Out to Find Freedom

by Lila Rose

  When I saw the basement, how she’d been living for two years…. Christ, ripping them a new one hadn’t been my only thought. I pulled the notebook we’d found out of my back pocket and handed it to Lan.

  “She wrote about her experience.” My jaw clenched. I’d read the first part and murder had been on my mind. They’d killed the guy she went on one date with. Right in front of her. She’d seen a girl on the couch, drugged out and raped. Marshalling my calm, I sucked in a deep breath. “I didn’t read it all, but what I did was enough to make sure none of them see the light of day for a very fuckin’ long time.” Lan turned to the pictures she drew—ones that were clear as day at identifying who they were. Bloody perfect. I pointed to one. “All except him. We don’t know who this one is yet. What we don’t have is a picture of the drug supplier who was there tonight. My guess is Emmie’s never seen him before.”

  Lan nodded. “He’s been wanted for a hell of a long time. He’ll go away for an extended period as well.”

  “This situation is fucked up.”

  “Even worse, another thing I caught in there”—I pointed at the book—“was that those motherfucking cunts are connected to drugging, kidnapping, and raping women before they get dumped with no memory. It’s how all this shit started for her. She walked in on the cunts filmin’ a girl drugged out on the couch and getting fucked. They freaked, killed the guy Emmie had been with, and locked her in the basement.”

  “Jesus Christ. Fucking hell,” Lan muttered. He snapped the book closed, rolled it, and put it in his back pocket. “When I get her recorded interview, that and the book will be iron-clad proof for the case. Like you said, they’ll be going away for a long time.”

  I nodded. This whole situation was fucked. It had my gut coiling in revulsion. “At least my client will have answers as well,” I muttered, more to myself than the others.

  “We have your client’s statement on file. I’ll add it to what we get off Emerson,” Lan said, then added, “Do you know why Emerson was freaked about Vi?”

  “Not Violet,” Killer supplied. He leaned his arse on the arm of the couch. “It was more her voice, and the fact that she’s female. I think she’ll have to be watched around any woman. The aunt did a number on her.”

  “What do you mean?” I clipped.

  “You might not have seen them. Her thighs looked like they’d been sliced up with knives. I got a peek of her wrist and it looked the same. Her cunt of an aunt did it to her. I don’t know what else she’s done, but fuck, to live through that would be enough nightmares for decades.”

  “It’s not only her thighs and wrist,” Julian said. We watched him descend the stairs, and when he stopped at the bottom, he went on, “Her full arms and chest as well. Currently, she might have cracked or bruised ribs. All from her aunt. I suggested we call Nancy, but she won’t have it. She doesn’t even want to go to the hospital to get checked out.”

  Fury rang in my ears. Murder wouldn’t be enough for fucking Gloria. She needed pain, slowly, and for the rest of her life.

  “Can’t say I blame her for not wanting Nancy near her right now,” Killer said.

  Julian sighed and then nodded. “I’ll wrap her after the shower just in case. She’s only wincing, so I’m thinking they’re more bruised than cracked.”

  I didn’t like the thought of Julian near her like that. Not that I understood completely why, but it chafed me the wrong way.

  Yet I ignored it. I wouldn’t look like a dickhead saying shit and stopping Julian from helping Emmie.

  “Where’s she gonna stay?” Killer asked.

  “She can stay here,” I volunteered without even thinking, then snapped my mouth shut knowing it was wrong. They all looked at me. “Actually, she should stay with you, Julian. She seems comfortable.”

  He smiled. “Isn’t everyone.”

  “Nope,” Lan said.

  “No,” Killer clipped.

  “Not really,” I admitted.

  Julian rolled his eyes. “Stop it, you’ll make me blush. I know you all love me. But you’re right, Loki. She should stay with me and Mattie. I’ll see if I can get her to talk to someone professionally as well, but it’s also doubtful.” He dragged out his phone from his pocket. “I’ll ring my man now and let him know.”

  “I’ll head out and talk to the rest. Get Vi to grab her change of clothes from the car for Emmie.”

  Julian winked. Lan and Killer gave me a chin lift. Before turning, I caught Julian heading into the kitchen to call Mattie. I went out the front, closing the door behind me. On the porch and lawn stood Violet, Travis, Butch, Talon, Griz, Blue, and Stoke.

  “How is she?” Violet asked. She moved closer. Travis was right behind her, curling an arm over her chest for her to rest back against him.

  “You got that spare change of clothes in the car?” I asked.

  She nodded. “I’ll get it.” Someone must have gone to get her car because it was parked alongside another couple of cars and Harleys.

  I waited until she was back and had placed the folded items in my hands before continuing. “You all know I found a book Emmie had written while in the basement. Those fuckers will be going away for a damn long time for the evidence she’s given.” I met Violet’s eyes. “They’re the ones involved in kidnapping, drugging, and raping the young girls. Worse, what I read was that the events had been recorded. They probably sell them on the black market.”

  “But how is she?” Violet pressed.

  “Not good.” I glanced at my feet, shaking my head. Once more, the fury resurfaced inside of me. “She witnessed two people get murdered. Blamed herself for them.” Understanding dawned in Violet’s eyes. That was why Emmie didn’t want anyone else to get hurt. “She’s afraid of women right now because her motherfucking aunt did a job on her. She has bruised ribs from being kicked. She has scars lining her thighs, arms, and chest. The woman cut her own niece. Sliced her up.”

  Curses went up around me.

  I cleared my throat. “I have to get these clothes back in. Julian’s done his magic and got her in the shower, and she’ll be going to stay at his place. There was a picture of a guy in the book of Emmie’s we don’t know. If he’s heard about the shit going down, she’s better to stay close to the compound.”

  Talon spoke up. “I’ll have the brothers rotate shifts, keeping an eye on the place.”

  “That’d be good.”

  “We’ll peel out. Get it sorted now. Tell Killer to escort Emmie to Julian and Mattie’s.”

  “Done.” I went to go back inside as Talon and his crew left, when Violet called my name.

  I turned back. She got close. Her voice was soft, quiet. “You sure she wouldn’t be better here?”

  I ground my teeth together.

  “You have a system that no one could break into. She knows you more than Julian.”

  “She’s not stayin’ here. She’s comfortable with Julian.”

  “She is with you as well.”

  “I haven’t been around her for more than a minute.” And yet, I wanted to talk to her more. I wanted to fucking hug her, but I didn’t. I also ignored the fact that I’d lost my breath when I first saw her. Attraction had slammed into me so damn hard, I’d had to quickly walk away from the basement. Away from her. It was the right thing to do. She looked twenty, tops, but her eyes said she was so much older. None of it mattered though. The texting, the small connection. Staying away from Emerson was the best option.

  “Yet you and her have been talking over text for a while.”

  I shook my head. “She didn’t text back. She refused help.” She was probably pissed I’d butted in, but it had to be done. For her and the others. She’d accept it one day.

  “But—”

  “Vi, enough. She’s stayin’ with Julian and Mattie. She’ll be safe there until we get this last guy. Then she can be wherever she wants to be.”

  Violet searched my face, saw my resolve, sighed and nodded. “Okay. Get Lan to send a picture and whatever h
e has back from the school about the girl there. Butch and I’ll hit the office bright and early to help work on it.”

  I grunted, flicked a wave to Butch and Travis, and then went back inside. Julian was on me as soon as I stepped inside, taking the clothes and heading up the stairs.

  I caught Killer’s gaze. “Talon wants you to escort them to Julian’s house since we don’t know who that fourth guy is just yet.” He nodded once. I looked to Lan. “Vi’s askin’ for the photo of the guy that Emmie drew, and if you get anything from your source at the school to let her know. They’re gonna do their own diggin’.”

  “All right.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Glad you called me in on this, Warden. They need to be behind bars.”

  “They’d better suffer in there.” I didn’t like the choice of calling Lan in, but Violet had gone above me and done it.

  “They will,” Killer clipped. “Hawks’ll make sure of it.”

  At least there was that.

  A creak from above had me glancing towards the stairs. Julian appeared. He was smiling behind him as he descended. My mouth dried at the first sight of Emmie. She was smiling softly down at Julian. Her eyes had life to them, her cheeks colour, her hair wet but clean.

  She looked damn beautiful.

  The clothes I’d given over had been a tee and jeans from Violet. The tee poked out the top of a hoodie she’d put on. My hoodie. It swam on her. Even the jeans looked a little big. Shit, I wanted to go into the kitchen and make her a meal.

  Fuck it.

  Turning, I stalked into the kitchen and took out some bread, sliced turkey, and cheese. I made a quick sandwich, then poured her a glass of cold water. I could hear Lan’s gentle voice talking with Emmie.

  Picking up the plate and glass, I went back into the living room. First, I saw the back of Emmie’s head. She sat on the couch with Julian beside her. Killer at her back. Lan sat on the coffee table in front of her. He stopped talking when he saw me. His lips twitched for some reason and he pulled back when I got close.

  I held out the plate and glass. “Food. Water. Eat. Drink.”

  Killer snorted behind her. Emmie stared down at the items, up at me, and then down again. Julian chuckled, as did Lan. Thank fuck Emmie slowly held out her hand for the plate and took it. Julian grabbed the glass for her.

  “Thank you,” she whispered. She put the plate on her lap and tucked her arm around it, like she thought someone would take it from her.

  What she didn’t do was eat it.

  I hovered over her, waiting.

  After a moment, she glanced up. I met her gaze, then looked down to the plate and back up to her lips.

  Bad mistake.

  They were plumped and wet from her licking them.

  Christ.

  I backed up near the stairs, crossing my arms over my chest. I kept my gaze on Lan, who cleared his throat, covered his laugh with a cough, and started talking again.

  Out the corner of my eye, I caught Emmie picking up half of her sandwich and taking a small bite, nodding at something Lan said.

  Fuck. I scrubbed a hand over my face and ignored Julian’s bright smile aimed at me. I looked back to Lan, tuning in on what he said.

  “—they won’t get offered bond. They’ll keep them in because of all the incriminating charges. Then with your pictures and everything you’ve written, we’ll be able to find the other guy.” He pointed to the man we didn’t know in Emmie’s book.

  The colour drained from her cheeks. She dropped the sandwich to the plate and pressed both of her hands down on her stomach.

  I wanted to punch Lan in the throat.

  “He’s still out there—” Her mouth snapped closed and she thinned her lips.

  Julian rubbed her back. “They’ll find him. You’ll be safe. You don’t have to worry. You know Lan’s a cop, Warden’s a private investigator”—her eyes flicked to me—“and Killer’s part of the Hawks MC.” She looked back at Killer, who nodded. “You’re well protected. You’ll come home with me”—when her eyes widened and looked to me again, I bit my tongue to stop from shouting that she was staying—“and Mattie and I live across the road from the Hawks MC compound.”

  “We’ll be rotating shifts to keep an eye out,” Killer said. “No one will get to you.”

  “What about Harriet?”

  “We’ll have her house and whereabouts covered as well,” Killer replied.

  Lan smiled softly at her. “You don’t have anything to worry about.”

  Finally she nodded, but I could see how tense her body was locked. She didn’t believe him. How could she trust after what she’d been through?

  “Do you think you could answer some questions, Emerson?” Lan asked.

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  Fucking hell, she needed more food, rest, and some damn peaceful sleep. I knew she wouldn’t get it until this last dickhead was found. Even then, nightmares would still plague her. Why did I want to wrap her up and hide her away from everything that could hurt her?

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  EMERSON

  A s I told the officer, Lan Davis, everything I knew and everything I went through, my mind replayed his words over and over. Each time it tore at my belly.

  There was one still out there.

  One Gloria could contact to hunt me or Harriet down.

  I wasn’t safe. Not yet.

  She could tell him Ryan’s part of the night. He could be after Ryan.

  Ryan, who hadn’t really looked at me since sitting there. Ryan, who had made me a drink and a sandwich. Ryan, who I couldn’t stop glancing at out the corner of my eye. What would he think when hearing everything? I couldn’t read his reaction; his face was a blank mask as he watched Lan question me.

  “T-that’s everything I know,” I said. Julian squeezed my arm. I glanced at him with a grateful smile. He’d been amazing. I’d be leaving Ryan’s house to stay at Julian’s. But I didn’t want to. Everything in me demanded I stay right there, but I wouldn’t. Julian was being kind enough to take me in, so I wouldn’t decline it.

  It seemed Ryan had thought it’d be best, or he would have gotten me to stay there with him. Right? I thought he might have, but his blank face didn’t react when Julian said I’d be going home with him and Mattie.

  It wasn’t that I didn’t appreciate the offer. God, I was so very grateful for Julian. So much so I could cry. Only, I just… it was strange and crazy, but I felt safer with Ryan. My heart told me he was familiar.

  But I wouldn’t stay where I wasn’t wanted.

  Not that I knew he didn’t want me there.

  I rubbed at my temples. The headache beating at my brain grew worse with all the thinking.

  Lan’s hand touched my knee, and I jumped. He took it away quickly.

  Ryan cursed, but before I could look at him, Lan spoke. “Thank you. That’s more than enough.”

  I nodded. Exhaustion had taken hold, so I blinked lazily at him.

  “She needs sleep,” Ryan stated, moving from his position near the stairs. He came forward, held out his hand to Lan. “Keep me posted.”

  Lan took his hand and shook it. “I will.” Lan stood, and he looked down at me. “You’ll be okay,” he told me, and I wasn’t sure I had an answer because I didn’t know if I would be.

  It counted that I was free. Boy, did it count. It helped me breathe easier.

  But the nightmares I knew would follow kept my mind mixed up.

  My body ached, my head swam, but a lot of it felt like it was coming from the thought of leaving Ryan Warden.

  It was dangerous to have that reaction. Especially when I wasn’t enough for a man such as him. Someone rugged, smart, handsome, nice, demanding, and sweet.

  Julian squeezed my hand. I glanced at him, and he said, “Are you ready to go, my dove?”

  I nodded. Julian stood and helped me up with him.

  Lan started for the door first, then Killer, Julian, me, and finally Ryan. I wanted to glance over my shoulder. Wanted to
talk to him, or even tell him thank you again for his kindness. I opened my mouth, closed it, and thought, just say something.

  On the porch out front, Lan turned to me. “I’ll be sure to check in every day,” he said.

  “Thank you for… being nice.”

  His jaw clenched. He nodded and glanced at Ryan before taking off to his car. Julian stepped down the front steps, and since my hand was in his, I followed.

  “Emmie,” Ryan called softly, causing my heart to jump extra quick.

  I pulled my hand free and faced him. His palm was held out my way. I glanced down to see he held my phone. With a trembling hand, I reached out and took it. I crushed it to my chest.

  Slowly, I looked up. His expression was blank, but his eyes held something more. I didn’t understand what. Licking my dry lips, I whispered, “Thank you…. You, um…. Just, thank you.” For everything.

  He didn’t reply, just kept his gaze connected with mine and then eventually tilted his chin up at me. I noticed a tick in his jaw. I watched it for a moment, wondering why it did that.

  “Emmie, honey,” Julian said.

  I glanced over my shoulder at him. He tipped his head towards the car. The vehicle looked so far away.

  Away from Ryan.

  Coldness soaked into my bones. My body shivered. They stood around waiting on me, and yet I couldn’t seem to turn fully and leave.

  But I had to.

  Drawing in a deep breath, I nodded to Julian. Glancing back at Ryan, I peeked up at him through my lashes. “Goodbye,” I muttered.

  Thank you again, and I’m sorry for darkening your days.

  He grunted, “Later.”

  It was then that I knew I had to move. He said no more, and I didn’t know exactly what I waited for. So I turned back to Julian. He gave me a closed-lip smile and held out his hand. I took it, and we made our way to the car where Killer stood with his motorcycle.

  I wrapped my free arm around my waist. When Julian dropped my hand to open the passenger door, I used that hand to grip the hoodie at my chest because it had started to ache.