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“Olivia, you’re not thinking straight.” My father shakes his head.
“Papa, if you try to prevent me from leaving, you’re no better than these guards holding us captive, and you’re no better than Adam imprisoning me,” I say.
“I’m nothing like them! I LOVE you, and I want to keep you safe. I want to protect you. What if you don’t wake up one day because he KILLS you, Olivia?!” My father digs his eyes into me.
“Papa, I know what I’m getting into. And it’s a risk I’m choosing to take. This is my choice. I get to choose for myself what I want and the experiences I want to have. He’s set me free, Papa. Please find it in your heart to do the same for me. Don’t take away my freedom of choice.” I wrap his hand in mine.
The pads of my fingers rest up against his wrist, and it beats wildly. “Papa, relax.” I kiss his hand. “This is what I want. Please.”
His eyes fill with tears as he stares into mine. He bites his lip, hisses, and swears, squeezing my hand and kissing it. “My stubborn, stubborn girl!” He grunts before releasing a shaky breath. He nods but averts his eyes. “I’ll help you,” he says.
“Thank you, Papa.” I pull him into a hug.
He grumbles and pushes away from me. “Yes. Just don’t die trying to do something stupid. And for heaven’s sake, don’t get me killed along with you.”
I smile. “No. This will work. Carriages of people and others on horseback have left in search of Adam. Listen, do you hear how quiet it is outside?” I ask. “Look around. For the past hour, there’s only been one guard pacing around outside the cell. I think that might be because some of them have left with the crowd.”
“How do you know that?” My father narrows his eyes at me.
“I don’t know.” I shrug my admission. “It’s just a guess and a feeling. Chances are if there are other guards out there, it’s not a lot. That one guard passes by here every fifteen minutes. If he’s the same one who appears again, I’ll know I’m right. We should be able to take him down and the others if we’re smart…” I’m talking fast.
“You mean, kill them?” he asks. “You’re willing to kill them?” he whispers.
I turn to look at him. I’ve forgotten how abnormal this all is, talking of killing people so casually. “Yes. If I must. Unless they let us walk out of here unharmed. Think of it like a duel of honour, Father. This is a matter of life and death,” I say.
“You’ve changed,” he gasps.
I simply nod. “Get ready.”
When the guard appears again, I hurry to the cell door and get his attention. “Do you think it would be possible to get some water in here?” I ask, wiping my hand against my chest. His eyes fall to my unrestricted breasts, shielded only by clinging fabric. “It’s hotter than a pig’s armpits.” I flip my hair to the side, off my neck to fan myself with my hands. “We could pass out from this heat. Couldn’t we, Papa?” I ask, over my shoulder.
“Yes. Please, only if it’s no bother,” he rasps.
Crooking my finger at the guard, I whisper in his ear so that my father won’t hear what I have to say, “I think you might even be able to help me satisfy another thirst.”
He grins, and I grin. His breath slaps me in the face like a hefty whiff of human waste.
“I do enjoy a man in uniform. Are you as strong a lover as you are a man?” I ask, breathing out slowly and almost choking on the inhale.
“Being blessed to be born a man makes being a strong lover a part of the territory. I don’t think you’d be able to handle a real man,” he groans, shifting his legs.
“Don’t you want to try me?” I ask, dropping my eyes to his crotch, and he chuckles.
“I’ll get you that water, and I’ll take you to a private cell.” He winks.
I bat my eyelashes at him. “Thank you.” I smile, before turning around and looking at my scowling father’s face.
“What was all that whispering about?” my father growls.
“Nothing of importance.” I wave. “Just get ready to disarm him,” I say.
He flares his nostrils. “This is a terrible idea,” he whispers aloud just as the guard strolls up to the cell with the water and a huge, smelly smile.
The large keys jingle as he pulls them from his belt and unlocks the cell door. My father and I exchange a look before I take the water from the guard’s hand and move in closer to his body. “I can’t wait another second,” I whisper.
“I was going to take you somewhere private to spare your father but if you don’t care, I don’t care either.” The guard grins, lifting my skirts.
My father snarls at me over his shoulders, and I drop my eyes to the small sword facing my father’s direction. Papa follows my gaze and nods, just in time for me to grab the pistol pressing into my thigh.
