“Fuck.” Diego looks around frantically. “I know some guys inside, I can at least make the time a little easier for you.”
I shrug. “Do what you need to do.”
“You’re not scared? You haven’t been locked up since juvie, you don’t know what it’s like?—”
“Guess I’ll find out.”
“You’re surprisingly zen about this.”
I chuckle. “Well, having your empire fall and finding out you have a daughter all in the same week really shows you your priorities, I guess.”
“And your priority?—”
“Is them. Always them.”
“And you’re sure about that?”
I nod.
Diego looks at me for a moment longer then shakes his head, sighing.
“Alright, boss. I’ll make sure your time inside is easy, and I’ll make sure they don’t transfer you out of state.”
“You can do that?”
“I know enough cops and guys inside. I’ve got you.”
I grin up at him. “I appreciate it, Diego. Seriously.”
He stays and talks for a while, eventually leaving the room.
Sophia doesn’t come back. Not for hours. I frown at the door, but when it opens it’s the doctor rather than Sophia.
“Your heart function is coming along nicely,” she says after reviewing my chart. “You should be able to be discharged into custody tomorrow morning.”
I nod, my throat aching with unexpressed emotion.
I don’t want to go to prison. I’m not stupid enough to think it’ll be easy, even given Diego’s connections. I want to be with Sophia and Rosa, but that’s not really an option for me.
Even if it was, I don’t know if Sophia would want it. Would want me. Not like this.
When the doctor leaves, I manage to doze off, worried that I won’t see Sophia or Rosa again before I’m put into custody. I guess I got four days. That’ll have to be enough.
The door slowly creaks open and I jolt awake, sitting up.
“It’s just me,” Sophia says quickly, rushing to my bedside. “But we have to hurry.”
I squint at the clock. “It’s midnight, Sophia. Where can we possibly be going?”
“Away,” she breathes, and as I watch her incredulously, she takes a key and unhooks my handcuffs, one by one.
I slowly rub my wrists, shocked. “Sophia. Pixie. What are you doing?”
“Can you walk?”
“Down the hall and back, every day,” I say proudly.
“Gonna need you to walk a little further than that. Just to the wheelchairs, and then we can?—”
