Rescuing Liberty: Perseverance Book 1 (24 page)

Jeff was quiet for a while. He rolled onto
his back and stared up at the sky. “The kid was a good guy
right?”

“
What?”

“
I mean that sort of stuff only
happens to good people.” He zipped his sleeping bag
closed.

I chuckled. “What
is
a good person? None of us are worthy. We’re
all imperfect and human. But it’s not about us or what we’ve done.
It’s about grace.” I frowned, wondering how to answer his question
without preaching at him. “I’ve done some pretty bad things in my
life, but I’ve been forgiven. No one is beyond His
pardon.”

“
Grace.” It sounded like Jeff was
trying the word out; swishing it around his taste buds to check the
vintage. It was the last thing he said that night. We both drifted
off sometime shortly after.

When I awoke the next morning everyone but
Ashley was gone.

Carved into the ground under where Jeff’s
sleeping bag had been were two words: ‘Forgive me.’

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

FROM THE MOMENT Connor saw movement in the
thicket behind Ashley, he knew they’d picked up a tail. He took a
few steps into the bush, hoping to flush out another duck and prove
his instincts wrong, but nothing had been frightened enough to
flee. He considered going in deeper, but without knowing what he
was up against, that plan was foolish. Especially since it meant
leaving Liberty and Ashley unprotected by the duck pond. No, their
best option was to keep moving forward and hope they outdistanced
whoever was pursuing them. So, Connor pushed his group along.

Then Gina and Jeff appeared—siblings with
some bogus story about waiting for their father—and Connor knew his
group was in trouble. Gina and Jeff were healthy. There were no
bags under their eyes, and Gina had stared down the barrel of
Connor’s gun without a hint of fear. Every move she made was
calculated; like a performer, comfortable in front of her audience.
Jeff, on the other hand, projected anger, defiance, and insecurity
in equal proportions. He could almost see the tension between the
siblings.

So who are they and what do
they want?
Anticipating what Gina would expect of
Connor Dunstan, attorney at law, he turned up the charisma and fine
tuned his game. Gina asked to travel with them and Connor accepted,
intending to keep Gina close until he found out who she really was.
He complemented and fawned after her until her smiles became
invitations, making him wonder how far he’d have to play the game.
Gina would be easy … predictable. Nothing like Liberty, who
frustrated him beyond reason.

But Connor forgot the cost of the game until
he saw Gina sneering at Liberty. “She is so ridiculously
uncoordinated,” Gina muttered with her arms crossed.

Connor followed her gaze to the road
where Jeff had one arm wrapped around Liberty with the other on her
bike.
He could help
without
fondling her.
Mouth closed so he couldn’t holler at Jeff and tell him to
keep his greedy hands off Liberty, Connor turned away. He couldn’t
concern himself with Liberty and what could have been. He had a
different role to play now.

Gina turned toward Connor and asked, “Is she
always that pathetic?”

“
Yeah,” he nodded. “Some people will
stop at nothing to get attention. Of course then there are women
like you, whose very presence demands appreciation.”

Gina flashed him a seductive smile,
affirming that his efforts were working.

Ashley froze. Her eyes darkened with hurt
and anger. She threw the frying pan at his feet and stormed off
toward Jeff and Liberty. Connor knew he’d dealt a crippling blow to
the reconstruction of their relationship, but there was nothing he
could do about it. He’d have to find a way to make it up to her
later.

“
You can cook?” Gina asked.

He nodded and picked up the pan. “Of
course,” he said, flashing her a smile. “I’m just an all-around
talented guy.”

By their second night together, Connor had
Gina eating out of the palm of his hand. She sauntered over to
where he was laying and asked, “This spot taken?”

Connor patted the ground beside him. “I was
holding it for you,” he replied. “Here, let me get that.” He stood
and unrolled her sleeping bag beside his. He could feel her
checking him out, so he took his time at it, flexing as he shook
the bag out.

Once she was situated in her bed Gina’s
attention roamed across the clearing to where Liberty and Ashley
had bedded down. “Looks like my baby brother is trying to pick up
you excess baggage,” she said.

Connor tried not to scowl as he watched the
outline of Jeff’s body creep through the dark and unroll his
sleeping bag beside Liberty. “I think he’s a bit young for her, but
if she wants to go cougar …” He shrugged. “That’s her deal.” He
climbed into his sleeping bag.

Gina chuckled. “Jeff probably just wants to
talk to someone about his feelings or some nonsense like that.” She
turned to Connor. “Were you and Liberty a thing?”

Connor gave her another shrug, knowing she
would have picked up on the astronomical amounts of tension between
them and suspected something. “She was the only woman I had come
across in a while. You can’t blame a man for being lonely.” He
leaned closer to Gina. “But now …” he whispered. “Well, I’m still
lonely.”

“
Really?” She licked her lips. “You
don’t have to be.”

“
Oh?” He scooted closer until their
bodies were touching. “Do tell.”

Gina’s fingers slid down to the neckline of
his shirt. “People like us, we have to stick together and keep each
other from being lonely.”

“
People like us?” he asked. “But I
hardly know you.”

Even though it was dark, he knew Gina was
smiling. Every woman just wanted to be valued, and she was no
different. “So tell me about yourself. What makes the delectable
Gina tick?”

“
There will be time for that later,”
she said. Then her thin lips landed on his. She pushed her tongue
inside of his mouth, obviously attempting a deep passionate kiss.
But there was zero chemistry between them. The kiss could only be
described as disappointing; like expecting a Red Ryder BB gun under
the Christmas tree, but finding a lump of coal instead. He froze,
wondering how to recover. Should he kiss her back or just pray it
ended quickly? Before he could decide, she leaned away.

Gina turned on her side, facing away from
him.

Knowing he’d lost ground by not reacting to
her horrid kiss, Connor rolled over onto his back and stared at the
stars, wondering how to get her to open up to him.

Just when he was about to give up for the
night and go to sleep, Gina spoke. “Jeff thinks the collapse could
have been prevented,” she said.

“
Really?” Connor asked, not actually
caring about anything Jeff thought, but trying to encourage her to
talk.

She turned back toward him and nodded. “He’s
one of those share-the-wealth types. Says that if the companies
wouldn’t have been so greedy, then things wouldn’t have gotten so
bad.”

“
A lot of people said that,” Connor
replied. “What do you think?”

“
I think he’s a fool. The economy was
scheduled to collapse. It was necessary.”

Uh … okay?
“Necessary for what?” he asked.

“
Connor, you’re a smart man. Surely
you noticed the excess of useless people in this country. On this
entire planet, in fact. So many people just wasting oxygen. It was
never meant to be like this.”

“
Like what?” he asked.

“
Political.” She traced a line down
his arm with her fingertips. “We were born to rule, not to be ruled
over by self-inflated windbags who misuse our resources. The
collapse was perfect. A golden opportunity for the strong to rise
up and conquer the week. It gave us our chance to take center-stage
and run the show our way for once.”

Connor wanted to scoot away from her. He
didn’t like the places this conversation was heading. “Who are you
really with?” he asked. This was a poker game and he wasn’t winning
her over with his bluff, so it was time to show her his cards. “I
know we’re being followed. It’s not just you and Jeff. There are
others. Who are they?”

Leaves rustled nearby.

Connor grabbed his Glock and aimed in the
direction of the noise.

Gina placed a hand on his arm. “It’s okay.
They’re just like you and me; strong survivors. Now put the gun
away and don’t be stupid. There are dozens of them.”

Comprehension froze the blood in his veins.
“You—”

“
It’s okay. Just give me the gun and
no one will get hurt.” She held out her hand
expectantly.

She’s unarmed. His
eyes swept the perimeter of the camp. Thick bushes, trees;
people could be hiding anywhere.
Dozens?

Three shadows emerged from the bushes with
weapons aimed at Connor.

Gina rubbed his arm soothingly. “We have
plans. Big plans,” she said. “And we want you to be part of them.
I’m sorry it had to be like this. It doesn’t change anything
between us. Daddy just needs to talk to you first.”

Connor’s jaw dropped. “Your father?”
He shook his head. “You said you didn’t know where
your
father
was.”

She shrugged. “Yeah, well, I lied. Get over
it. Quickly if you know what’s good for you.”

Her hand stilled on his arm and her voice
hardened. “Think Connor. You’re not the only one who will die
tonight if you struggle.” She glanced toward the girls.

How could I be so stupid?

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

WHY WOULD
HE
—
Where did
they
—
My head swam with incomplete
thoughts and questions.
Oh, Ash.
I stared at Connor’s sleeping daughter.
His daughter. How could he leave his own daughter?
Tears started to cloud my eyes, but I willed them
away.
I will not cry over that selfish,
heartless, arrogant …
The thought of delivering the
words that would bring Ashley more pain made me sick to my
stomach.
Wish he’d been man enough to tell
her himself! God? You there? I could really use some help
here.

The
call
remained silent. But that was normal. I’d
gone over a year in high school without feeling it. It was
irritating, but typical not to hear from Him for extended periods
of time. Answerless, I broadened my shoulders and woke up the
little girl.

“
What’s wrong?” Ashley asked the
minute she saw my face. Then she glanced around the area, confusion
and fear blossoming in her eyes. “Where is everyone?”

“
Gone,” I replied. My heart hurt too
much to say more.

“
What do you mean, ‘gone’?” She stood
and looked around. “Gone where?”

“
Just gone.” My shoulders hunched
under the massive defeat I felt. “All we have is this.” I pointed
at the message left where Jeff’s sleeping bag had been.

“
Forgive him? He’s not even here to
forgive! What about Connor?” She ran to the area where he had
slept. “He didn’t leave a message?”

“
I’m sorry.” The tears I kept denying
battled me for the right to fall. “If he left us a clue, I can’t
find it.”

Ashley searched the area again and again. I
watched her, reminded of all the times I’d scoured my purse looking
for the car keys I knew were locked in my house.

At least she still has hope.

“
He wouldn’t— he can’t—” Her small
frame shook with anger. “He promised!”

I bit down on my tongue until it bled,
but it didn’t stop the tears from falling. “I’m sorry.”
If Connor had been standing in front of me at that moment, I
could have shot him without hesitation.

“
He wouldn’t do this!”

But he did.
I
started rolling up my sleeping bag—nothing to do now, but keep
moving forward. Our abandoners had also escaped with the food bag,
but I couldn’t bring myself to divulge that additional
information.
Can I pick a man, or
what?
Since I’d considered taking Ashley and leaving
Connor, I should have been happy about his disappearance. I’d
gotten what I wanted, after all. But as I packed up my stuff, I
felt no joy nor relief. Instead, I felt hollow.

“
He’ll be back. I know he will.”
Ashley paced while I packed. “We can’t just leave. We have to wait
for him.”

“
He’s not coming back.” I rolled up
her sleeping bag. “We
need
to
get to Canada.”

“
No.” She crossed her arms and stuck
out her stubborn jaw. “I won’t leave without him.”

Hope can be an extremely
unhelpful personality trait.
I shoved Ashley’s
sleeping bag into her pack and handed it to her. When she made no
move to take it, I set it on the ground. “I know you’re hurting,
but we can’t stay here. I’m leaving, and if you want, you’re more
than welcome to join me.” Then I started walking toward my bike,
knowing if I didn’t movie, I’d lay down and give up. But if Ashley
didn’t follow me, I would not leave without her.
Please don’t call my bluff.

My heart lightened when I heard the
pitter-patter of her feet behind me.