Read Online Liberty Begins (The Liberty Series) by Leigh James - Free Book Online Page A

was how Matthew had carried me out of the club. It must have been their signature move. I didn’t look at the prisoner when they carried him past me, struggling; I just looked through half-closed lids at his reflection in the window. His eyes were wild, searching.
    I didn’t know what to make of any of this.
    When everyone else had gotten settled on the bus John went up to Matthew. I was still pretending to be asleep so no one tried to talk to me or ask me to duck and cover. “Don’t ever let that happen again,” John said. He sounded angry. I knew he was talking about me.
    “I know. I won’t,” Matthew said. “She just wanted to get to you.”
    I squinted though one eye and saw John smile a little at this. Then he shook his head. “You’re going to have to take care of her if something happens if I get hurt. I have to be able to trust you. Do you understand?”
    Take care of me? I didn’t know what he meant, and I didn’t know if I should be pleased or petrified. I felt a little of both.
    Matthew was silent so I guessed he nodded. That’s when John came and sat next to me. He didn’t speak, just grabbed my hand and held it. Warmth spread through my body. Even given the weird circumstances, it felt wonderful. I felt oddly safe. Complete. When his breathing got heavy I figured he was asleep. I had never held hands with anyone before, never had anyone fall asleep next to me. I was afraid to move and break the spell.
    Eventually I had the nerve to open my eyes, to watch the sky as we drove through it, the mountains in the distance. A million stars, all laid out like a blanket. Like a map I knew I should be able to read but couldn’t. They were there every night, I mused, finally falling asleep, with John beside me. They were there every night and I wasn’t any closer to knowing what they meant.
    I only slept a little bit, and then I woke to the gray sky and the few stars left. Matthew was still driving, John was still sleeping.
    “Liberty,” John said and sat up suddenly, rubbing his eyes. “Are you all right?”
    “Um, I think so,” I said, and I realized then that I did feel okay, not shaky anymore, not sore or bruised.
    “You must need the bathroom.” When he said it, I realized it was true. “It’s in the back. Do you want me to take you?”
    “What am I, five?” I asked, and laughed. John laughed, too, and touched my face. I felt that warm heat spread through my body. I really wanted to kiss him. I had never felt like that about anyone before; but right then I understood the need. In that moment, I didn’t care if he had a concealed weapon and I really had to pee. All I cared about were the fading stars, the stark desert, his beautiful face.
    Of course I chickened out. I stood up to walk down the aisle. “Oh, wait!” I said, and plopped down in the seat opposite him, ignoring my bladder. “What happened at the club? Did anybody get hurt? Are my friends okay?”
    “The only person who got hurt didn’t get hurt enough,” John said, gesturing towards the back. “I spoke with Cruz. Everyone got out fine.”
    “I thought our passenger was friends with Cruz,” I said. “Does he know you have him?”
    John laughed. “We are being paid to babysit him as we speak,” John said. “Now, go have some privacy. When you get back we can talk about logistics.”
    I made my way towards the back of the bus, nodding at the guys who made eye contact with me. They were mostly young, in their twenties and thirties. They were all well dressed, although most of them had undone or abandoned their ties at this point. The hostage was in the third to the last row, seated next to the window, with two guys behind him, next to him and in front. He glared up at me with a filthy stare, hate in his eyes. I was glad his mouth was taped shut. I looked down until I made it to the bathroom.
    When I said this was a tour bus I was right: the bathroom would have been fit for a major rock band. There were granite countertops,