Taming Liberty by Nicole Cypher

Author:Nicole Cypher [Cypher, Nicole]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Blue Rose Publishing

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?

Oh no.

I back up several steps as a ball of sludge sinks down my throat until it sits heavily in my chest.

“Estaré allí esta noche,” he says just before hanging up the phone. I’ll be there tonight.

He puts his phone in his swim trunks, then blows out a breath as he looks out at the ocean.

I slowly walk toward him, ready to offer comfort, but before I make it there, he turns. I don’t know for sure what that phone call was about, but I have an idea. I question whether I’m right when I make out Angel’s hardened expression. Hardened. Not sad or pained.

“We need to head back to the house,” he says, his monotone voice bordering on robotic.

He strides past me, his lips set in a firm line.

“Is everything okay?” I ask, hurrying to keep up.

He doesn’t answer.

“Angel?”

“Everything’s fine.” He veers from the beach to hike up the hill.

“You’re leaving, though?”

Again, no answer.

“Please, can you tell me what’s going on?” I pant, already out of breath from the fast pace up the hill. I don’t know if it’s the elevation here or what, but these hikes take my breath away. The cortisol trickling through me isn’t helping.

Angel ducks beneath a branch, then pulls his phone out. His fingers fly over his screen without him ever slowing down, walking so fast that we’re almost to the house by the time he puts his phone away.

“Angel, please.” I grab his hand and dig my heels into the earth to stop him before he can get inside. He turns to look at me, his face stone-like. I let go of his hand. “You’re scaring me.”

He stands unmoving for a second, but then his face relaxes a hair. His nostrils widen as he sucks in a deep breath then blows it out.

“I’m sorry,” he finally says. “I’m not trying to scare you. There’s an issue with one of my business ventures, and I’m going to have to take care of it in person… I’m sorry, I’m not sure when I’ll be back, so you’ll need to stay at the manor while I’m gone.

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