Page 29 of Claiming Liberty
Fair point.
I chew on my lip and think for a second. The solution is obvious to me, but I don’t like it. “Then one of us will have to tell Chaffer directly.”
Peter mimics my posture, leaning toward me. “By one of us, you mean…”
I rub the back of my neck and look away. Fuck, I hate this. I know what I’d have to do to get Chaffer alone, to get him to let his guard down.
I’ve done worse.
I squeeze my eyes closed and try not to think of his hands on me, try not to picture his naked body. The fact is, Elsie needs me. Naomi needs me. They don’t have forever to wait, and they’ve already been put through worse than one night with an egotistical man.
If I had a better plan, I’d go with it. But this is the one I’ve got.
With a sigh rushing past my lips, I open my eyes and look at Peter.
“Take me back.”
6
ANGEL
From across the playroom, Prudence nurses a drink she’s too young to have. She pretends to, at least. I haven’t actually seen her bring the glass to her lips. She swirls a tiny umbrella in the liquid, her head down and body stiff as she hunches forward on a couch.
A guy in ripped jeans and a sleeveless shirt sits beside her, his arm slung over the back of the couch while his mouth moves close to her ear. I don’t know him, but he doesn’t strike me as dangerous. Then again, I can’t see that well with these goddamn strobe lights.
I’ve been watching them for a solid five minutes, and not once has Prudence looked up. I don’t know if the guy doesn’t realize she isn’t interested or if he thinks she’ll relax. She doesn’t technically have to fuck him if she doesn’t want to, but I’m sure she’s figured out by now that making Sawyer happy is in her best interest. Sawyer’s happy when the residents are happy.
The music is loud enough that my teeth chatter, so when I feel the pulse at my thigh, it blends in with the other vibrations, and I don’t immediately reach for my phone. Not until I feel it again a minute later.
I pull out my cell and peel my gaze from Prudence to look down at the screen. I have a missed call from Chaffer and a text from him sent shortly after.
Sorry to hear about your girl.
My eyes narrow at the screen, though I don’t know why it surprises me that he already knows about Liberty. Word travels fast on the island.
I sigh and go to put the phone away when another text comes through.
You should stop by. We miss you here.
I stare at the screen a moment before putting away the phone. The invite is tempting… A cigar and a game of cards sounds a hell of a lot better than blaring music and a perfume headache, but I don’t plan on leaving the girl. Something isn’t right about her. I don’t know who she is or the true story of how she came here, but Sawyer lied to me about it, and I intend to find out why.
The guy with the ripped jeans looks to his right and smiles at a person walking up to the couch. I squint to try to make out the newcomer, but his back is to me, and it’s too dark. Ripped Jeans scoots over, pulling Prudence with him, and the new guy sits on her other side. Once he faces this way, I see the dark hair carefully styled in an undercut and the scar running along his cheek.
Eli Colley.
My eyes widen as I look between Prudence and Eli.
I know him from Chaffer’s, but I’ve never seen him here. I haven’t seen himat allfor maybe a year, not since Chaffer kicked him out for severely beating his slave on Chaffer’s property.
The image of that woman sticks in my mind now, and I wince. I know some bad shit happens to women here, but the sight of half her ear missing was enough for me to bring it to Sawyer’s attention. I thought for sure he’d banned him from the island.
I guess not.
Eli puts his hand on Prudence’s knee before sliding it up her thigh, beneath her short dress. Finally, she looks up, her face twisted with disgust or fear or both, and we lock eyes. In them is a plea so innocent that the air leaves my lungs, my stomach clenching like I’ve just been punched.
Eli must sense me approaching as I walk up to the couch because he turns my way.
He dips his chin. “Mr. A.”