Page 82 of Caging Liberty
He had Naomi.
Jesus, he had Naomi.
I swallow, my mouth painfully dry, and force myself to walk away, shaking Desiree off when she goes to grab my arm.
“FYI, if you think your fake master can protect you, you’re wrong. This guy isn’t afraid of Mr. A.”
I keep walking, too intent on getting to Naomi to waste another breath on Desiree.
“While you’re listening to your goth bitch friend’s sob story, just remember, that’s your future.”
I halt in my tracks, my flip-flops squeaking on the tile. My jaw clenches, and I fist my hands at my sides.
NowthatI can’t let go.
I turn around and stomp toward Desiree. “What thefuckdid you just call her?”
Desiree stays where she is while Lily steps to the side, her back pressing against the banister as I approach.
“You’re kidding, right?” Desiree giggles. “You think goth bitch is bad? You should hear what all of us callyou.”
She must think I’m bluffing because her smile doesn’t falter when I reach her. I shove her backward, watching her eyes widen and her smile fall in surprise.
“Don’t you fucking talk about her!” I scream, stepping forward to push her again. She falls to the floor this time, and I climb on top of her. I growl and punch her face, once, twice, but when I rear back for a third swing, something stops my arm.
I turn my head to see Lily holding my arm like her life depends on it. Her eyes are wild, darting everywhere but me, and it takes a second to realize what she’s looking for: a guard.
“Ahh!” Desiree bucks me off her and jerks up, grabbing my hair with Lily still holding my arm.
“You fucking whore!” Desiree screeches, ripping strands from my head. My scalp burns, but the surge of adrenaline that bursts through my bloodstream burns more.
I finally break Lily’s hold and slash my nails in the direction of Desiree’s face, hoping for contact with an eye.
“Stop!” Lily hisses in an angry whisper. As if whispering is necessary at this point. “Stop, both of you. You’re going to get us into trouble.”
Neither of us let up, and when I can’t get to Desiree’s skin, I find her hair and yank as forcefully as she yanks mine.
“What the hell is going on?”
Desiree’s grip on my hair loosens at the sound of Sawyer’s voice. We both ease up, but neither of us pull away entirely, not until someone wraps their arms around my waist and drags me back.
“Let go of me!” I shriek, thrashing against a man wearing too much cologne.
Sawyer hovers over Desiree with his jaw clenched. “Get up,” he growls at her, nudging her with his shoe.
She stands, swatting matted blonde hair from her face as her glare lands on me.
“I know you’re going to get away with this,” Desiree sneers, her teeth bared. “But just know, Mr. A won’t let me get hurt either.”
“Are you serious right now?” Sawyer asks, his eyes wide with bewilderment. He slaps the back of her head, and she jerks forward, her eyes never leaving me.
“You’re so goddamn obsessed with him, it’s disgusting,” I scoff. “Angel doesn’t want you! Get the fuck over it!”
All at once, silence engulfs us. Four stunned faces look back at me, including Sawyer’s, and my skin crawls as another second goes by.
“Angel?” Desiree asks, her voice small. “That’s his name?”
“Goddamn it, get them out of here,” Sawyer orders the guard at my back, the surprise on his face morphing into anger as he points at Desiree and Lily.