A small, cold piece of metal.
Relief surged through him as he pulled out the cuff key, slick with blood. He dropped the blade onto the tray and removed the cloth from his mouth, gasping for air as he rode out the waves of agony for a few seconds. Sweat drenched his skin, and his vision blurred momentarily, but he forced himself to remain conscious.
With shaking hands, he guided the key toward the ankle cuff. The faint click as it turned in the lock sounded like salvation. One restraint fell away, then the other, until he was finally free. Luca allowed himself only a brief moment of stillness before pushing himself upright, ignoring the dizziness and the fresh blood seeping from his shoulder and side. He had no time to waste.
*****
