Keeping Liberty

"You blasted into my life and turned it upside down."

It started out as a regular day at work, but after witnessing the unthinkable, Liberty Thomas is fearing for her life.

For a man who's perpetually in a bad mood, Special Agent Wade Houston surprises himself when he feels an intense connection with the frightened Liberty.

He's compelled to be the one to protect her—despite the fact he's about to go on a well-deserved vacation.

Wade isn't about to let anyone or anything stand in his way. Not a mob boss hunting for his witness. Not Liberty's over-protective brother. And certainly not the creepy neighbor whose eyes linger just a little too long on his precious Liberty.


To Wade, Liberty is far more than just a job—she's his future.

This American hero will do whatever it takes to protect his girl.

After all, Wade plans on Keeping Liberty for life.

If you like over-the-top, insta-love romance with a little bit of humor, and tiny amount of drama this short story is perfect for you.

I’m running through the list of last-minute items I need at the store when my extra phone buzzes in the center console of my truck. Fuck. No one calls this phone except my men, and they only use it for off the record calls. I’ve been looking forward to this vacation for months, and I’m not missing it, no matter what fucking catastrophe those assholes have managed to create.
“I don’t fucking care,” I answer.
“Meet me at the spot,” Derek Stevenson says into the phone before hanging up. Fuck me. Someone at the bureau has managed to find a way to fuck me over.
The entire way out to the secluded location, I debate retiring early. I’ve lived frugally and invested well my entire life. Maybe it’s time to let these overgrown babies fend for themselves. As the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI office in Atlanta, I’m responsible for a group of agents who love to test my patience. Today is a case in point.
I pull off the paved road onto a nearly hidden gravel lane and cringe as little pieces of rock ding the side of my shiny black truck. This fucking location sucks. As a dense group of trees comes into view, I turn into the field and find Stevenson’s dark gray SUV parked behind a large oak tree. After stopping next to his vehicle, I step out and wait for him at the back of his SUV.
He walks over and leans against the back of his SUV, shaking his head. “Milo Rossi fucked up this morning.”
His words sink in, and I see my vacation floating out of my grasp. “I know I’m going to regret this, but why are we meeting here to discuss Milo fucking Rossi? Why not at the bureau?”
Stevenson looks up at the sky then back at me. “One of my best friends from college called me this morning. He said he needed to see me because his sister was in big-time trouble.” As Stevenson rubs the back of his neck, a headache starts behind my eyes. “Jake’s sister works at First Summit National Bank in accounting. Long story short, she was there early this morning doing some audits. Her office is on the second floor all the way at the back of the bank.” A bad feeling starts in the pit of my stomach as he’s explaining. “She left to grab some files and heard a commotion. The poor girl witnessed Milo Rossi, Jr. shoot Little Tony Demello, his brother-in-law.”
Fuck my life. This girl is as good as dead. My vacation is fucked with a capital F.
“She was able to sneak back to her office and hide. They have no idea she saw anything.” I look at Stevenson and frown.
“When she called it in to the precinct, the Rossis found out. They have half the fucking cops on their payroll.” I remind him this mob family owns a huge portion of the police force. Any nine-one-one call from the bank would be big news in the precinct.
“The girl is smart.” He looks as concerned as I feel. “Her brother is a lawyer. She went straight to his house. When they start investigating, they’re going to realize she was in the bank, but that gives us a few hours to get her someplace safe.” His use of the word “us” doesn’t fool me. He means me. “No one realizes who has her. Your vacation is happening at the perfect time.”
“Hell fucking no.” I put up a token resistance.
“Man, not only did she see Milo Ross, Jr kill him. Milo Rossi, Sr. was there. This is our chance to take out the entire heart of the Rossi family and put an end to their crime ring, but we have to keep this girl alive long enough to do it.” I knew my fucking vacation was going to suffer. I’m barely listening to the fucker as he continues. “Man, she’s my best friend’s little sister. I’ve known her forever, and I need to know she’s okay.”
There’s no way I can tell my friend no. “The Rossis are going to come for her. We can’t let anyone else know about this.” He nods, agreeing with me.
“I’m going to watch the investigation into the murder while you take her away. Pretend she’s your girlfriend. Change her appearance and keep her safe, and we’ll try to figure out where to go from there. I already had her leave her cell phone at her apartment and tell her neighbors she’s going on a last-minute work trip. The bank thinks she’s sick.” So far, everything is in order. Looks like I’m going to work on this vacation.
“Luckily, the place I rented is big enough. We shouldn’t even run into each other too much,” I grumble under my breath as I follow him over to the passenger side of his vehicle.
Stevenson opens the door and reaches in. I hear him gently speaking. “Liberty, my boss is going to take you somewhere safe.”
When he steps back, the sun shining over the roof of the SUV blinds me for a second, then I blink to clear the dancing spots from my eyes. As she comes into view, my cock turns iron-hard behind my zipper, and I’m unable to control the low growl that slips past my lips. I’ve never seen such perfection in my life. One look at her, and I have a sudden yet intense craving for peach cobbler. Her creamy skin is dotted with faint freckles across her nose and cheeks, and her pouty lips are the color of ripe peaches from local orchards. Her bright blue eyes widen briefly before she looks over at Stevenson for support. Instantly, the urge to tear the other man away from her shoots through me while I wonder what the hell is happening to me. I shake my head, trying to obtain control of my emotions.
I shoulder him out of the way and hold my hand out to her. “Hello. I’m Wade Houston, and I’m going to keep you safe.” Her eyes widen briefly, and it appears she’s debating something before she smiles shyly.
When her soft hand makes contact with my rough palm, electricity flows between us, and I watch as her pupils dilate. Little Ms. Liberty isn’t unaffected by me. She swallows nervously then bites her bottom lip. “Thank you. I’m so scared.” Her bottom lip trembles, and I’m tempted to lean over and take the juicy morsel into my mouth. What the hell?
I close my eyes in an effort to bring my mind back to the issues at hand. I’m going to need all of my concentration to keep my girl safe. And she is my girl. One look and I had some notion, but after the first touch, I knew for sure. This girl is meant to be mine, and I’ll never let the fucking Rossis or anyone else take her away from me.