Page 38 of Claiming Liberty

I turn around to face her. “I just need to buy some time to think.”

She scoffs. “Think about what?”

About how the hell I’m going to live with myself allowing women to get kidnapped and raped. It isn’t just Prudence and Naomi… There are others. I don’t know who or how many or for how long this has been happening because none of the women will talk to me, not even Amari. I have a feeling Prudence isn’t the only person Sawyer’s made afraid of me.

I still haven’t spoken to him. If I do, he’ll lie, and I’ll find myself not knowing what to believe. I need time to wrap my head around this without him climbing inside it and twisting my thoughts further.

“I don’t know,” I answer to avoid having to explain all of this to Naomi.

The bag crinkles as she lowers it to her side. “Unless you’re planning on killing Sawyer, just give it up. Let her accept her fate, and stop going to the manor if it bothers you so much. I know you have good intentions, but…”

My brow furrows. “But what?”

Naomi sighs. “If you don’t stop, she’s going to end up like Liberty and Beth.”

Like Liberty and Beth… I’m not even sure what exactly she means. That I’m going to kill Prudence the way I supposedly killed Liberty and Beth? Has she heard both rumors? I don’t have the best track record, but…

I don’t know. I turn and leave without asking what she means because I don’t want Liberty to come up in conversation. The safest thing for Liberty is for everyone to think I killed her. If that’s what Naomi believes … then I guess that’s a good thing.

Naomi doesn’t stop me as I take the stairs to the first floor and head outside. I walk down the path to the manor and see several people around the pool when I reach the gate.

Prudence is supposed to be hanging around the door to the playroom, laying low until I get there. That’s been our arrangement. I show up early, take her to a room, and she stays there until it’s late enough that she can get away with going to bed.

I keep my head down as I pass the pool and go inside. It’s quiet as I make my way to the playroom, my steps echoing off the walls. When I get to the playroom doors, Cooper stands in front of them. Normally there’s only a guard on the inside, so his presence is unusual.

He steps in front of me to block the entrance, and I narrow my eyes at him.

“What are you doing?”

He cups his large hands in front of him and swallows, his throat working. The guy’s a giant, six-five, maybe six-six, but right now he looks nervous.

“You’re not allowed in tonight, Mr. A.”

My eyes widen. “What?”

“It was Mr. Hansley’s request, sir… Sorry.”

I blink at him, taken aback.

Are you fucking serious?

My blood heats as anger sloshes through me. “Get thefuckout of my way.” Teeth bared, I step up to him and shove him when he tries to hold me back. He falls into the door with a bang, then clumsily pats his waistband before pulling out a gun and pointing it at me. I don’t so much as flinch.

“Put it away, Cooper.”

Both our heads turn to peer at Sawyer on my left, and I throw my anger his way. “What the fuck is this?” I flick my hand at Cooper.

Sawyer’s lips are drawn into a thin line as he motions to the foyer. “Let’s talk in private.”

“We’ll talk right fucking here,” I growl, my chest heaving.

Without a word, Sawyer turns to the foyer and walks that way. When he disappears out the main door, I turn to give Cooper one last glare before storming after Sawyer.

He stands waiting for me outside, his hands in his pockets.

“What are you doing, Sawyer?” I ask, stepping up to him and shaking my head.

“Well,” he drawls. “Since you’ve decided to stop answering your door and taking my calls, I don’t see why it would be unreasonable for me not to want you in my manor. Especially considering all you plan to do is walk the new girl up to a room.”

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