Temptation Trails - Page 160

That left the sides, back, or top.

Ceiling wasn’t an option. It might very well be the weakest point, but whatever type of shelving had been in there, it was gone. And Phillip had taken the folding chair. I was tall, but not tall enough to reach the top and get any kind of leverage to pop or pry it open.

The back was probably up against a wall. Which meant I needed to break out one of the sides.

Was I strong enough?

Phillip didn’t think so.

I was about to prove him wrong.

The temperature continued to drop as I tapped my knuckles along the wall, listening for any sign of a thinner or weaker area. It was hard to tell. I figured the walls had to be mostly insulation with a thin layer of metal on the outside.

One way to find out.

I kicked and my foot hit the wall, leaving nothing but a small dent.

Fuck.

I kicked it again, aiming for the same spot. Again. And again. The dent grew with each strike. My body screamed at me, my muscles still protesting from the effects of the taser. I ignored it.

Adrenaline and sheer will kept me going. Harper had no idea she was in danger. For all she knew, I was out following up on a lead, still unsure if everything was a big coincidence, or if someone meant her harm.

She had no idea Phillip was coming for her.

I wasn’t going to let that sick fuck touch her. I’d beat myself bloody to get out of the fucking freezer.

Anything to save her.

My vision hazed over with rage as I rammed the wall with my shoulder. I had to get out. That fucker was not going to touch my woman.

Finally, I broke through the insulation and could see the outer layer. Silver metal. My breathing was ragged, filling the freezer with carbon dioxide, and my body ached with every move I made.

A vision of Harper filled my mind. Her mesmerizing eyes. That smile that had almost knocked me on my ass.

And I attacked the outer wall.

I had no idea where my strength came from. I was a big guy, and kept myself strong, but I went supernova. I beat the aluminum sheeting with everything I had until I finally broke through.

The metal was jagged where I’d torn through it, so I peeled off my shirt and used it to grip. I wrenched it open, widening the gap.

Before I was even out, I could see I had another problem. There was shit stacked against the side of the freezer.

Didn’t matter. I’d get through somehow.

It was hard to tell in the dim light, but it looked like cardboard. Maybe a stack of boxes. I kicked through the hole I’d made. There was weight behind it, but it moved. That was all the encouragement I needed. I kicked again, shoving the box—or boxes, I couldn’t tell yet—out of the way.

Finally, there was room for me to squeeze through the hole. I wedged myself out, heedless of the way the metal scraped, tearing into my skin.

Ignoring the hot bloom of blood across my back, I got out and surveyed the space. It was surrounded by stacks of moving boxes, plastic storage totes, wooden crates, and other random shit I didn’t bother to identify. I shoved my way through, heedless of the danger of the entire stack falling on me. I was half out of my mind, fueled by relentless determination to save her.

Nothing fell, and when I finally emerged from the stacks of crap, I found myself in a metal sided pole barn.

Where the fuck was I?

I ran to the door. Of course it was locked, but that wasn’t going to stop me. Not even close.

Amped as I was, it only took a few tries to kick the door down.