“It doesn’t matter,” Oliver says. “I’d do it for anyone in this family.”
Uncle Vinnie’s lips turn up ever so slightly. “Good to know. Who’s the lawyer?”
“Hal Bloom.”
Uncle Vinnie’s lips twist. “I don’t know him.”
“He has his own office. He’s my brother’s lawyer. I’ve never needed one except for business stuff, but Hal assures me he can work out a deal so I don’t have to do a longer stint inside.”
A stint inside.I never thought I’d be with a man who uttered those words. But here I am, and I am proud of Oliver, even if he did something most people would abhor. He did it for the right reasons, and I’ll forever be grateful to him for having Zoey’s back at a time she felt violated and helpless.
“I have some friends in the DA’s office. I’ll place some calls,” Uncle Vinnie tells Oliver.
“Totally unnecessary,” Oliver grumbles. “Hal will handle it.”
“You seem like a good guy, Oliver. You did right by my family even if you won’t tell me who you were protecting.” Uncle Vinnie’s gaze slides to me, and I look away. I’m not saying shit, and he knows it. “But sometimes the criminal justice system has less to do with justice and more to do with who you know. I’ll poke around and see what I can do.”
“Thank you,” I say to my uncle, but I’m still unable to meet his stare because I don’t want to break.
Oliver reaches over and intertwines his fingers with mine. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m not sure you can change the course of events. I messed him up pretty bad.”
“Did he deserve it?”
“Completely,” Oliver replies.
“Never hurts to try. I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night if I didn’t at least make a few phone calls. You saved my niece’s life and helped someone else I love, even if I don’t know who they are.”
I swallow roughly and seal my lips shut.
Vinnie taps the table with his index finger. “I’ll be in touch,” he says before sliding back out of the booth, leaving us alone.
“This is bad,” I whisper, staring down at where our hands are connected and resting on my leg. “So bad.”
“Hey,” Oliver whispers, squeezing my hand.
“The worst.”
“Lou,” Oliver says, placing the fingers of his free hand under my chin and forcing my eyes upward to meet his. “Look at me, sweetheart.”
Tears sting the corners of my eyes. He’s so sweet and gentle with me, and my heart can barely handle any more. I should be comforting him. He’s the one who’s about to lose his freedom for something he never would’ve been involved in if it weren’t for me and my family dropping into his life out of nowhere.
“It’s my fault.”
Oliver strokes my chin with his thumb. “Baby, look at me.”
I let out a deep breath I didn’t know I was holding and finally drag my gaze to his. “You wouldn’t be in this trouble if it weren’t for us.”
“I’d do it all again, even knowing what I know now and facing jail time.”
My mouth drops open. “How can you say that? Jail is jail, Oli.”
A small, sad smile forms on his lips. “I’d do anything to keep you and the ones you love safe, Lulu. A few months away is worth it to know that shithead will never do that to Zoey or another woman again.”
“A few months inside?” I ask as my body stiffens. “A few months inside? A few months inside?” My voice rises with each repetition. “It’s more than a few months inside. It’s a record. It’s your freedom. It’s your life.”
Oliver pulls me against him, holding me so tightlythe only thing I feel is his warm strength. “It’ll be okay, Lulu. I need you to calm down and breathe.”
“I’m breathing, and I’m freaking out,” I say as I sag against him, pulling in a deep breath as loudly and dramatically as I can so he’ll stop telling me to breathe.
