Escaped, p.1
Escaped, page 1
Escaped
Book Three
in the
Snowbound with a Stranger
series
By
Felicity Brandon
Copyright © 2025 by Felicity Brandon
This is a work of fiction.
Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a book review. For more information: felicitybrandon@felicitybrandonauthor.com
This book is entirely a work of fiction.
The author does not condone, nor endorse any of the acts in this book.
First edition August, 2025
Cover design by Wicked Smart Designs.
Editing by Karen Sanders Editing
Download your FREE Felicity book here.
https://felicitybrandonauthor.com/
Sign up for my newsletter and receive a FREE sexy read here!
https://www.subscribepage.com/FelicityBrandon
“It doesn't escape me for one moment that so much joy in my life is thanks to so much pain in someone else's.”
Lupita Nyong'o
Prologue
The Wilderness
Eli
Driving along the twisting road, I leaned back in the driver’s seat. I’d never explored the countryside rushing past my windows, but after the pity party I’d been enduring, I was ready for an adventure. Two months had passed since I’d been summarily ejected from the only job I’d been trained for, and after weeks of consuming oblivion, I’d finally responded to an advert for something new.
New?
I snorted at the underestimation. ‘New’ was one way of expressing it.
As an ex-assassin, I wasn’t qualified for most roles, but the one thing I did know well was the outdoors. I knew how to function in nature. I could thrive in it. Being paid by the state to eliminate selected targets had ensured I spent many hours alone in the wilderness. I’d be dropped into an unknown and usually isolated location and expected to get myself in and out without being noticed. Over the years, covert operations had helped me develop quite the unique skill set.
That was why the online ad for a park ranger initially caught my eye. Reasonable pay for a life living in and protecting the woods sounded like it was exactly what I needed. An elongated spell in the fresh air to blow away the professional rejection I’d undergone. It still stung, knowing I’d been pushed out to cover someone else’s backside. The familiar hurt ached in my solar plexus as I steered around the latest bending road, but I was ready to move forward. It was like my old boss, Baron, had told me; sitting around feeling sorry for myself wasn’t my style.
I’d applied for the position and heard back from the organization a week ago. It needed someone to start as soon as possible, and they wanted me to attend an interview. That was why I’d packed what few possessions I owned, hired a car, and found myself touring the backcountry. I didn’t yet have the position, but the opportunity seemed aligned, and I had a good feeling about how the interview would go. Afterward, I’d book a room in a local hotel and wait for the decision. All being well, I could return the car and look forward to spending time living in the forest.
Resting my elbow on the edge of my open window, I sensed the warm rays of the sun on my skin, revitalizing me. While my prior occupation had seen me face-first in the mud, it had rarely allowed me the privilege of enjoying the sunlight. Ops tended to be at night, where the cover of darkness was an ally. It had been too long since I’d got enough vitamin D.
“This job could be just what I need.” Adjusting my sunglasses, I allowed myself to smile. “Fresh air, nature, and autonomy.”
It almost sounded too good to be true.
All I had to do was impress the guy who’d responded to my application by playing up my experiences and playing down the prior role that helped me to acquire them. It was going to be difficult to explain the precise nature of my previous employment. The Official Secrets Act prevented me from disclosing the details, but if I kept my information sketchy, I hoped he’d be impressed. Athletic, knowledgeable, and full of initiative, I reasoned I was just the kind of guy the place was looking for.
“In 500 yards, take the next left.”
The voice of the car’s satellite navigation system snapped me back to the present, and easing off from the accelerator, I prepared for the exit.
I was surprised at how much apprehension lurked as I approached the first set of wooden lodges. After so long in such a high-octane and stressful career, an interview for park ranger shouldn’t have been so challenging, but pulling into a parking space and cutting the engine, I was forced to accept that when the court-martial had dismissed me, they’d taken a chunk of my confidence.
Applying the parking brake, that thought settled over me. Eli Rosen was frightened of a little discussion about a potential job—what was the world coming to?
“I’ve got this.” Staring at my face in the rear-view mirror, I assessed the lines evident around my brow. “I might not be as young as I used to be, but I can do this job with my eyes closed. It might just be the making of me.”
Buoyed, I unfastened my safety belt and tugged my collar straight. As I climbed from the vehicle, the final words of advice Baron had offered on that fateful day I’d been pushed out floated back into my mind.
“Chin up,” he told me. “You’ll think of something. You always do.”
Locking the car door, my lips curled. I hadn’t spoken to Baron much since then—he was still embroiled in the politics of the day job and I’d been licking my wounds—but I sensed his faith in me was well-founded.
I had thought of something, and whatever happened with the interview, I liked the idea of working outside and staying close to nature. Trees and animals were a lot easier to deal with than most people, and given time, I suspected I could do my part to protect their ever-decreasing habitat.
“I’ve got this,” I repeated as I turned toward the small office.
I’d smash the interview, get the job, and spend my days looking after the trees.
It was all going to be okay.
Chapter One
The Thick of It
Present Day
Eli
Watching Baron slip out into the dark corridor ahead of me, the sound of my racing heart boomed in my ears. It was as though all other noise had been sucked into an airless vacuum, and all that was left was the relentless rapping of the organ keeping me alive.
Boom, ta da, boom, ta da, boom, ta da, boom.
The constancy of its rhythm spurred me on, yet at the same time, it reminded me of my inherent vulnerability—that I was only one man, and without the use of my hands, I was even less capable.
Pushing the niggling self-doubt away, I inched behind Baron, offering the two motionless men left in the cell another cursory glance. Both were sprawled and still, suggesting neither of them was getting up any time soon, but paranoia lingered. What if they were only feigning unconsciousness the way I had? What if, at any moment, one of them jumped up and attacked me?
Stop it.
My jaw tightened as I mentally scolded myself. We’d got that far based on our strategy and experience, and with Baron armed with a weapon, we were going to be all right. I just wished I could say the same for Erin.
Tension knotted in my stomach as I considered what fate might have waited for her since I’d been locked away, my mind landing on the inevitable conclusion: if Hawkins had done anything to harm her, his would be the next unresponsive form.
“He said he was keeping her in his office.”
My voice was hushed as I peered anxiously around the hallway. It was currently empty, but we had no way of knowing how long it would remain that way. Hawkins was bound to have a collection of mindless goons working for him, and any of them could have been just around the corner.
Normally, that would have amounted to little more than just ‘another day in the office’ for the likes of Baron and me, but with my wrists still cuffed behind my back, the energy coursing around my system was less determination and more trepidation.
How would I cope with whatever impending onslaught awaited? Sure, I could kick out and headbutt anyone looking for trouble, but without my hands, my efficacy would be limited. The sense of impotency swelling inside me wasn’t something I was used to.
I have to find a key to unlock the cuffs. Turning toward Baron, I followed him along the wall. The sooner, the better.
“Do you know where his office is?” Baron risked a glance in my direction, his voice as low as mine had been. “I realize that’s a long shot, but…”
“No.” Though, for the life of me, I wished I did. “But my guess is it’s as far away from our cell as possible. Hawkins never did like to get his hands dirty.”
“Agreed.” Baron turned away, his focus on the corridor ahead. “The good news is, this gun is fully loaded. That could help us out.”
“Excellent,” I breathed from behind him.
We could use more good news.
“Why is it so bloody hot in here?”
Stretching my neck, I wished I could open the buttons of my damn shirt, but naturally, Hawkins’ cuffs prevented that simple deed. I hadn’t noticed the absurd temperature while we’d been l ocked in our pen, but as soon as we’d made it to the corridor, the malaise had hit me.
“It really is.” Blowing out a breath, Baron shook his head. “Perhaps he keeps the heat high because the temperature outside is so low. Do you recall if it was still frozen outside when you arrived? I was bundled in so fast that I can’t remember.”
“Not really.” I strained my mind to try and recall “I was being dragged by the neck for most of it, so the temperature wasn’t really on my mind…”
“Understood.” Baron sighed. “I guess we’ll cross that bridge when we find your woman and get out of here.”
Your woman.
I straightened at the way Baron made that sound. I had no way of knowing if Erin was my woman, but once we made it out of the current hell storm, I’d have loved the opportunity to explore how we both felt about the idea. Before Hawkins’ men had landed, we’d seemed on the brink of being honest with one another, but whatever burgeoning intimacy we’d been creating had been splintered by his arrival.
“The flight they brought us here on wasn’t long, though,” I added, recollecting the uncomfortable journey. “So, it’s possible that wherever we are, it’s still snow-laden out there.”
Shoved to the floor, bound and cuffed, the helicopter trip hadn’t been my finest hour, but it had been the last time I’d known for sure that Erin was okay. I swore I’d sensed her touch my ankle as we’d flown, and a pang of regret about her situation echoed in my chest at the memory.
“If only I hadn’t sent that message to you.” Anxiety clawed at my chest. It wasn’t like me to suffer with remorse or self-doubt, but the more time I’d spent apart from Erin, the more obvious it was becoming that she had changed me. For the first time, I cared about someone other than myself, but with Erin in Hawkins’ hands, my growing feelings for her had become something of a weakness. “Hawkins would never have been able to intercept it, and none of this would have happened.”
“I get why you’re saying that, Rosen, but I’m not sorry you got in touch.” Baron shrugged. “I’d still be tied to that damn chair without your help.”
“Yeah.” I managed a small smile at his wry tone. “I understand. I’m just worried about Erin…”
My voice cracked with emotion as, yet again, I attempted not to dwell on what she might have had to contend with. Hawkins was the worst kind of vermin.
“We’re going to find her.” Baron had no way of knowing that, so as he peered around the upcoming corner, I appreciated the certainty in his tone. “Don’t give up.”
“I’m not.” Unable to wipe my eyes, I sniffed back the impending emotion. “I’m just tired and—”
My excuse was halted by the sound of men laughing somewhere along the adjacent corridor. Baron darted back to join me, pressing himself against the wall as the echo of the men talking went on.
“… exactly!” One of them was saying. “And apparently, he had some bitch with him.”
Tuning into their dialogue, my pulse accelerated.
“A woman?” That was a second, discernible voice.
“Of course, a woman!” the first barked. “Hadden said she was older than Hawkins prefers, but he’d have still given her one.”
“Where has the boss got her stashed away?” the second idiot crooned.
“In his office.” The first one laughed. “Hadden says he has her tied up there.”
My jaw tightened at their obnoxious commentary, an image of Erin’s plight flooding my mind. It was obvious the fools were talking about her. How many other women were likely to be found in a sketchy outfit like the one Hawkins was pulling? The idea that anyone else had the audacity to bind her riled me, but fundamentally, I was more concerned about what Hawkins would do once he had her bound. Erin would be as weary and overwrought as I was, without any of my training or experience. How long could she last under duress?
The knot of tension in my stomach twisted as a newfound urgency washed over me. A toad like Hawkins shouldn’t have even been touching Erin. He had no right to bind her at all. Fleetingly, I recognized how hypocritical it was of me to condemn another man for tying her up when that was precisely what I had done in the cabin, but I pushed the self-criticism away. I might have overstepped the mark in those early hours together, but I’d never done anything to cause her genuine harm. I wished I could make the same vow about the odious prick currently holding her.
As though he sensed my anger, Baron flashed me a warning glare, signaling for me to stay behind him as he edged us both back from the corner. I didn’t love the instruction, but with no available hands to wield a weapon, I accepted that there was little I could add to the initial encounter. It was better that I stayed out of the way.
“Let me deal with this,” he mouthed, and, unable to offer much in the way of assistance, I begrudgingly concurred.
He would have to deal with the incoming goons—initially, at least—but once they were taken by surprise and disarmed, I had two sturdy boots waiting to wish them goodnight.
Holding my breath, my eyes fluttered closed as the noise of their banter grew louder, their words merging into meaningless noise. The heat of the hallway was stifling, burning me up from the inside, as step by step, the noise of their boots on the hard floor grew louder.
My already parched throat dried as I edged backward, giving Baron space to deal with the brunt of the incoming fists and giving me a few precious additional seconds to assess the threat.
By the time the first of the thugs came into sight, adrenaline was coursing around my system so fast I felt as if I could rip myself free from the metal restraining my hands. Sadly, though, despite my efforts, the feat was still unachievable.
“Hey!” The ugly idiot’s eyes widened as he pointed at Baron. “What the hell are you two doing here?”
“Shhh!” Baron screeched as he brought the gun in his hand down hard on the guy’s temple. His eyes rolled back as his knees buckled, but Baron’s attention was already turned to his friend. “It’s sleepy time.”
“What?” As his mate sank to his knees, the second minion advanced, his hands presumably fumbling for his own weapon. That delay bought us valuable time.
“I don’t think so,” Baron muttered, repeating the action that had knocked out the first moron and sending the second spiraling to the ground with equal efficiency. The two lay sprawled out beside one another, their heads turned to face the other as though they were sleeping lovers.
“You like a good old pistol-whipping, eh?” Stepping around their limp bodies, I couldn’t help but grin.
Baron chuckled quietly. “Why not? It’s effective, but quiet. I don’t want to waste bullets and alert any of their chums that we’re on our way.”
“Good thinking.” I couldn’t have handled the situation any better myself. “What are the chances that either of them has a bloody key to these cuffs?”
They’d been heading in the direction from the place we’d been held. Perhaps they were planning to stop in and pay us a visit.
