Page 17 of Taming Liberty

He sighs and taps his foot in thought.

“Good to see you, Chaffer,” I say with a tip of my chin before turning around. I have no intention of pausing for Jasper to answer, but I end up halting at his words.

“All right. Just as long as you promise not to fling her off a cliff.” I don’t know how it’s physically possible, but I can hear his smile when my shoulders tense. “That poor girl has been through enough.”

Kill him.

My mind screams it. My fists, clenching at my sides, scream it. And Chaffer’s, “Umph,”screams it.

My feet carry me from the room anyway.

Now is not the time.

He’s too dangerous.

He’s a fuckinglunatic.

Striking at him is what he wants. I don’t realize it until the thought occurs to me. Jasper has been on the outside for years, seeking to worm his way into the fortune Sawyer and I built for ourselves. The fortune we built while simultaneously leaving Jasper out, throwing him scraps when he proves himself useful.

If I’m gone, Sawyer claims my half of all our shared investments. It also opens up space for a new business partner, one easily capable of manipulating Sawyer’s every move.

Is this what he’s trying to do?

I don’t fucking know. Whatever game he’s playing with me, I’ll ensure I’m the victor. I always do.

But first…

I climb the stairs to the second floor, entering three bedrooms before I find someone who knows where April/Naomi is. Eventually, I find her down at the beach, sitting on a towel by herself. A bottle of water and an opened package of M&Ms sit beside her.

When she notices me approaching, she makes a point to face forward and doesn’t bother with a greeting.

I pause a few feet away, towering over her tiny frame. I would be even if she was standing. She must be no taller than five feet.

“Hello.” I smile to inject friendliness into my tone, but it falls flat. She doesn’t turn to look up at me.

My smile sinks into a frown, but I quickly recover. “You’re Naomi, right? Lib’s friend?”

“April.”

I tilt my head. “I’m sorry?”

“My name is April. Naomi is the name my mother gave me, and I’d rather not hear it on your tongue. If you were attempting to score points with me, don’t bother. I don’t buy your bullshit.”

Jesus Christ.

I scratch the back of my head and try to regroup. This woman has an even worse attitude than Lib.

“So, I see you’ve successfully brainwashed Ivy.” Each word sounds forced out like she’s choking on her hatred of me.

“What makes you say that?”

Her only reply is a scoff.

I look around, as if there’s some mediator nearby who can help me. I sit in the sand, a safe distance away from Naomi. “I can assure you, I have no intention of brainwashing anyone… I’m sorry you feel that I do.”

Finally, she looks at me. And if looks could kill…

“You had two women fighting over you, and one of them killed the other. What the fuck could be so special aboutyoufor someone to do that?” Before I have a chance to answer, she continues. “I’m not an idiot. I can see what you’re doing. You’re trying to convince Ivy that you’re better than the rest of these pricks so you can play ‘save the princess’ for a little while. But we both know how this story ends.”

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