Page 32 of Taming Liberty

We silently observe them, and when Sawyer tosses a sopping wet article of clothing—presumably belonging to Anna—onto the shore, it starts to feel a little too voyeury.

“We should go back,” I whisper, shifting behind a tree. I pull my clothes back over my head and straighten the material. The CamelBac is still in the clearing, but there’s no way I’m chancing going back for it.

Angel and I both turn, but we don't even make it a foot before my spine freezes over and leaves my body achingly straight.

Jasper stands only a few feet away wearing the evilest smirk I’ve ever seen.

He nods a hello. “Hi there.” His gaze is trained on me, but I don’t miss the taunting glances he throws Angel. “Plan on joining the party, or are you both just here to watch?”

Were you following us?

I want to voice the question, but my brain won’t command my mouth to do it. All I can manage is a step toward Angel.

He’s shooting daggers at Jasper. “What the fuck are you doing sneaking up on us?”

More voices sound to the right of us, and my eyes flit that way. A mammoth of a man appears with a woman hanging on his arm and a small ice chest balanced on his shoulder with one hand. I recognize the man but don’t know his name. One time, Naomi said he looked like he had bowling balls under his skin where his shoulders are supposed to be, so I’ve always thought of him as Bowling Ball Guy.

“Sneaking up on you?” Jasper chuckles. “I came to say hello. I can’t help it if I'm stealthy, it’s a side effect of my occupation.”

He winks at me, and I sense Angel bubbling beside me like a volcano about to erupt. Which only seems to amuse Jasper.

“Jasper, what the fuck?” Bowling Ball Guy yells.

I turn back to look at the new arrivals, but the guy isn’t looking this way. He’s staring at the path they just came from.

“Coming!” Jasper yells, stepping toward me. He snickers when I flinch and hurry out of his way.

Bowling Ball Guy and the woman turn to face us, and our hiding spot suddenly feels like a wide-open space. Sawyer and Anna don’t bother pulling apart long enough to look this way, but the other three definitely see us.

“Ramos?” Bowling Ball Guy shouts.

Jasper enters the clearing and throws a taunting grin at Angel over his shoulder.

“Goddamn it,” Angel mutters. He turns to me. “This will be quick, okay?”

“What will?”

Angel gestures toward the people like that answers my question, then he turns and starts toward the clearing.

“Angel,” I hiss, looking between him and the people. He continues on, so I swallow and follow behind him, hurrying like I’m afraid he’ll leave me. It wouldn’t be so bad if Jasper wasn’t in the mix. I can easily handle the others.

“Hey, man.” Bowling Ball Guy extends his meaty arms in a welcoming gesture. “What the hell are you doing out here?”

I look over at Sawyer and Anna as we walk up. Sawyer is turned toward us, his eyes trained on Angel. He doesn’t look happy to see him.

“Hiking,” Angel replies.

“Is that all?” Jasper asks. He’s close to us, slowly falling back like he’s going to start circling us.

We reach the others and pause a few feet away.

“We didn’t realize we’d have company,” Angel says.

I force my lips to lift as I make eye contact with the woman and give a subtle wave. She waves back. The collar around her neck tells me she’s Bowling Ball Guy’s live-in employee. I still can’t bring myself to use the word ‘slave.’ Doubt I ever will.

“Perfect timing, then.” Bowling Ball Guy’s unruly beard ruffles when he smiles, a metal tooth gleaming at us. The guy looks far more like a bodyguard than he does an elite. “Hang out with us.”

“Oh, we were just going to head out.” Angel peers up at the sky which has gotten cloudy. “It looks like it might rain soon.”

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