Page 35 of Caging Liberty
Sawyer laughs. “But we aced the class.”
“I think I ended up with a 98 percent. We probably didn’t need to adjust the curve.”
“No,” he says, his amusement suddenly dying. “You didn’t, but I did. You’ve always been like that, though. It’s not enough to succeed, you have to tear down the competition.”
My smile falls, and I remain quiet, considering his words.
“Then there was that little Greek restaurant with the best damn gyros we’d ever had.Stillthe best I’ve ever had.” I turn to peer at Sawyer, a look of serenity on his face like he’s reliving the memory. “I remember the owner had a cot in the back where he slept. He put everything he had into that place.”
I nod, remembering the man. He had a thin, dark combover, and his breath was horrid, but he was a good man. And a good father. His kids would run all over the restaurant, yet I never heard him yell once. When the library kicked us out, Sawyer and I would spend hours at a table in the deserted restaurant studying. The owner never complained.
“It was nice.”
“Yeah, it was,” Sawyer agrees. “I would’ve loved to buy it. Throw a fresh coat of paint on it, buy a new sign.”
“It could’ve done well.”
“Right, but it didn’t.” He chuckles, but there’s little humor to it. “You were so pissed off when he refused to sell it after we graduated. You put up two Greek restaurants within a couple blocks from the place just to run it to the ground. I remember being so frustrated to watch you take a loss like that on poor investments just to be petty.”
Again, I remain quiet.
“You’re ruthless, Angel. You want what you want, and you’ll tear apart anyone and anything that gets in your way. I love that about you. It makes you a hell of a business partner, and if I’m being honest, I owe this whole island to that side of you. There’s no way I could’ve afforded any of this without the success you’ve brought us.”
“What’s your point, Sawyer?”
He picks at a piece of grass, taking his time to answer. “How many men am I going to have to lose before you get this girl?”
He looks up from the ground, and I can see the conflict in his eyes.
“As long as you keep your guys in line, there shouldn’t be any more problems.”
Sawyer sighs and gives me an ‘oh, honey’ look.
“What?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “Nothing.”
I open my mouth to press him but then close it and let the conversation die.
Sawyer stands and bends to clasp his hand on my shoulder. “Do what you gotta do, friend. Just don’t tear me down in the process, all right?”
He doesn’t wait for an answer. He pats my shoulder then begins the walk back to the manor.
I stay sitting on the cliff and force myself to relive my memories, telling myself this thing with Lib won’t be the same as before. I tell myself I’m a different man, even though I know it’s a lie.
When the first raindrop hits my cheek, I finally get up and head to my house.
11
Liberty
“Maybe it was firecrackers.”
“Firecrackers, Lily? Seriously?”
“Well, maybe they were target shooting or something. Just because we heard a gun doesn’t mean anyone got shot.”
“Target shooting? At two in the morning? Who does that?”