Rescuing Liberty: Perseverance Book 1 Read Online Free Page A

lacked the
tail and pitchfork I’d always imagined he’d wield. In fact, had he
been anyone else, I would have considered him handsome. Big, dark
eyes with endless lashes, perfectly shaped masculine lips, and
sexy-messy hair in all shades of brown.
    Handsome but
dangerous.
    “ Okay wise-guy. Enough with the
pet-names. Just tell me what you want,” I scoffed.
    Connor looked me over as I searched the
depths of his dark eyes. I dug my fingernails into my palms to
remind myself that he was probably piercing my soul or something
equally evil with that gaze.
    He smiled and held out his hand.
“Let’s start with your name.”
     

CHAPTER FOUR
     
    “LIBERTY COLLINS. I’D shake your hand,
but I’m a bit busy right now.” I showed Connor my teeth and took a
step closer until I was just inches from him. I tapped his neck
with the blade I held to it in affirmation. “See, busy.”
    He shrugged. “Liberty, huh? Mind if I
call you Libby?”
    I narrowed my eyes and slid the knife
to threaten his crotch. “Mind if I call you stubby?”
    “ Point taken.” He held up his hands in
surrender. “You’re remarkably hostile, you know. You should seek
counseling for that.”
    “ I apologize.” I flashed him another
venomous smile. “I hate to sound cynical, but if I had a T-bone
steak for every ‘nice’ person who has tried to kill me in the last
three months, I'd need a weight loss clinic. I know about your
flavor of ‘justice,’ and if the reports are even one percent
accurate, you’re never gonna make Santa’s nice list.”
    Connor opened his mouth to retaliate
when a soft scuffing sound in the corner drew my attention. I
glanced toward the noise to find a small girl sitting on the other
side of a shelving unit. I did a double take, and then felt
immediately embarrassed about the knife I was holding to Connor’s
nether regions. I raised my eyebrow and ever-so-smoothly restored
the dagger to its rightful place at his throat.
    “ Mr. Dunstan, where are we? And who’s
the kid?” I nodded toward the child who was probably about ten, all
elbows and knees. She sported Connor’s shiny, brown hair, and her
big, dark eyes were focused on the dagger, but she did not look
concerned for my hostage. She raised her jaw, staring at me
defiantly. The spirit in her eyes endeared me to her
instantly.
    Connor paused, his expression hidden
behind a mask of indifference. I couldn’t tell if he was about to
kill me, or sell me oceanfront property in Arizona.
    I pushed my knife a little closer to
his throat. “Trust me or let me leave. Those are your only two
options.”
    Connor looked at me thoughtfully.
    “ Decide, or you’re gonna force me to
do something we’ll both regret.”
    He nodded resignedly, and introduced
the girl. “My niece; Ashley. This is—was—my brother’s
store.”
    I looked to Ashley for her reaction,
but she turned away.
    “ They’re … gone now. Asked me to take
care of her.” Connor gestured toward the girl.
    “ Alright. So, what do you want from
me?”
    Connor sighed. “What? Me?
What do I want?”
    I rolled my eyes. “Yeah. Why did you
save me? Why am I here? What. Do. You. Want. From. Me?” It seemed
an easy enough question and I couldn’t understand why he was
struggling with it. “You know, you seemed a lot smarter in the
commercials.”
    The side of his mouth twitched. “Would you
believe I’m looking for a chance at redemption?”
    I blinked, and then burst into
laughter. The idea of Connor Dunstan seeking redemption was
hilarious. “Right.” I said between fits of giggles. “And just
yesterday I ran into Mother Theresa—she was looking for a biker
bar.”
    His eyes grew guarded and hurt. “Am I
so horrible that I’m beyond redemption?”
    “ No.” I couldn’t tell if he was
playing me or being real, but my inappropriate laughter left a sour
taste in my mouth. In a world where everything had changed, I never
should have assumed that Connor remained the same.
    “ No one is