Page 3 of Freeing Emily

“Emily, are you okay?” Declan says, scooping her body from the ground.

Emily shrugs him off and then turns to me. Pink tints her cheeks, and she offers me a small smile. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t watching where I was going.”

“No, I’m sorry. I was tryin’ to keep up with Declan and Rhys.”

She pushes a strand of red hair behind her ear and nods.

“Where are you headed?” Her eyes flick to Declan.

“To the docks. We’ll be back in a few hours,” He replies.

I’m not sure what’s come over me. My eyes refuse to stray away from her stunning face. Her slightly upturned nose is littered with freckles that span across her cheeks. Her pouty lips are the perfect shade of rose pink. She’s petite with soft curves that demand worship. I’m captivated by her beauty in ways that I can’t comprehend.

Declan notices my stare, his jaw ticks and his eyes narrow.

“Liam,” Rhys’s voice cuts through my daze and I startle.

“Aye?”

“Let’s head to the car.”

He spins on his heels and makes for the front door. I quickly shoot a glance in Emily’s direction then follow Rhys.

“What the fuck was that?” he asks the moment I meet him by the SUV. He crosses his arms over his chest and looks at me in annoyance.

“I haven’t the slightest idea what you’re takin’ ‘bout,” I say with a raised brow.

He gestures an arm to the mansion. “Do you have a death wish, kid? That’s Declan’s little sister.”

“How was I to know? I’ve never met her.”

Just as he is going to reply, Declan exits the mansion and stalks toward me with a venomous glare. Stopping just inches away from my face, he jabs a finger into my chest.

“Stay away from her,” he snarls.

I raise my hands in surrender, “I wasn’t aware who she was. I’m sorry.”

“Well, now you know and I’m warning you. Stay away from her.”

“Yessir.”

With one final jab in the chest, he shoulders past me and slides into the SUV.

Movement catches my attention and I swing my gaze to the mansion. Emily is standing at the entrance facing our direction. I feel her gaze on my skin like the heat of the summer sun. Electricity strums once more throughout my body.

Rhys coughs under his breath and I meet his eyes. They flare slightly and he juts his chin toward the car. Spinning on my heels, I climb in.

The crates filled with weapons are arranged meticulously around the warehouse. Grunts fill my ears as the men haul them into the vans and trucks for transport. The smell of gunpowder and metal invade my sinuses.

“Rhys, Finn, and I monitor the shipments, but Finn is now going to be handling outside communications for my da, so we’ll have you help monitor them.” Declan steps up to my right and I turn my head to meet his eyes.

Slipping my hands into my pockets, I turn back to the men and nod. “Alright, when do you want me to start?”

“Today. Finn is going to be heading out to Arizona with my da to discuss an arrangement with a gang out there.”

I nod again.

“I have some business to handle so I’ll leave you and Rhys to it. He’ll show you what is expected of you.” With a pat on my back, Declan leaves the warehouse.

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