Page 77 of Claiming Liberty
Air doesn’t rush from my lungs… For what seems like an excruciatingly long time, it gets trapped inside them. Sawyer breaks away from me as I hunch over, air finally expelling from me. It’s the perfect opportunity for his knee to smash my face next, which I unfortunately realize with only enough time to brace myself.
But it doesn’t come.
The two men who were on my patio file in, and one jerks me up before forcing my hands behind my back. I yank my arms away just before the other guy kicks me in the stomach, and I lose whatever breathing capabilities I had left.
I’m shoved to the ground, my cheek burning against the carpet while one guy presses his knee into my neck and the other ties my hands behind my back with some kind of cord.
“I know it’s not a lot, but I want you to know I’m not going to kill Liberty or the girl. If she’s worth dying for, I’ll respect that.”
“Go fuck yourself,” I growl, although his words bring me relief.
I can’t save her. I don’t know that I ever could have. I know whatever Sawyer provides isn’t the life she’ll deem worth living…
But at least she’ll live.
I turn my head enough to barely make out Sawyer’s face while my ankles are tied together with the same cord-like material. It’s wrapped around my knees next, like he’s planning on wrapping me up like a mummy.
Sawyer’s eyes are watery. I’ve questioned so many times as of late if he’s been real with me. If he’s as good at manipulating me as everyone seems to claim.
Looking into his eyes now, I know without a shadow of a doubt that those tears are real. And I wish like hell that didn’t mean anything to me. Thathedidn’t mean anything to me.
My brother.
My best friend.
My only family I’ve had my entire adult life.
Now my enemy. My murderer.
It’s almost funny... Everyone’s been hoping for me to kill him, but I never once seriously questioned if he’d kill me.
He turns away and takes a step toward the kitchen.
“Sawyer.”
He turns, tears still glistening in his eyes.
“Did you kill Beth?”
He lets a couple of seconds pass which is a couple of seconds too long. My heart sinks, and my throat clogs.
He nods before turning away.
The cord tying my wrists is connected to the cord at my knees, not quite a hog-tie, but there’s plenty of strain in my arms. The two brutes leave me where I am, following after Sawyer. No bullet in my head like I expect.
It isn’t until I smell smoke that I figure out why.
19
LIBERTY
Austin leads me away from Angel’s house to the manor.
Not that it matters much, considering I’m probably walking to my prison or even death, but I would’ve preferred Cooper. At least he wouldn’t hold my arm in such a bruising grip.
“Hurry up,” Austin snaps, all but dragging me to keep up with his long strides.
“Well, excuse me for not being a fucking giant.”