Page 55 of Out to Find Freedom

That was why I had to steer clear.

She had her whole life ahead of her.

One where she’d come through from the shitstorm she’d been dealt and grow stronger. Into a beautiful woman. She’d marry, have kids, smile, love, and laugh. She deserved it all.

Yet hearing her scream, I found it bloody hard not to go in there and comfort her.

Fuck. I wanted to take Emmie into my arms and hold her.

This shit was messed up.

I had to keep myself busy, so I didn’t weaken and visit like I had again. I needed to stay the hell away, let her be. Thank fuck cases were coming in, and there was still the hunt for Phillip goddamn Burrows. Couldn’t believe he’d taken off. Disappeared without a trace.

I was determined to find the dickhead.

Determined to make sure Emmie could breathe without fear consuming her. They’d told me she hadn’t even been outside yet. Julian did all the shopping for her after she’d got her bank card back from the house, within her aunt’s purse. She’d freaked when the women had visited too. The only people she seemed to like and could be herself around were Julian, Mattie, and Killer. He was the last man I expected her to feel comfortable around, but she did. From what I heard, if he wasn’t patrolling, he visited Emmie a lot. They hardly talked, but they liked to watch some show together.

I hated it.

“Got to go,” I told Mattie, heading for the front door again.

“Why don’t you call in when she’s awake?”

I paused with my hand on the door handle. “It’s easier this way.”

“For her or you?”

I snorted. It was for me, but for her too.

“Warden,” Julian called.

I shifted to meet his gaze and also saw he had the door to the hallway closed. “Never have I seen her smile like that until I played her the music. She knows it came from your suggestion. She appreciates it.”

I nodded.

“She cares for you,” he added.

I shook my head and smirked. “She’s young, doesn’t know how to feel or act after goin’ through what she did.”

Julian glared. “She’s smart and so much older in her mind than you give her credit for.”

I narrowed my own eyes. “Why the fuck you sayin’ this shit for anyway?”

“Because I know you care for her.”

I laughed without a trace of humour. “We don’t know each other.”

“Then get to know one another. Stop running from her.”

“This is fuckin’ ridiculous,” I clipped. “I’m outta here.” Before he could say anything else, I turned back to the door and headed outside, closing the door behind me. What I wanted to do was slam the fucker. Knowing she’d be lying down listening to the music I suggested was the only thing that held me back.

Why in the hell did Julian tell me that?“She cares for you.”

She could. Maybe she did. But it wouldn’t be the right way. She could see me as… Christ, maybe her knight in shining armour. Someone who got her out of a hellhole into freedom.

I didn’t goddamn know.

“Warden.” I looked over my shoulder just as I reached my ute to see Mattie coming my way. “Emmie is—”

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