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down in embarrassment and put her hand on his chest to push him away slightly. “You’ve been drinking,” she whispered, thinking of how hypocritical he was. He indulged in whatever sin he wanted too, but he made her cover herself from head-to-toe because it was the traditional Muslim way. He disgusted her because she knew that Samad was no more Muslim than she was . . . he just embraced a controlling nature.

Samad took her face in his grip, squeezing her chin between his thumb and four fingers. Liberty closed her eyes as he pinched her tightly. She grimaced but didn’t dare move as he looked down at her.

Anger filled A’shai as he watched. “We gon’ finish discussing this business or what?” A’shai asked in an attempt to interrupt Samad.

Samad loosened his grip and turned his attention back to A’shai. “She’s obedient . . . you have to make them obedient so they don’t stray,” Samad said, speaking as if Liberty was his pet instead of his woman. A’shai didn’t answer and Liberty looked at him briefly before diverting her eyes away. She was enthralled by his presence. He was dark and handsome . . . strong and confident. For the first time Liberty was grateful to be concealed beneath all of the fabric because it helped to hide her smile. Everything in her wanted to call out to him. His name was begging to fall off her lips, but she contained herself. Her heart fluttered nervously and she kept telling herself that this wasn’t real. This is not Shai sitting here in front of me. It can’t be . . . can it? Her suspicions were confirmed when Samad spoke his name. “A’shai, you need to get you a bitch like that,” Samad said.

Liberty’s breath caught in her throat as tears filled her eyes. It’s him, she thought as she looked him in the eyes. He met her gaze and stared intently at her, unable to turn away.

“Excuse me. I can’t be rude to the lady of the house. I’m A’shai Montgomery,” he introduced as he stood and held out his hand to her. Liberty wanted to grab his hand and never let it go. She reached out her hand and as soon as her fingertips touched his palm, her adrenaline sped up . . . she could feel the heat rising from his grasp as he shook her hand.

“I’m Liberty,” she replied as she continued to look in his eyes. She saw the glimmer of recognition in him, and her heart swelled as tears fell behind her covering.

“It’s very nice to meet you,” he said. He held onto her hand a little longer than necessary then finally let her go before Samad noticed anything out of the ordinary. Over the years they had been so far apart but had remained a fixture in each other’s mind and heart. Neither could believe this opportunity to reunite. Liberty had blocked him from her thoughts because it had hurt too much to think of their short time together. She couldn’t believe that he was standing less than ten feet away from her. His dark skin and beautiful deep eyes were so striking to Liberty. She stood back proudly as she took him all in. He was 100 percent man, and it was obvious from the jewels he wore along with his Italian suit that he had made it to the side of the game that she knew nothing about. He was successful and somehow he had made a life for himself. MURDERVILLE hadn’t hindered him the way that it had done Liberty and on the inside she was glad for him. At least one of them had known happiness. She smiled, knowing that no one could see her face behind her garment. Liberty wished that she could reach out to him . . . that she could tear the cloth from her face and greet him with a smile. She wanted to rush him and become tangled in his embrace, but she knew that none of those things would ever happen. Samad stood between them and there was no way that she could acknowledge A’shai in Samad’s presence. Her heart was beating so fast that she felt as if she would have a heart attack. It ached as she stood frozen before him, taking him in . . . breathing the same air as him. Her face was soaked with emotion beneath the fabric and as they became lost in each