Page 168 of The Fractured

“Seb taught Bella to dance.” Random, yes, but I panicked.

His eyebrows shot up as he huffed a laugh. “Oh?”

“Well, it’s more hopping on her back legs with her paws up, but she only does it to Get Low.”

“By Lil Jon?”

“Yes.”

Dean chuckled as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Of course he would.”

The remaining minutes of the visit fell away too quickly. Soon, the inmates were being told to line up at the door again as friends and family waved from their tables.

Dean didn’t move right away. He leaned across the table, took my chin in his hand, and kissed me.

He kissed like how he made love, putting so much pressure, warmth and passion behind each clash of our mouths, that it leftme breathless. He didn’t care if people watched as he cupped the back of my neck and angled his head.

“Move it, Moretto,” the officer nearby drawled.

We stood and met each other at the edge of the table for a hug. He was now the only inmate at a table as the others walked out of the room.

With his hands on the sides of my neck, he kissed me over and over again.

“I love you. I miss you. I’ll see you soon,” he said between each rushed kiss.

I could already feel that familiar ache beginning to burn in my chest.

I didn’t want to let go yet.

From the corner of my eye, I could see the officer coming over. “Visiting hours are finished,Romeo. Wrap it up.”

Dean planted one more lingering kiss on my forehead, holding the back of my head with a gentle strength, and then reluctantly backed away.

I took a seat again, wiping at my eyes as I watched him leave.

Thatwas always the worst part.

Chapter 59

Dean

The suit was a rental and smelled like one too. It was the first time in a long time I was wearing something other than orange.

I lowered my head to my hands and hunched forward, sitting on a bench in a quiet holding cell in the back of the courthouse. My only company was the clinking sound coming from the lightbulb outside the cell.

I was the only one of Antonio’s fighters who went on trial. None of the others were ever caught because there was little evidence of others being involved.

Many of his other men, associates above my pay grade, were also on trial for crimes worse than mine in much bigger court cases with media present and a multitude of lawyers on their sides. Their arrests had created a giant void in Antonio’s usual business dealings.

His death was another reason everything halted.

In a way, his kids’ wish for his empire to crumble had worked, but it hadn’t been their doing.

I didn’t know why I was giving them headspace. They were gone and I had my own shit to deal with.

The jury had all the information they needed and spent the past half hour discussing it.

All I could do, besides thinking about my ex-boss, was replay what happened in court earlier today to ease the tension in my head.