Read Online Liberty At Last (The Liberty Series) by Leigh James - Free Book Online Page B

drinking cold bottled water and I shivered every time I did — I’d never take clean water for granted again. I made myself look long and hard at myself in the mirror. Let’s try to move past the stupid part of life, I thought. Going to Mexico was stupid. Risking my life to find Catherine was stupid. John would have been completely ruined if I’d died down there. Then he would have lost both of us.
    I nodded at myself in the mirror: no more stupid. But part of me, a small part, felt triumphant. I had done it, after all. Even though Catherine was a disaster, it was worth it. It was my choice. I did it for John. I did it for me. And I made it back.
    I made it back. Tears sprang to my eyes. I couldn’t believe how incredibly freaking lucky I was.
    John came in then, in a tee shirt and sweats, his hair tousled and wild above his head. He must’ve been laying down, watching sports or the news while I’d been in here.
    “Hey honey,” he said. “You look like you feel a whole lot better.”
    I hugged him to my damp body and let the inevitable tears run down my face. “Oh my god, John, I’m so sorry,” I said, sniffling. “I love you so much. I thought I was never going to see you again.”
    He crushed me to him, rocking me back and forth. “I love you, babe. I didn’t want to be any more emotional than I already was in front of the guys — but you have to know. You’re my whole life. I would have died if I lost you.” He kissed my wet hair and wrapped his arms around me.
    He stood back a little, taking me in. “You’re so thin,” he said, running his hands down my body. “I can’t stand to feel your body like this. It makes me want to hurt somebody.” He held my hands out and ran his eyes down me — like he was taking inventory of my hurts. The burn marks. Oh good lord, the burn marks.
    He stood back for a second, clenching his hands into fists. Then he reached for both my wrists, taking hold of them gently. He flipped my arms over and gently ran his hands down my inner arms, next to the marks. “Burns,” he said, as he touched me oh so gently. “Burns from cigarettes. She did this to you.” He looked up at me, levelly.
    “It was a guard,” I said. “I don’t know his name —”
    “Don’t lie to me. Not to protect her,” he said.
    “I’m trying to protect you ,” I said.
    “Don’t. I don’t deserve it,” he said, releasing me. “I did this to her. I left her there.”
    I took the pink pajamas John had brought in and put them on. I watched him as he winced looking at my naked body. He ran his hands down my torso, touching every rib. “What else did they do to you?” he asked. I could hear the absolute fury in his voice. “Did they touch you? Did anyone —”
    “No, baby, no” I said, understanding his worst fear. I made sure my clothes were on so he couldn’t see any more trauma. “Nobody touched me. I swear.”
    “Still,” he said, smiling at me sadly, “I’m going back to kill them all.”
    I looked at him, but decided to save the lecture about how he was never killing anyone ever again for later. I stroked his face. “I’m here, baby, I’m alive. Let’s go to bed and you can tell me how you saved me.”
    I started heading out of the bathroom then stopped short. “Wait — are we still alone?” I asked. He shook his head yes and grabbed my hand, leading me to the enormous bed. I felt so bad for him right now. I knew how much he wanted to be with Catherine, but she seemed to want nothing to do with him. It must be horrible, especially after so much time. She was his daughter. Probably the most important person in the world to him.
    “Catherine is having her chilled vodka and chain smoking next to the window in her room. The doctor’s already been here and checked her foot. He put in some stitches and gave her crutches, which she swears she won’t use. He gave her antibiotics and a painkiller, so at least she’ll be okay. Sean’s having an espresso and keeping an eye