Slowly, as if speaking a prayer, I manage my reply.
“I…I love you too, Killian.”
He kisses me again, imprisoning my lips with his. I hate these walls, these steel bars that surround me, but I would let this man have total control over me. In fact, I would love that.
Killian’s phone rings, vibrating against my shoulder. I jump, and he chuckles at me, then smiles when he sees who’s calling.
“What?” I ask. “Who is it?”
Still smiling, he answers on speaker. “Marvin, how we looking?”
Marvin? As in my lawyer, Marvin?
“The evidence you sent me worked, Killian.” Yup, it’s him. “Judge Carver looked it over and has overturned Alice’s conviction. She is to be released immediately.”
I nearly bounce out of the room as my legs rocket me into the air. Like a toddler who just won something at the fair, I flail my limbs around, nearly hitting Killian in the face. He smiles proudly, enjoying the show.
“Thanks, Marvin. You’re a lifesaver.”
“Don’t thank me. You did all the heavy lifting. Oh, and tell Alice congratulations.”
“Thank you!” I blurt out as I jump up and down. I’m crying and laughing and squirming out of my skin as Killian hangs up. He slides one hand around my back, and I’m sure he’s going to kiss me, but he doesn’t.
He leads me out into the hall, and then, only then, in front of all the inmates who are watching from their cells, does he press his lips against mine.
The shouting begins again, but I’m laughing inside.
That’s right. I belong to him.Onlyhim.
He takes me by the hand and leads me down the hall and back to his office. Two cops stand by the door with a large man cuffed between them, and a man in a pinstripe suit furiously muttering into his phone.
“Chad, the old warden,” Killian whispers to me. “And his lawyer. I called it in before coming to see you.”
When Chad sees me, his jaw drops. I’ve never set eyes on this man before, but he recognizes me immediately. I almost don’t believe it. All this time—the false accusation, the trial, being thrown in prison—and this is the man responsible.
Killian doesn’t even stop walking. As we pass, I feel a naughty little tingle inside me and casually flip him the bird. The last thing I hear before Killian leads me out the door and into the sunshine is him cursing us both out.
“Don’t worry about him,” Killian assures me. “He’ll be in here soon. And not as a warden. Behind bars.”
I glance behind me and see the sign:Last Rites Penitentiary.
Suddenly, I’m being spun around. Killian dips me like we’re on the dance floor and pins me with his eyes.
“Time to go home,” he tells me.
“Yes.” I nod eagerly. “Let’s get out of here…sir.”
He smiles and kisses me again with such hunger and love that I nearly melt into a puddle.
How things have changed.
I arrived here in shackles, but I’ll be leaving in his arms.
EPILOGUE
ALICE
Five years later…
