Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 60978 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 305(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60978 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 305(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
“That’s not an answer,” I pressed, keeping my voice low so I didn’t stress Eliza. She stood a few steps away, face turned toward the sky, seeming to savor sun shining on her face. “If Tonio Miles is involved in this --”
“Cash,” Lana interrupted, her voice gentle but firm. “You won a huge victory today. Focus on the win.” She glanced meaningfully toward Eliza. “Focus on her. Some questions don’t need answers, especially when those answers might complicate things you care about. Trust me when I tell you, she is completely free. Anything Tonio did, he did for Knuckles.”
Sometimes knowing too much created its own problems. And hadn’t I learned in prison there were systems within systems, power structures invisible to most people? Whatever Miles had done, it had freed Eliza and Lily, which was the important thing.
Movement across the plaza caught my eye. Ash stood near a row of neatly trimmed hedges, watching us. He maintained a respectful distance, making no move to approach Eliza, but his presence acknowledged the outcome mattered to him. Lily was safe, her custody secure with Eliza.
Our gaze met briefly across the distance. He nodded once. Ash would always be Lily’s father. I would be whatever Eliza needed me to be. Whatever we became together. And I would love both my girls with every single piece of my heart. I returned the nod before turning back to Eliza. I slipped my arm around her waist, drawing her against my side.
“Ready to go?” I asked softly.
She leaned into me, some of the tension finally leaving her body. “More than ready.” She glanced around, spotting Ash in the distance and raised her hand to him. Ash gave her a two-finger salute then got on his bike and left. “Let’s go home.”
* * *
The whiskey burned a pleasant path down my throat as I watched Eliza move around my apartment. The amber liquid caught the low lamplight, throwing golden reflections onto the coffee table between us. She’d kicked off her shoes hours ago. We’d spent the afternoon with Lily, celebrating the end of a long and trying journey. Ash had spent some time with us, but mostly it had been me and my girls.
Hannah had moved us to one of the larger apartments in the center of the compound. We had a massive loft with four bedrooms. Lily had been delighted with her own room she could decorate however she wanted, and I could admit to looking forward to buying all the stuffed, pink, furry things she wanted.
Now, with Lily sound asleep in her room, I spent time with Eliza in the large living room, enjoying the feeling of having a home and family for the first time in a long time.
Eliza paused by the record collection, her fingers trailing over the spines. She wore the same dress from court, but her hair now tumbled loose around her shoulders, freed from the tight bun she’d worn earlier. The sight of her there, so at ease among my things, hit me harder than the whiskey.
“Play something,” she said, glancing over her shoulder at me.
I set down my glass and crossed to where she stood, reaching past her to pull out a worn Johnny Cash album. Our fingers brushed as I handed it to her, a small touch spreading warmth up my arm.
“The Man in Black,” she said, smiling as she studied the cover. “Is that where your name came from?”
I nodded, taking the record and carefully slipping it from its sleeve. “Club tradition. Road names usually come from something obvious. I was always singing his songs. And my first name is Johnny.”
The needle scratched gently before settling into the groove, the familiar opening notes of I Walk the Line filling the apartment. I returned to the couch, refilling our crystal tumblers with another finger of whiskey.
We sipped in comfortable silence for a moment, the music washing over us. The stress of the day had slowly melted away, replaced by a quiet celebration that felt more meaningful than any loud party could have been.
“Thank you for today, Cash.” She sat beside me on the couch. I put my arm around her and kissed her temple. “For the support. For making it a special day for Lily. For being my rock.”
“I’ll always be your rock, honey. I’ll be whatever you need me to be.” I reached for her then, drawing her onto my lap. I cupped her cheek, holding her gently as our lips met.
I hadn’t meant to do more than reassure her of my feelings or to give her whatever comfort she needed. But my gentleness didn’t last long. Mostly because Eliza knew exactly how to drive me crazy and the woman wielded her power mercilessly.
She made a small sound in the back of her throat, her fingers tightening around mine before releasing to tangle in my hair. She pulled me closer, deepening the kiss with a hunger matching my own. I gripped her waist, lifting her onto my lap in one smooth motion. Her dress rode up as she straddled me, revealing the creamy skin of her thighs.