Page 5 of Liberate Us

I sighed.“My brother-in-law.”

“You’remarried?” Cyrus shook his head. “If you hurt my—”

“What? No.God, no. I’m not married anymore. My husband died if you must know, but Ihaven’t even had this conversation with Sammy yet.” I turned toward Sam. “I’mnot married. I’m widowed.”

“I’m sorryfor your loss,” he said gently.

My stomachtwisted. “Don’t be.” I wanted to add that my late husband wasn’t worth thesympathy but refrained and kept that thought to myself.

Sammy’seyes searched my face. “What does Will want with you then?”

“He was abiker. Was in the same crew as Aaron, my late husband, before he went rogue.I’m still friends with some of the guys, so Will tries to get me to give himinformation from time to time, but I always refuse. I know what happens tosnitches. That’s not me.”

“I’m goingto call Jaron. Fucker shouldn’t be here without first notifying us.” Cyrus wentback to his table, leaving me alone with his brother.

Sammy’seyes burned into me, probably wondering if I was telling the truth or not. Iwas, but in all fairness to him, he didn’t know me well, so I wouldn’t blamehim if he thought I wasn’t.

“I can feelyou staring at me,” I murmured.

“I’mwondering if you’re telling the truth or not,” he said, taking the thoughtright out of my head.

“Trust me,Sam. I have no reason to lie. I married young because I was stupid and didn’tknow any better.” A bitter taste filled my mouth, but I pushed those thoughtsaside. I couldn’t have this conversation with Sammy yet. If ever at all. “Aarondied four years ago and I’ve been single ever since.” I was pushing thirty andhad no intention of ever getting married again, let alone falling in love.“There’s no one stopping us from fucking. You don’t have to worry about anotherbig bad biker cock blocking you.” I patted his chest. “It’s me. I’m choosingnot to fuck you.” When I took a step away from him, his hand wrapped around myupper arm.

“How closeare you with Will?”

I looked upthen, being met by dark eyes I had fantasized about for months. “Why?”

Sammy’sbrows narrowed. “Feeling defensive?”

I shovedout of his grip, pushing him back. “You know—”

Suddenly,Sammy wrapped a hand around my throat and pushed me back against the door thatled to a storage room. He reached around me and opened the door, shoving meinto the room.

“What thehell?” I demanded, pushing against his chest.

“Stop.” Heslammed me up against the door, closing it behind me.

“No, Sammy,you stop.” I stepped down on his foot, pushing him back with all of mystrength.

He stumbledback. “Amber.”

I glared athim. “You can’t put your hands on me whenever you feel like it. You can’tdemand things of me, talk down to me, treat me like you do, and expect—”

“Shut thefuck up.” Sammy grabbed the collar of my shirt, pulling me toward him andshoving me up against the door. “I am not him. I am not your husband. I am notanyone you’ve ever been with.”

I scoffed.“What, Sammy? Are you going to say you’re better?”

His lips twitched.Was he actually going to smile for once? He removed his hand from my throat,brushing his thumb along the length of my jaw. “I’m not better. People comeinto our lives at different times for different reasons. They are not better. Iam not better. I am just here.”

“That’s thething.” I swallowed hard, knowing my next words would probably change things.“Youarebetter. I can’t explain it, but you are.”

Sammyopened his mouth to respond when a hard knock sounded on the door behind me.

“Red, Candaceis looking for you,” came a feminine voice from the other side.

“Coming,” Icalled out. I turned to open the door when a hand slapped against it beside myhead.

“Text me,Red.” Sammy’s mouth brushed along the shell of my ear causing a shiver to rippledown my spine.

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