Silver Tears(41)

“But first you have to taste this—it really melts in your mouth.”

Faye savored the tender meat as it practically disappeared without her having to chew it.

“God, that’s delicious. Here, for you.”

She picked up a small lobster taco from the metal rack beside her plate and carefully placed it into his mouth.

“The USA has been in the cards for Revenge from the very beginning,” she said. “But I wanted to take it step by step. First Sweden, then Norway, then Europe. And then finally America once we had enough to bring to the table to give us a chance. I’m fully aware of how difficult it is for a foreign company to break through over there. The obstacles are hefty, we’re competing with huge, well-established companies, and this industry is one of the most competitive out there. But that was what appealed to me from the very beginning. The challenge. So this is just an extension of that.”



She wiped her mouth.

“By the way, I’m going to Amsterdam this weekend with Ylva and Alice.”

“Oh? I got the impression the three of you barely know each other?”

“This is a great chance to change that—and you said you had a lot on with the girls over the weekend.”

“I have,” said David. “And I think you’re right to do it.”

He set down his chopsticks.

“I have to admit I’m incredibly impressed by what you’ve done, everything you’ve built up.”

Faye blushed. She’d heard it a lot, but it meant infinitely more when it came from David.

She shrugged.

“I can’t overlook the boost that Revenge got when Chris left me her company in her will. I’ll be forever grateful to her for that, and I’ll do everything I can to look after what she gave me.”

“I know you are. And that you will keep doing that,” said David with warmth.

They were interrupted by the arrival of new plates at the table.

“Dear God. I thought you were kidding when you told me you eat like a lumberjack!”

“Fat people are harder to kidnap,” said Faye with a smile, picking up a piece of sashimi with her chopsticks.

David looked at her gravely.

“I love you whatever size you are.”

Faye stopped with her chopsticks in midair. She stared at him.

“What did you say?”

David cocked his head to one side.

“You heard what I said.”

“Say it again.”

Faye melted under the gaze of his blue eyes as he smiled in a way that she had never seen before.

“I love you, Faye.”





FJ?LLBACKA—THEN

When we went ashore, Tomas said there was a little cabin in the woods. We found it in a clearing after a short stroll. Outside, there was a fire circle and Sebastian began to set a fire. He seemed happier, more self-confident here with his friends than he did at home. He held his head higher and his actions seemed more decisive.

I too felt different. Lighter. I was wrapping myself up in the feeling of finally being included and accepted. As it was lunchtime, we grilled some hot dogs and ate them with great pleasure. The boys drank more beer while I stuck to Coca-Cola.

Tomas came to sit next to me. I could feel the warmth from his body and had to fight the impulse to move closer.

“Do you remember that disgusting dough they grilled with the hot dogs on school trips when we were little?” he said.

“God, yes. The one they mixed together from flour, salt, and water?”

“What did they call it? Troll dough?”

“Isn’t troll dough the one you play with?”

“Maybe it was the same thing.”

“Eww!”

I laughed. I could feel the laugh reaching all the way down to my diaphragm.

“Didn’t you like the beer?” Tomas asked, pointing at my Coke.

“Sure, but I was starting to feel a bit dizzy,” I said, feeling embarrassed. I hid the Coke can behind my back.



It tipped over and I leaped off the ground.

Tomas jumped up as well, looking around for something to dry the wet patch on my skirt with, but he couldn’t find any paper. He picked up a lump of gray moss and began to rub it against the fabric, but the only result was that the stain was now wet and dirty.

“You’re not the best at domestic stuff, huh?” I giggled, and Tomas shrugged sheepishly.

“Is it that obvious?” he said.

The glimmer was back in his eyes.

Roger and Sebastian were watching us narrowly. They were talking in low voices, their heads close together. A shiver ran down my spine, but I figured it was because of the wind.

When we had finished eating, we went over to the cabin. There was a big rusty key in the lock. I turned it and we stepped inside. There wasn’t much to see.

“Not exactly a luxury retreat,” said Tomas, and Sebastian thumped him on the back.

“It’s free. What were you expecting? Just because you sleep between silk sheets…”

“Hey, watch it,” said Tomas, throwing a punch into the air. Sebastian danced away from it with ease.

I looked around as my eyes began to adjust to the darkness. Outside, the sun was shining brightly, but inside the cabin it was pitch-black. Heavy wooden boards covered the windows. The only furnishing was a bed in one corner with a filthy mattress on it. An empty jam jar rattled as Roger kicked it. I jumped, my heart beating faster than a hummingbird’s, but I quickly calmed down.