Page 84 of Caging Liberty
Naomi closes her puffy eyes, and I can tell by her pained expression that it hurts to keep them open. It probably hurts to move her eyelids at all.
“God, I hate her,” Naomi snarls. “I hope one of these assholes smartens up and kills her.”
“Don’t say that.”
“I mean it.” Naomi cringes as she shifts, and I start to regret coming in here. For once, Desiree wasn’t lying. Naomi needs her rest. “You should think so too after she tried to get you killed.”
“I don’t think like they do. I’m not a murderer… You shouldn’t think like them either.”
“If I could burn this whole island to the ground, I would. In a heartbeat. Even if you and I were still on it.Fuckthem and everyone else here.”
“Naomi…”
“What?” she snaps. This isn’t the first time we’ve talked about things like this, but then I could tell she was joking. Now, I don’t think she is.
“What did he do to you?” I whisper, my heart sinking to my stomach.
She winces, but not from physical pain this time.
Neither of us say anything for a long time, long enough that I give up on getting the answer I’m not sure I wanted to begin with.
A pained sound comes from Naomi, and it takes me a few moments to realize she’s crying. If tears leak from her eyes, I can’t see them with how beat up her face is. I cry tears for her, and getting as close as I can without hurting her, I put my hand on her back in a weak hug.
I close my eyes, silent tears sliding past my lids, and try not to make a sound. I try to be strong for her, which is what I know she would do for me. But it’s a struggle. I’ve always been the weaker one.
“Promise me something,” Naomi says, straining to quiet her sobs.
I open my eyes and look into brown irises pleading with me through two tiny slits.
“Promise me you won’t let these fuckers fool you.”
I stare at her as my chest seizes, forcing myself not to look away. I know exactly who and what she’s referring to.
I wish I could explain it to her. I wish there was some way she could possibly understand that Angel isn’t like the man who did this to her. He wouldn’t do this. He doesn’t manipulate like Sawyer does or have the predatory nature of Jasper.
He’s different. He’s… He’s notthem.
But I can’t tell her that. I know how it sounds. There’s a part of me that still knows it could be a lie.
“I’ll try,” I say, lifting my lips into a sad smile.
She closes her eyes fully and holds her hand out for me. I hold onto it and let another tear escape.
“I’m tired.” She sighs.
I clear my throat, hoping the turmoil that’s drowning me won’t be evident in my voice. “I’ll let you get some rest.”
“Lib.” She tugs on my hand when I go to stand, and I crouch back down.
“Yeah?”
“Please don’t leave me.”
I give her hand a squeeze and try not to weep at how broken she sounds, how much vulnerability she just let leak through. “I’ll stay… Get some rest.”
Naomi hums but doesn’t say anything else. I sit on the floor, still holding onto her hand as I rest my head against the bed.
I close my eyes, listening to Naomi’s breaths until they become heavy. I hope her dreams are better than her reality.