That meant something.
That meant a great fucking deal.
He loves me.I bit back my smile.And equipped with his love, I can cope with anything.
“The doctor said his remaining memory should return, but perhaps your visits will inspire a swifter resolution.”Kaspar’s tone was contemplative.
“Visits?”I repeated, emphasizing the plural.“You’re thinking of letting me go back to the hospital?”
“I know you will want to.”She snorted, shaking her head.“There does not seem to be anything capable of keeping you two apart.”
The notion that even the police recognized the strength of our chemistry was oddly comforting.Harper was a war criminal, but in rescuing me from the horror of the new order, he’d already started the process of his redemption.If we got a shot at a life together, after all, I would help make sure he never stopped seeking salvation.
“When do you think the ICC will reply about his plea deal?”I gripped at the safety belt, sensing I was on thin ice with the question, yet asking all the same.The next phase of our lives depended upon the ICC’s concurrence.
“That is not a conversation I can have with you, Miss Craness.”Kaspar’s fingers tightened on the steering wheel.“Mr.Harper’s legal proceedings with the state are confidential.”
“Of course.”I turned to the window and watched the gray buildings rush past.I was sure Zurich was a lovely city, but nothing about the architecture I witnessed enthralled me.“I just worry about what comes next for us both.”
“You will be safe in our custody until such time that the deal is finalized,” she assured me.“We are legally bound to feed and house you.”
How reassuring.
“I appreciate that.”Anxiety twisted in my gut as the crux of my request loomed.“But if I’m to stay with you, I’ll need a few clothes from the house we were staying in.”
“Make a list of what you require.”Kaspar sighed.“I shall send a uniformed colleague to fetch some for you.”
“No.”My tone was a little more insistent than I’d intended, and Kaspar shot a curious look in my direction.“Please...”
I swallowed back my surging apprehension, trying to explain.“I’d really like to choose for myself.I have such little control over anything at the moment, and after all those months at Fortorus...”I shuddered for effect.“I just want a little dignity.Being able to decide what I wear again will be a start.Is that such a big ask?”
A part of me loathed the way I used my former prison as a justification for the trip when I knew my desire to hide the bag of cash had nothing to do with that awful place.There were still women locked up at Fortorus, after all, and only God knew what fate had befallen the ones Harper and I had released on the day we’d fled.In the end, though, my own selfish needs took precedence.I needed to change Kaspar’s mind about allowing me to go back to the house, and if that meant pulling the Fortorus card and hoping that, as a woman, she’d be more inclined to give a shit, then so be it.
I’d do whatever was necessary to secure a future with Harper.
“I understand.”Her tone sounded anything but understanding.“But going back there is not protocol.”
“It’s just a few things,” I insisted, hopeful that, just like with the idea of seeing Harper, I might be able to wear her down if I didn’t relent.“I don’t have much left in the world, Officer Kaspar, but those few clothes would really help me at the moment.”
“And where is the key for this house?”Her gaze narrowed as she turned to me.“I do not remember it on your person when we brought you in.”
“I have it in my bra.It’s a little trick I learned at Fortorus.Not that they allowed us the privilege of underwear for long.”
Her brow furrowed at my explanation.“I am sorry you had to live through such times.”
“Yeah.”It was my turn to sigh.“Me too.”
“I suppose we could stop by the house quickly.”Checking the clock on her dashboard, her gaze flitted to me.“But you must tell me how you and Mr.Harper were able to stay in such a place when you didn’t have the legal right to be in the country.”
Anxiety intensified at her shrewd inquiry.Pleased that she seemed to be ceding to my demand, the last thing I wanted to do was to drop Fabian in trouble in the process.
“Adam knows the man who owns the house.”Shrugging, I feigned ignorance.“He let us stay there for a while.”
“For free?”She sounded unconvinced.
“I don’t know the details.”I forced myself to meet her stare before she focused back on the road.“I was seriously traumatized when we crossed the border.Adam arranged everything.”
Once upon a time, I’d prided myself on my honesty and integrity.Watching my country slide into shit and being rounded up as a criminal for little more than my gender and forced into incarceration had permanently altered me, though.Sitting in the police car, the lies I told did disturbingly little to prick my conscience.I was fighting for something more important than alleged decency.Honor and righteousness had done little to save me in the dark days.I’d be damned before I allowed them to thwart me as I grasped for any sort of happily ever after.
