Saige nodded and smiled through her tears when Christina wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
Quinten would be free, but where could she take him? His house had been sold years ago by Alex, and she sure as hell didn’t want to bring him to her father’s house.
Which meant that she really needed her own car. She didn’t want to rely on Coulter to drive them around. “I need to borrow a car,” she blurted.
Christina hugged her closer before she let go. “You can have mine for as long as you need.”
“What? You hate anyone driving your car,” her father reminded Christina.
“Dad, I’ll soon have Quinten back, so please don’t get annoyed at Christina for helping me out. I’d have thought that you’d like the fact that we’re getting along.”
Anger flashed in her father’s eyes and his jaw tightened before he visibly tried to relax his features. She felt, rather than saw, Christina backing away from her.
“I’ll see you later,” Christina said, and disappeared out of the room.
Saige moved to stand in front of her father, tears in her eyes. “I love you, Dad.” She wrapped her arms around his waist and held him. Minutes later, she finally felt his arms hold her just as tight.
“I’m sorry, honey.” He kissed her on the top of her head. “I’m so sorry.”
“Please be happy for me.”
He hesitated. “I’ll try...now I have to go out.”
Her father pushed away and quickly left. Not five minutes later, she heard his engine rev before he tore out of the front drive.
* * *
10:45pm
* * *
“Are you okay?”
Alex turned and held his hand out to Christina and, with a tug, she was in his lap and his arms held her tightly against him. “I am now.” He breathed against the side of her head, his chin rested on her shoulder and he felt more content than he had in a very long time. “I missed you.”
“I missed you, too.” Christina turned and met his lips. “Talk to me, Alex. How are you really feeling now that Quinten’s going to be released?”
“Shocked, surprised, damn glad...worried.” Alex held her closer. “Nervous.”
Christina watched him closely and he knew she could see through him. “I’m damn happy that I’m going to get my brother back, but I’m worried as well. What does he have to come out to? Everyone knows who he is, so he’ll struggle for work. God”—he dropped his forehead to Christina’s—“I sound ungrateful that his life has been saved. I’m not. I love him and never wanted to see him in jail.”
“You don’t sound ungrateful.” Christina cupped his face. “He’s your younger brother and you’re worried about him. What you’re forgetting though is that he loves Saige and she him. They’re going to be together and something tells me, regardless of Quinten’s situation, they’ll make it work...just like we will.”
Alex paused and felt his heart turn over in his chest. “Does that mean what I think it means?” He grinned.
“I’m coming to Tampa with you,” Christina confirmed, and gasped when Alex took them into the water.
Alex cupped Christina’s face and dived in for the first taste of her beautiful lips as his woman. Her long legs wrapped around his waist, her sex rubbing against his erection. Alex slipped his hands up her soaked, clinging dress, to get to her naked bottom.
He moaned and all thoughts of getting them dry left his mind, as he lost himself in her arms and the pleasure between them.
Day 17
3:50am
* * *
Quinten stood on legs like Jell-O while he waited for the official paperwork to be signed. His eyes kept straying to the door that led to freedom, knowing that his brother was on the other side. Would Saige be with him? It had been a constant thought through the night…a night where he laid awake waiting for the minute of his release. He loved Alex but, deep in his heart, it was Saige he wanted waiting behind that door. It was Saige he wanted to wrap in his arms and hold on to.
As much as he’d dreamed of freedom, he’d never expected it. Even now that the warden had appeared, Quinten still thought he’d be stopped from leaving and told that it all had been a sick joke.
“Quinten?” Warden Roscoe stood before him, looking exhausted, as though he hadn’t been to bed yet. “I’m glad it’s you that this is happening to. You’ve never belonged in here.” The warden held his hand out.
Quinten hesitated and then shook the offered hand. “Thank you.”
“Here is your copy of the release. Keep it safe.” The warden stepped to the door. “You ready?”
Was he ready? He’d been incarcerated for eight years. A lot could happen in eight years, and what about Saige? She’d have a life that didn’t include him. What the hell was he going to do out there? His business had disintegrated when he’d been charged.
“Quinten, we need to do this.”
Quinten nodded. “I’m ready.”