“You are a great person, Melina. Yes, you’ve had some bumps and bruises along the way. Yes, life may have given you a shitty deal, but you are a survivor. Your time here was just another little bump along the way to something much better.”
Melina shook her head. “I wish I could have just an ounce of the faith you have. It would last me until I the day I took my last breath.”
Erika smiled and reached for her hand. “Good thing, then, that I have enough for the both of us. Give yourself permission to be happy. From everything you’ve shared with me, it’s overdue for you.”
“And what about you?” Melina countered.
“I am going to be just fine. One day my time will come, too, and when it does, you better believe I will be skipping out of here with a happy song in my heart.”
Melina smiled. “I have no doubt you will.”
Erika opened her mouth to say something but before she could, the doors to the cell slid open.
“Morgan, it’s time. You’ve got two minutes to get your shit.”
Melina rose and glared at the guard, before she faced Erika again. She could see tears in the woman’s eyes.
“Hey, none of that. No waterworks,” Melina said softly.
“Oh, shut up and give me a hug.”
Erika stood up and hugged her tight. The last thing Melina wanted was one of the asshole guards to see her being vulnerable.
But right then she just didn’t care.
Melina hugged Erika tightly. “You take care of yourself. Who knows? Maybe we’ll run into each other again someday.”
Erika leaned back and wiped tears from her face. “I’ll be looking forward to that day.”
“Morgan, let’s go or you can stay here on a permanent basis. Your choice.”
Melina stepped away from Erika and walked over to the guard. “I’m ready.”
Officer Ramsey stepped back to allow Melina to exit the cell, but not before ensuring that his arm “accidently” brushed against her breast.
“Pig,” she whispered under her breath.
“You got something to say, Morgan? Trust me, I have no problems putting your ass back in your cage,” Ramsey said.
“Melina,” Erika said, a warning in her tone.
Melina knew that the guard was trying to provoke her.
The last thing he or his higher ups wanted was to release her back into society.
Especially because they’d failed to break her.
No doubt Ramsey would love another attempt to correct his failure, but she wasn’t going to give it to him.
She had too much to lose.
“No, sir,” she said.
Ramsey slammed the door shut. “I didn’t think so.”
Melina gritted her teeth but forced a smile to her face.
“Take care, Melina,” Erika said.
“You, too.”
And with a short wave, Melina was leaving her concrete prison behind. Raising her head high, she thrust back her shoulders and stood tall. She had no idea what she would be facing now, but anything had to be better than the hell she was leaving behind.
“All right, Morgan, you’re free to go.”
The heavy gray door swung open, and Melina was nearly blinded by the sunlight that shone directly in her path. It took a few moments for her eyes to adjust to the light as she stepped into the lobby. Blinking, she looked around and then she saw him. Arms folded, leaning casually against the far wall wearing a perfectly tailored black suit, Mac was a sight to behold. He wasn’t looking in her direction, which gave her time to study him.
His hair was freshly cut and his face clean shaven. Melina licked her lips. She wasn’t used to seeing him in a suit. No doubt it was all part of the new Mac—the Capo. Taking a deep breath, she moved toward him, unable to quiet the fluttering of tension and nervousness in her belly.
Would the new Mac still want his Gun Moll?
Or had their time passed?
“Mac,” she said softly.
He turned toward her and in one single, fluid motion he was off the wall and moving toward her. And as he stopped in front of her, he reached out and tipped her chin up toward him with one finger.
“Doll,” he said.
Nothing could disguise the reverence in his voice.
Melina tried to contain her trembling as his hazel eyes bored into hers.
There was so much that she wanted to say, but words wouldn’t come.
She was frozen and suddenly afraid.
Afraid of a future that she had no control over.
“Love you, doll.”
His lips curved into a crooked smile and then Mac was kissing her. His lips met hers in a hot, demanding kiss that set her soul on fire. Melina could taste the desire on his lips, the love, and just there hiding beneath it all, his own hint of uncertainty.
She pushed him away, knowing someone was watching.
Mac raised a brow. “Is something wrong?”
“Could we get out of here?”
It was as if a haze had cleared from his eyes as he looked around them, before focusing his attention firmly back on her. “Of course.”
He offered his hand and she took it. Together, they left the jail lobby and walked out into the sunlight. Mac gripped her hand tight as they walked down the sidewalk and toward the parking lot. Melina inhaled the cool, fresh scent of the air, her senses feeling as if they were coming awake for the first time.
“You’re quiet,” Mac said.
“Sorry.”