Chapter 28: Mixed Feelings

I glance at Liberty, her blue eyes wide with a mix of fear and something else—gratitude, maybe. I don’t know. I can’t think straight right now, not with the adrenaline coursing through my veins, not with the thought of what almost happened.

But there’s no time to dwell on it. The fight is still raging outside the door, and I need to get Liberty out of here. I grab her arm, not too roughly but firm enough to let her know I mean business.

“Come on,” I say, my voice low and urgent. “We need to get you somewhere safe.”

She nods, and I can feel her trembling beneath my grip, but she doesn’t argue, doesn’t hesitate. I lead her out of the room, my eyes scanning the corridor for any sign of danger. The Aryans are still fighting with the Sevens, but I can see more of them heading our way, drawn by the noise, by the promise of chaos.

“Stay close to me,” I tell Liberty, keeping my body between her and the approaching Aryans. “Whatever happens, don’t let go of my hand.”

She squeezes my hand tighter, and we start moving, pushing through the throng of fighting bodies, the noise of the brawl echoing off the concrete walls. Every muscle in my body is tense, every nerve on high alert. I’m ready to fight, to kill if I have to, but my priority is getting Liberty out of here in one piece.

We’re almost to the end of the corridor when one of the Aryans breaks free from the fight, his eyes locked on Liberty with a predatory gleam. He’s got a makeshift weapon in his hand, a jagged piece of metal that looks like it could do some serious damage.

“Get down!” I shout, pushing Liberty behind me as the Aryan lunges forward, swinging the weapon at us.

I barely have time to react, but I manage to block the blow with my forearm, the sharp edge cutting into my flesh. Pain flares through my arm, but I grit my teeth, ignoring it, focusing on the task at hand. I grab the Aryan by the wrist, twisting his arm until he drops the weapon with a grunt of pain. Then I drive my knee into his gut, hard, sending him sprawling to the floor.

“Go!” I shout at Liberty, pushing her toward the door at the end of the corridor. “I’ll hold them off!”

“But—” she starts to protest, but I cut her off with a sharp look.

“Go, Liberty! Now!”

She hesitates for a split second, her eyes searching mine, and then she nods, turning and running toward the door. I watch her go, my heart pounding in my chest, a mix of relief and fear twisting in my gut. She’s safe, for now, but the fight is far from over.

I turn back to the Aryans, who are regrouping, their eyes filled with a cold, murderous intent. They know they’re not going to get to Liberty without going through me first, and they’re ready to do whatever it takes to make that happen.

“Come on, then,” I mutter, squaring my shoulders, my fists clenched at my sides. “Let’s finish this.”

The first one comes at me fast, swinging wildly with his fists, but I’m faster, sidestepping his attack and delivering a quick, brutal punch to his ribs. He doubles over with a groan, and I take the opportunity to slam my elbow into the back of his head, sending him crashing to the floor.

The next one is bigger, stronger, but he’s slower too. He swings a makeshift club at me, but I duck under it, driving my fist into his gut, then following it up with a swift kick to his knee. He goes down hard, cursing, but I don’t stop. I can’t afford to. I grab the club from his hand, spinning around just in time to block an attack from another Aryan, his face twisted with rage.

The fight is a blur of motion, of fists and feet and the dull thud of bodies hitting the floor. I can feel my muscles burning, my breath coming in ragged gasps, but I push through it, fueled by the need to protect Liberty, to keep her safe from these animals.

Finally, after what feels like an eternity, the last Aryan goes down, his body hitting the floor with a sickening thud. I’m standing in the middle of the corridor, my chest heaving, blood dripping from the cuts on my arms and face, but I’m still standing. I’m still breathing.

But I know it’s not over. Not yet.

I turn and start running, my feet pounding against the concrete as I race toward the door at the end of the corridor, the one Liberty disappeared through. My mind is racing, a thousand thoughts swirling through my head, but one stands out above the rest:

I need to find her. I need to make sure she’s okay.

I burst through the door, my eyes scanning the room for any sign of her, my heart pounding in my chest. And then I see her, huddled in the corner, her arms wrapped around herself, her eyes wide with fear.

“Liberty,” I breathe, crossing the room in a few quick strides, dropping to my knees in front of her. “Are you okay? Did they hurt you?”

She shakes her head, but I can see the tears in her eyes, the way she’s trembling. She’s scared, more scared than I’ve ever seen her, and it tears me apart.

“It’s okay,” I say, my voice soft, soothing. “You’re safe now. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

She looks up at me, her eyes searching mine, and for a moment, I see something there—something raw, something vulnerable. It makes me want to reach out, to hold her, to protect her from everything in this place.

But I can’t. Not here. Not now.

“We need to get out of here,” I say, standing up and offering her my hand. “It’s not safe. We need to move.”

She nods, taking my hand, and I pull her to her feet, keeping her close as we make our way through the dark, winding corridors of the prison. The sound of the fight is fading behind us, but I know it’s not over. The Aryans aren’t going to give up that easily, and I need to get Liberty to safety before they regroup.

We move quickly, my senses on high alert, every shadow, every sound a potential threat. But we make it to the control room without incident, the door sliding shut behind us with a heavy, reassuring thud.

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding, turning to Liberty, who’s looking around the room with wide, curious eyes.

“This is where they monitor everything,” I explain, my voice low. “The guards, the cameras, everything. We’ll be safe here, at least for now.”

She nods, but I can see the worry in her eyes, the way she’s biting her lip, her mind racing.

“What happens now?” she asks, her voice trembling slightly.

“Now,” I say, stepping closer to her, “we wait. The Sevens will take care of the Aryans, and then we’ll figure out what to do next.”

She nods again, but she doesn’t seem convinced. She’s scared, and I can’t blame her. This place is a nightmare, and she’s stuck in the middle of it.

I reach out, gently brushing a strand of hair from her face, my fingers lingering on her skin for just a moment longer than necessary.

“You’re safe with me,” I say, my voice firm, determined. “I promise you, Liberty, I won’t let anything happen to you.”

She looks up at me, and for a moment, I see something flicker in her eyes—something warm, something that makes my heart skip a beat.

“Thank you,” she whispers, her voice barely audible.

I nod, stepping back, forcing myself to put some distance between us. I can’t afford to get too close, not now. Not when there’s so much at stake.

But as I turn away, I can’t help but wonder if it’s already too late. If I’ve already crossed a line I can’t uncross.

Because Liberty Lockwood isn’t just a job anymore. She’s something more.

And that scares the hell out of me.
Slave to the Mafia Prison Gang
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