“Lucian, this is good news,” Pa pointed out seeing my hesitation.
“Sure, it’s the best.”
He and Claudius exchanged worried glances.
“What’s the matter with you?” Claudius asked. “It still sucks. I know it still sucks, but it’s better than three years. Three years and one month.”
“She can’t be with me.” That was the bottom line. “Claudius, make sure she gets back to LA safely.”
Claudius laughed and stood up. “Look, brother, I’ll see you at next month’s visit.”
I frowned at his lackadaisical attitude. I was being serious. More than serious. I was facing reality and stepping out of the bubble of the dream I’d created when I was with Amelia.
“Claudius.” I called to him but he ignored me.
I watched him walk away, then turned back to face Pa, who was already giving me a pensive look.
“You know, as much as I adore her and had my loyalty to Raphael, I was against this made-up union between the two of you. You and Amelia. Right from that day when Raphael called us into his office and gave you his stipulations to take over the business. I was against it because I didn’t want my kid being dragged into some arranged marriage. I was against it, and I was against the fact that you wanted to give up everything for her. I don’t have to explain why because you know what I went through with your mother.Youknow what you went through with your mother. But Lucian, this turned into something else. You have to admit that. It turned into something else. Falling in love is never part of a plan. It just happens. Don’t lose it. Think. Think about what you’re doing.” He rose and stood, still staring at me, still giving me that look. That look that burned straight into my soul.
He left too, leaving me to my thoughts.
Amelia would be in next.
There was so much to say, and I didn’t know how to say it. Or what to say.
Where did I begin?
The door opened again, and in she came. The guard by the door pointed to me.
As I looked at her, everyone else faded into the background, everything faded into the background, and it was like we were the only two people here.
I stood up as she moved to me. Her hair was down, hanging in long velvet waves about her shoulders, curling up at the edge of her elbows.
The peach summer dress she wore flirted with her legs. It was so unlike the cop version of her. Back when I’d met her, she would have never worn anything like that with so much color. She looked beautiful. She didn’t look like Amelia Taylor anymore.
This was Amelia Rossi as herself, without the shadow of the past that haunted her.
When she got closer, she quickened her pace and ran straight into my arms, and instinctively, we kissed. Kissed like we always did when we saw each other. This was a kiss, though, of longing and love. A kiss to soothe a wounded soul.
I was only reminded of where we were when the guard came over to scold us for the contact.
“Do not kiss the prisoner,” the large meat-headed man barked. “Public displays of affection are not allowed.”
The roughness in his voice made Amelia jump.
“I’m sorry,” she quickly apologized.
That was what I meant. Hearing someone speak to her like that pissed me off, but I controlled myself.
“Doll.” I smiled at her.
She reached up and touched my face. Caressing my jaw with the softness of her fingertips.
I could have stood here forever. Forever in this moment. I loved her, and since I loved her, I had to do what was right for her.
“Sit, please.” I ushered her to sit on the bench in front of me, where Claudius and Pa had previously sat.
“You look awful.” She winced. “What happened?”
