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in the cold.

“I’m going to take you somewhere safe . . . we need to lay low for a few days until I can come up with a plan. I need some time to think,” A’shai said.

Liberty looked out of the window feeling truly free for the first time. She had not seen A’shai since they were kids, but being with him felt right. It was the only thing that had ever felt right in her entire life.

“Thank you,” she said sincerely as she turned towards him. “You don’t even know how you saved my life.”

A’shai pulled her hand up to his mouth and kissed the back of it gently.

“I’m sorry for pulling you into this mess with me,” Liberty whispered. “It seems like your life turned out okay . . . like maybe MURDERVILLE benefited one of us. I can tell you getting on that ship was the biggest mistake I have ever made in my life. But you . . . you were lucky. Things got better for you.”

A’shai could hear the sadness in her voice as she spoke, and he couldn’t help but feel guilty for the way things had ended up. He hadn’t seen the type of struggle that she had and he silently wondered about the things that she had been through over the years. Liberty had gotten the short end of the stick and despite the fact that they were both kids when they were taken, A’shai felt as if everything that had happened to her was his fault.

“Don’t apologize for anything. I owe you this. I didn’t protect you. All of those years ago, I should have just admitted that I didn’t have a plan. I was running scared just like you. Instead I led you right into hell. That’s what that ship was Liberty . . . it was hell and I took you there,” A’shai admitted.

“It wasn’t hell until they took me away from you,” Liberty replied under her breath. She didn’t think that A’shai had heard her, but his ears intercepted every word. He tightened his hold on her hand as he eased his Range Rover onto the interstate.

“Get some rest, Liberty. We will be driving for a while,” he said.

“Where are you taking me?” she asked.

“Up north. My family owns a winter home near Boyne Mountain. It’s secluded. You’ll be safe there,” he responded.

Liberty closed her eyes and the peace that settled over her was so foreign that she immediately popped them back open. She had never gone to sleep with a serene mind and heart. There was always a threat lingering in her life. She was used to being preyed upon by others who wanted to hurt her. With A’shai it was different. It was as if time had stood still for them because she still felt the same love for him that she had so many years ago. In his presence she felt safe. He noticed her hesitation and put his hand on her shoulder as he rubbed the tension out of her neck. “Relax. I got you,” he said. She closed her eyes and went to sleep without reservations.

The five-hour drive north gave A’shai time to clear his mind. He knew the risk that he was taking but felt that he didn’t have a choice. It was his obligation to protect Liberty . . . he had promised her and he had broken that promise once before . . . he couldn’t do it again. Baron had been calling his phone for hours, but he refused to answer. His father couldn’t understand the connection that A’shai and Liberty shared. He didn’t know their back story. All Baron saw was a girl who had been for sale. He was blinded by Liberty’s lifestyle, but he had no clue what had brought her to that point. A’shai gave his father the ‘fuck you’ button, sending him to voicemail as he finally arrived at his destination.

He shook Liberty gently. “Wake up, we’re here,” he said as he reached over and unbuckled her seat belt.

She looked up at the beautiful winter log cabin that sat amongst the mountains. The 3500-square-foot home was impressive real estate and the two of them had it all to themselves. A’shai grabbed her hand and escorted her into the house.

“It’s late and everything is closed right now, but there’s a storm headed this way tomorrow. I’m going to have to go stock up on food and a few supplies to last us about a week,”