows, while she stared up at his face with puzzlement.

“It’s okay,” he cooed. “Don’t be scared. I won’t hurt you. I woke up here too. I don’t know what’s going on yet, but we’re in this together.”

She opened and shut her mouth several times, as though she wasn’t sure what to say.

Ryan had a lot of sympathy for her confused state. “You’ve been drugged, but don’t worry, it will pass. I was drugged too. It’s natural to feel foggy when you first wake up. I’m still feeling a little dazed as well. Gimme a sec and I’ll get you some water. That’ll help.”

He stepped away to retrieve the water, and her voice stopped him dead.

“Ryan?” she said, sounding confused.

He jerked back to face her. “You know me?”

The frown deepened as she glared at him with a piercing intensity that made it clear any fog she had was gone. “Ryan? Is that really you? Are you real or am I dreaming?”