Page 64 of Caging Liberty
“She isn’t allowed toknowfirst names.” Sawyer’s scowl moves to Angel.
Angel scowls back. “You’re the one who gave it to her.”
Sawyer’s expression softens, confusion evident in his eyes.
“Last night, you called me by name.”
Sawyer thinks for a moment then swears under his breath.
“Sorry, I meant Mr. A,” I say.
Sawyer moves his eyes to me.
“I won’t call him by name again.”
He doesn’t look at all convinced, and I can understand why.
My heart is beating so fast, and my palms are getting sweatier by the second. It feels like there’s a massive lump of iron in my chest.
I’d say anything right now to take away the murderous look on his face.
But I do mean these things. I’m not lying to bide my time. I’m not scheming in my head. Honestly, I’m just trying not to fall apart. I’m trying to survive.
And my hope of ever leaving this island? Yeah, that’s dead. Fucking. Dead. Not just because I’m terrified to try again but also because of who my husband is and what I know he’s capable of. All the connections he has and then all the connections these people must have.
I thought Robert was powerful enough to get me out of here, but he’s also powerful enough to keep me from getting out. I can already hear him telling the police some fabricated mental health history. See him playing the part of the doting husband, concerned for his wife’s sanity.
The police won’t help me. Robert won’t help me. That leaves no one. Naomi was right all along... I’m fucked.
“Please,” I say, closing my eyes and lowering my head. My voice breaks, but no tears fall. I’m all out of tears.
Another eternity passes while Sawyer contemplates ending my life.
“Is she really worth this?”
I open my eyes and peek over my lashes. Sawyer has turned toward Angel, his arms crossed over his chest.
Angel peers at me, then back to Sawyer. “Yes.”
“But you were bluffing last night, right? You wouldn’t actually try to take her off the island.”
Angel just stares at him.
“I’msorryfor giving you a command, all right? I was just pissed.”
Angel nods. “I know.”
“Then fucking work with me here.”
Sawyer’s voice holds a whine to it that confuses me while simultaneously piquing my curiosity. The iron clump in my chest shrinks to half its size while I watch the power struggle between the two men play out.
A minute ago, Sawyer’s jaw was tight, and his spine was ramrod straight. His eyes held all the authority in the world, just like they did last night. Hell, as they have every other time I’ve seen him. But now his shoulders hunch slightly, and he frowns like he’s giving in. To what, I don’t really know.
Angel’s stance has been casual this whole time, but his vacant eyes remain unchanged.
He somehow manages to take even longer than Sawyer did to speak, but finally, “Yes, last night I was bluffing.”
Sawyer sighs, looking twenty pounds lighter.