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The place Violet picked out is even nicer than it looked in the photos, but it feels empty without Killian. I unpack his things and stock the kitchen, take a shower, and set up my laptop before truly letting myself take the place in.

It’s two stories with a big front porch, an oak tree in the backyard, and four bedrooms. The kitchen is twice the size of the one at the cabin and there are two separate living rooms, both with huge tvs and sectional couches. I’ll be comfortable here for sure, but I can’t shake the feeling that Violet only picked a place so large because she knew my entire family would soon be staying with me.

Good. We need all the support we can get right now.

I spend a good hour pacing the family room as I wait to hear from Donna. It’s only half past two and she’s not supposed to call until after three when her meeting with Killian is over, so my heart drops out of my ass when my phone rings a half hour early.

“Donna? What is it? Is he okay?” I demand. She never calls during meetings with him. “Say something!”

“It’s me, Roo. Everything is alright.” He chuckles lightly at the panic in my voice, surely because he’s just happy to hear I still care. “Did you have to curse my pillow? That was too far.”

What the hell is he talking about?

Oh, the letter.

Krystal.

Pouting, I mutter, “Yes, I did.”

“Fuck, I miss you. The jealousy was cute by the way, but I think deep down you know she was lying. I never once touched her without a condom, and I damn sure never proposed. I didn’t even really talk to her, let alone think about marrying her. I was bored and in the process of leaving a bullshit company to go freelance, and she was easy. I’m not proud of it.”

I did know, but even if I didn’t, I’d believe him now.

“I almost didn’t send it,“ I admit. “But I wasn’t kidding, I don’t want to talk about her. Are you okay? What’s going on in there?”

“I know, but I needed to say it anyway. I’m okay, love. I’ll tell you all about it in here, but you first. How are you doing? Has your sister come to stay with you so you’re not alone?”

“Not yet. I just got here yesterday, so I’m okay. She’s been calling ten times a day though, so have my parents. They’re all behind you, Killer. All of us are.”

Silence hangs in the air a moment before he breathes. “Thank you. I’m glad they’re there for you since I can’t be. How much water have you had today?”

I glance over at my still-full cup and blush. “Not enough. Are they feeding you okay?”

“Not really,” he admits. “Everything tastes like box, and sometimes they shove it in the cell so hard shit falls on the floor. They really don’t like me here, but I know this is temporary. I won’t be in solitary forever.”

Anger boils just under the surface, but I know that isn’t what he needs to hear right now. “You’re right, you won’t be. We’ll get you out.”

“Two minutes,” Donna cuts in. “Any longer and it’ll be suspicious.”

“Damnit,” he hisses. “And what about the media? They don’t let me see shit, but they’re leaving you alone, right? They don’t know about the cabin?”

“No one came to the cabin, but the media has been emailing me and calling me nonstop. I’ve been trying to keep my face out of it for now, but you know me. I don’t bottle things up very well.”

I hope he can hear the smile in my voice, because I can hear it in his when he responds. “Yeah, I love that about you. Whatever you say or do I support you, just don’t believe everything they say about me. Steel showed me a couple of the interviews and it’s a bunch of bullshit. I promise I haven’t lied to you about anything, okay?”

Donna says something else to elicit another stream of cuss words from Killian, but I don’t have to have heard her clearly to know our time is almost up.

“Will you write to me again? I want to hear more of your favorite memories... or even memories that aren’t your favorite. I just want more of you.”

My chest tightens as I clutch the phone a little tighter. “I will. I love you.”

“Love you, too. Thank you for everything, and for being who you are. Our time in the cabin is what sustains me now.”

“Not me. The thought of all the time we have yet to come is what’s keeping me going. Be careful, Killian. Keep your head up.”

I hang up before Donna can smack him for stalling, feeling a little like I just stabbed us both.

I need to see him.

Soon.

––––––––

My phone rings again two hours later, and I’m surprised to see it’s Donna again.

“He’s going crazy without being able to see you,” she admits. “I think it’s affecting him more than he’s letting on.”

It makes my chest tighten, but I’m not surprised to hear it. “I’m not going anywhere, so if you called to tell me that to make sure I don’t leave him, you didn’t have to.”

“It’s not that, though it’s good to hear. I’m calling because it’s getting harder to get real answers out of him. He’s unfocused and jittery. I don’t think he’ll be of any use to me until he sees you.”

My poor baby. “What can I do? He’s in solitary, they’re not letting anyone anywhere near him.”

“Not officially, no. But money talks, Joey. You know that.”

Her words are so pointed that I know she only means one thing — she wants to bribe my way into the prison. Butterflies scatter in my stomach. “I’ve got a lot of it, and I desperately want to see him. Just tell me how much.”

She hesitates like she knows this is a terrible idea, then says quietly, “Tonight, one am. Bring two envelopes filled with cash with you, wear something black, and meet me at the corner of Halifax and Second. Don’t tell anyone.”

“How much?” I repeat.

“How much is their silence worth to you?”

Got it. “I’ll meet you there. Thank you, Donna. Seriously.”

“Don’t thank me yet. You won’t like what happens if you get caught.”

I don’t care. They could lock me up for a hundred years and it would still be worth it. He needs me, and I need him, no matter the cost. “I’ll be there.”