My moment of contentment was fleeting, it seemed. “Baby, I’m willing to take Hector under my wing. I will look out for him.”
I heard her sigh through the phone in discontent. “I’m sorry. I’m just trying to process everything. So much is going on, and we’re up against so much. Sometimes I don’t know what to do, that’s all.”
“I know it’s hard, but I have an idea about something. I want to run it past you. Will you come for dinner tonight? Please? I need to kiss that beautiful face of yours,” I replied with softness.
“Yes, but it better be good, Colt.”
“It is. You’re going to want to be involved, too. Let’s give us a chance. Give it some time. You’ll see the man I am.”
Twenty-Four
Amber
My insecurities were flaring up. It seemed like every time I tried to move forward with Colt, something popped up that made me question him. I wanted to trust him implicitly.
I pulled my hair up into a ponytail and put on jeans and a black top, ready to head to Colt’s house. As I got ready, I put on some music to decompress from the day.
I’d made some calls to Merced USP that day.
“Warden Smith, have you looked into any information I gave you?”
“Well, I have. I see that it can work. There’s a federal grant that would be ideal if we could swing it. We could look at upgrading a few things. I just don’t have the administrative manpower to do it.”
“That’s why I’m calling. What about a prison liaison? Someone to help you in that department? An advocate for the jail, on a paid basis, of course.”
“Let me think about it. I’ll get back to you. They would have to guarantee a result if I paid them. I only have a small kitty of funds.”
“Have a think about it and let me know.”
I was thinking I might be able to get a job and a pay raise for Lucy to help her with the situation with her mother. I sighed as I applied my makeup. I was just about ready to go when I saw Hector’s phone number.
“Hey, little bro! How are you?”
“I’m good. My head is spinning, though. I’m learning a lot at the repair shop.”
“Okay, that’s good news. Please tell me you’re not shipping any illegal parts or anything like that.”
“You have to trust Colt. He put his life on the line for me that night. Man, that guy would have killed us.” He stopped short like he’d revealed too much.
“What…what did you say?”
“Nothing, Amber. Just leave it alone. It’s done now. Diego is legit. Colt is legit. You don’t have any reason not to trust him.”
My belly was burning. I knew he wasn’t telling me something. In a way, I wanted to know, and in another, I didn’t. I eased out a breath and decided to let it go.
I drove over to Colt’s and rapped on the door. As soon as I saw his face, I melted into mush.
“Hi.”
One look is all it took with him. He scooped me up and into him. He planted a kiss on me that made me lift one foot off the ground, just like the movies.
“Baby. You mad at me?” His soulful eyes searched mine for the answers.
“A little, but I think I might be getting over it quickly.”
He grabbed my hand and kissed it. “Come in, it’s chilly out there.”
“A little.”
