Page 93 of In Death, Love Survives

“Are you okay if I take off early?”

“Sure. Why?”

“I have to meet a friend.”

“A friend who makes you feel the fire?” I tease.

“I wish,” she says with a laugh.

As she adjusts her skirt, she tells me, “Just trying to make it home by five. If I don’t leave soon, I’ll be caught in parade traffic with the route I usually take.”

“Did you say five?” I ask, startled.

I turn my idle computer screen back on and see it’s almost three in the afternoon. I only have a couple of hours left if Wolfe really is waiting for me outside.

If he is, then that means everyone is wondering what he’s doing by not leaving immediately. I’m putting us both at even further risk because I just can’t listen to my dumb heart and take the leap.

“Nova.”

I look up at Jessica, who looks worried.

“Sorry. I’m fine. I actually… I think I have somewhere to be too.”

“Oh, okay, I’ll let you finish up then.”

Jessica leaves the office, and I realize that’s my answer.

If I don’t go with Wolfe, then I won’t be following my heart. Like Wolfe said, this is something for me. I want Wolfe more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life.

I won’t be afraid. I’m going to get my man.

Packing up my stuff as fast as possible, I’m grateful for the first time that I don’t have many personal items in the office. It always made me sad, but today, I’m happy that it won’t be obvious I’m leaving for good.

I decide to change so that I’m not dressed up next to Wolfe on his bike. Changing in my office will have to do. I have been naked in here anyway.

I lock the office door for the last time and then quickly change into a new outfit—a pair of denim jeans, brown leather cowboy boots, and a white tank top.

If I’m leaving, at this point, I really don’t care what anyone thinks about my outfit of choice as I go.

Changing like this before heading out isn’t that out of the norm. I’m just one of the only employees who never goes anywhere after work.

Maybe I’m still trying to convince myself that any part of this could be considered normal.

Of course, I’ve decided to do this while the rest of the prisoners will be outside. I’ll have to go by quickly without getting noticed. If anything, I could be a visitor of some kind. It’s not like most of these men have paid much attention to me anyway, so it’s a good thing today.

I’ll send Ryan and Crawley an email with my immediate resignation as soon as I get out of here and somewhere safe.

I’m not sure how Ryan will handle getting the final confirmation that I’m disappearing on the same day as Wolfe’s release. Crawley will certainly lose his mind, and he doesn’t even have real suspicions that anything is happening between Wolfe and me.

With a final glance around my office, I close my door for the last time.

Confidently walkingdown the hallway toward the main building to exit, I pass by June, who stares at me before rolling her eyes and resuming the conversation she was having.

I feel more suspicious than I know I am, partly because I know what I’m up to, and then there’s my outfit of choice. But really, there’s nothing for anyone to question. That is, outside of Ryan.

I don’t understand why he hasn’t been able to take the hint. This last time, I think I was as direct as I could have been.

After today, he’ll hopefully be a distant memory.