Page 14 of Liberated Mountain Man

Just as I’m gaining the upper hand, I hear the crackle of a branch underfoot. My blood runs cold. I turn to see her father emerging from the shadows, a cruel smirk spreading across his face. My heart skips a beat when I see Cassie with him. Hands tied up, her eyes wide with fear, her body trembling.

The sight of her, vulnerable and terrified, stops me dead in my tracks. The fight drains from my muscles as I realize the gravity of the situation. Her father’s gaze meets mine, a twisted satisfaction in his eyes.

“You think you can just take my daughter and get away with it?” he sneers. “It took me a while to track you down. Money talks, and people will always betray for the right price. Just like your father.” His words cut through the air like a blade. “She’ll be in Russia by morning, and you’ll be dead. I’ve had enough of this charade. Take him into the forest and kill him.”

I’m going to fucking kill this man!

The men, momentarily stunned by the sight of her father, quickly recover. They hold me down trying to restrain me, but I don’t make it easy for them.

Cassie’s eyes meet mine, filled with a mix of terror and something else—love. Her scream pierces through the chaos.

“Don’t hurt him, please! I love him!”

Her plea for my life hits me like a thunderbolt. She fucking loves me as much as I love her. Nothing will happen to my Cassie I will make sure of it. I struggle against the men holding me, my muscles straining.

“Cassie!” I shout, my voice raw with desperation. I fight against their grip, but their hold is unbreakable. Each second feels like an eternity as I watch her—tied up, her eyes wide with fear.

“Take him into the forest. Make sure he suffers before you kill him.”

With the order given, the men start dragging me deeper into the woods. My heart races as I struggle against their grip, my mind racing to find any opportunity to escape. I’m dragged past Cassie and her dad. I want to break his damn legs. Her eyes meet mine, and she gives me a strange look. Is Cassie going to do something?

Then, as if on cue, Cassie makes her move. In a bold, defiant act, she bites down hard on her father’s arm. He lets out a howl of pain, his grip on her loosening just enough to create a momentary distraction.

I spot my chance as they drag me toward the forest, the men’s grips loosening just enough.

“Run, Cassie! Get to the cabin!” I shout, my voice a harsh, commanding roar.

With a surge of strength, I break free from their hold, my arms swinging wildly as I grab a nearby fallen branch. I use it tothrash at the men, each swing fuelled by the need to protect her. My training kicks in, turning my rage into lethal precision.

In the chaos, Cassie bolts for the cabin, her figure vanishing into the distance. With the remaining men momentarily disoriented, I spot a gun lying on the ground. I snatch it up, feeling the cold metal settle into my hand as I prepare to fight back.

I take aim, my focus narrowing as I pick off the remaining men with swift, precise shots. Then two shots go flying over my head. I duck instinctively; it’s her damn father.

My heart pounds in my chest, adrenaline surging as I duck behind a tree to avoid incoming fire. I peer out.

“Jax!” Her voice cuts through the chaos, and I see her running back towards me. The sight of her only fuels my resolve, but her father spots her and turns around, his face twisted in malice. What the fuck? He’s going to kill her. Why did she run back?

I don’t hesitate. With a grim determination, I raise the gun and fire three shots, each one finding its mark in her father’s back. He stumbles, then falls, his body collapsing to the ground.

I rush toward Cassie, my heart racing as I scoop her up in my arms, pulling her close.

“I’ve got you.” As I shield her from any further harm, I feel her trembling in my embrace. Her father’s body lies sprawled on the ground, not too far away.

I hold Cassie tightly, my heart pounding as I try to calm my breathing. The noise of the forest fades away, leaving just the urgent, throbbing silence between us. I look down at her, my voice choked with a mixture of relief and frustration.

“What were you thinking, my sweet girl? What in the hell were you trying to do?” My voice cracks, full of anguish, and my eyes burn with unshed tears as I run my hands over her, checking for injuries, my touch trembling. “You could have been killed! You knew what they were going to do to you!” I can't contain the anger and desperation in my voice. “How could you risk your life like that? How dare you put yourself in such danger?”

I pull her even closer, my heart aching with fierce protectiveness. “Do you think I could live with myself if something happened to you? Do you think I'd want to go on knowing you're gone? I'd be a wreck, Cassie. A complete fucking wreck.”

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I just wanted to be free. I didn’t want to be a prisoner and I thought that’s what you wanted to do with me.”

“I know you want that, but now that your father is gone, you can have it. He was an evil man. I will feel better if you go out and do things, but you still have to tell me where you are at all times.”

“I know he was evil, and I’m glad he’s gone Jax.”

I clutch her tightly, my movements erratic and desperate. Every part of me is shaking—adrenaline, fear, love.

“Goddammit,” I mutter, my voice raw and trembling. “I’m going to have nightmares for the rest of my life. You ran straight in front of the gun. Don’t you ever put me through this again. You are my life, Cassie. Please. My fucking life.”

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