Total pages in book: 20
Estimated words: 18916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 95(@200wpm)___ 76(@250wpm)___ 63(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 18916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 95(@200wpm)___ 76(@250wpm)___ 63(@300wpm)
“Holy…crap…”
Do I believe this?
I mean…it makes sense. In a twisted, conspiratorial kind of way. And what do I know about prison culture, about wardens, or about the political games they play?
Nothing. And why would Killian bother telling me such a story if he could easily just replace me?
Yes. I need to believe him.
I nod slowly. Trust flows like warm prickles through my cheeks and up my temples. I manage a smile as tears begin to trickle from my eyes.
“So what will you do?”
“I’m resigning.” His words strike me in the chest, shocking my system.
“Resigning? Killian, what about your career?”
“To hell with it,” he replies, shaking his head. He leans closer, pressing his lips to mine and filling me with such warmth. For the first time in a long time, I feel truly valuable. “All I care about, Alice, is taking care of you. Protecting you and providing for you. For the rest of my life. And do you know why?”
God, I am barely keeping it together. My vision is blurred from my tears. All I can do is shake my head as I stare up at his gorgeous face.
“Because I love you, Alice.”
His declaration shakes me to my core. Something foundational in me shifts. It’s like the feeling of when he took me for the first time in the infirmary, only multiplied by a million.
I scold myself for doubting him. The emotion evaporates so quickly that I can’t even remember how it felt to question him. It’s now my life’s duty to make Killian happy. All I want to do is please him and bring a smile to that chiseled face.
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. Only him.
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…
I shift my feet in the grass, feeling its warmth as I sip ginger tea and stare out at the neighborhood trees. The flowers are in bloom, the birds are chirping, and my two sons are chasing each other around with sticks, pretending they’re both King Arthur. They go back and forth between that and Robin Hood.