Page 55 of Taming Liberty

“We’re three hundred and fifty-seven miles from Fiji,” I go on. “The boats are only used to travel to different parts of the island. No one is permitted to leave without clearing it first, and that’s only to get permission to fly. No boats are allowed past a certain point on the water. Unless you build a raft and float away undetected or have a hidden talent as an assassin, there’s very little you could do to even have a chance of escaping.”

Lib looks down as she fidgets with her hands. Finally, she nods.

“I knew there wasn’t,” she says, her voice quiet with defeat. “Still, it’s nice to know for sure… Thanks.”

My stomach twists into a knot then pulls tight. I don’t enjoy seeing her like this. I mean to tame her bravery, not put out her spark. She’s Lib, though. She’ll be back.

She looks up at the sky and lets out a stunted laugh. When her chin lowers, she rubs her forehead. “It’s kind of funny, you know.”

My phone rings, and I tuck my hands into the pocket of my swim trunks to silence it, staring at Lib as I wait for her to explain.

“You would rather tell me everything about this island than a single thing about yourself.”

“That’s not true,” I say, not realizing it’s a lie until I’ve said it. That’s exactly what I was doing, wasn’t it? Anything to distract her from her questions aboutme.

“Yeah, it is,” she sighs.

I fold my hands in front of me, wishing I could think of something to say that would make it okay. She’s right. I know she is. I’ve been unfair, expecting so much while giving so little in return. I want to know her, open her mind up and look inside. I could listen to her talk about herself for hours, days, years, but I can’t even give her a peek of who I am or where I came from. My reasoning for it is ridiculous.

I am capable of love, but I’m not lovable. I know that. I knew it before Lib, and I knew it when Lib said the three words to me while I fucked her for the first time. It’s one thing to be unloved when no one knows who you are, it’s another for them to reject you after having all the information.

“I’m sorry,” I say. “It has nothing to do with you.”

My phone rings again, and I reach back into my pocket to silence it.

“Go ahead.” Lib solemnly gestures to my phone. “We’ve said all there is to say anyway.”

I frown and run my hands through my hair, wishing I could fix this.

When my phone rings a third time, I rip it from my pocket, my teeth grinding as I look at the screen, but when I see the name on the caller ID, my stomach bottoms out.

My eyes widen as I stare at the screen, not quite believing it. All this talk about my past … and now it’s here, staring at me.

“What’s wrong?” Lib asks.

I look up at her concerned expression and shake my head. “Nothing.” The ringing stops, and I consider tossing the phone into the ocean, but I know I can’t run from this. There’s only one reason my father would call.

My phone rings again, and I look down at the screen. “Excuse me,” I say, lifting the phone and holding up a finger. I walk several paces away, not nearly far enough with the limited options on the wide-open beach.

I swallow, swipe to answer, and put the phone to my ear.

“Dígame.”

12

Liberty

Angel speaks facing away from me with his head down. He walked away before taking the call, clearly not wanting me to intrude, but I still wander toward him.

He’s been mostly quiet, listening to whoever’s on the line, but when he speaks in Spanish, I halt my steps.

I’ve never heard him speak Spanish before, and with the way his shoulders hunch and his voice lacks the confidence I’ve heard in it every other time he’s spoken to someone, I can tell this is something serious.

I take a step back in an attempt not to be nosy, but I still can’t help listening to his side of the conversation. It’s been a long time since I’ve heard Spanish, and although I like to think I’m fluent, I have a hard time making out his clipped, fast speech.

He curses under his breath and brings his hand to his face before he speaks his next sentence which I make out clearly.

“¿Cuánto tiempo le queda?”How much time does she have?

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