JESSE
“So,when you said you’d have me out of here by Christmas, you really meant right up to the very day,” I said, adjusting my collar.
“It’s Christmas Eve, Jess. An entire day early by my calculations,” Trent said, grinning.
The smile didn’t reach his eyes, but I’d guess that was down to the last-minute wrangling he’d had to do to ensure my release.
The man had worked his magic, though, and I was a few signed documents away from freedom. I knew I was in the clear because Trent had brought the suitcase full of clothes I’d left with him, and I was already out of my prison uniform and into my favorite outfit: slouchy high-end jeans, heavy boots, a white T-shirt, and a draping overcoat with a heavy chain.
My dad always made fun of my look, but in this moment, the quality fabric and not-yet-out-of-datestyle went a long way toward making me feel like a human being.
Something I hadn’t felt like in over a year.
I’d gone quiet and worry darkened Trent’s eyes. He touched my shoulder. “I am sorry for the delays. Keeping you safe is a bit trickier than anyone realized it would be.”
That’s the fucking understatement of the year, I thought, rubbing the fresh bruise on my jaw. I hadn’t been privy to all the details, but they’d had to switch the location of my new life a few times. Eventually, it was determined that staying in Texas long-term wasn’t an option, but I had no clue where I would be going.
A lot was said in the things no one was willing to talk about. It was clear my father was onto the deal I’d made with the government because I’d had to be transferred to another facility across the state—again—after being targeted by every group willing to take a bribe from my family.
I already had to teach a few people a lesson in this newest location, which was not a good sign. Neither was the fact that my planned noon exit had been pushed up to five a.m.
Trent glanced at the purple shadow on my jaw, noticing it for the first time. “You okay?”
“Eh. Tweaky asshole clocked me, but I broke his eye socket in two places. Call it even.”
Trent’s jaw sharpened. “You’re going to a brand-new safe house tonight. Never been used, so no oneknows it even exists. Then, the day after Christmas, you’ll be transferred to your final location.”
“Do you know where it’ll be?”
He shook his head. “All I know is that they have you flying out of San Antonio.”
“If that’s what they told you, then it’ll be anywhere but San Antonio.”
“Agreed.”
The checkout process took for fucking ever, of course, but I wasn’t about to complain. Trent kept quiet the whole time, which did kinda freak me out.
“You don’t seem happy,” I finally said as I signed the last piece of paper.
“Shut up,” he said, gathering his folders and shuffling them into his briefcase.
“What?” I asked, knocking my shoulder into his.
“Look.” He let out a small chuckle, shaking his head as if what he had to say was against his better judgment. “Don’t hold this against me, but I’m gonna miss you.”
That gave me pause. I’d known Trent for a long time, and he’d stuck with me through transfer after transfer, working the best deal he could get with the government, and it just occurred to me that I’d never see him again.
He must’ve seen something in my expression because he started shaking his head. “Don’t you start, man.”
I shot him the finger for old time’s sake, and it broke the heavy feeling.
“Fucker.”
Trent walked beside me quietly as the correctional officers handed me over to two very large, very capable-looking Texas Rangers in civilian clothes, standing by a blacked-out SUV with unmarked plates.
“Damn. This is like Uber Black for rats,” I joked.
Trent looked off to the side, and I rolled my eyes.
