That’s when she noticed her father’s special agent in charge standing at attention a few feet away. Without a glance to her, the former special ops soldier exited the room.
Her father didn’t waste time. Turning back to her, he said, “I understand you’ve been through an ordeal. Because of me. Because of who I am.” He paused to take a breath and she blinked. This was the closest she had ever heard her father come to apologizing. He sounded almost contrite. “I never imagined anything like this could . . .” His voice faded away.
“I don’t blame you, Daddy,” she said gently, and she meant it.
Her father was a lot of things, but it wasn’t his fault she’d been abducted. When evil men did evil things, it was no one’s fault. Otis Sullivan was to blame. No one else.
He sighed and bowed his head. The sound was tired. He looked older standing there. “I’m glad to hear that, Grace.” He dragged a chair up beside the bed and sank down in it. He patted her hand where it rested on the bed. “Truly relieved.”
“Dad,” she began after a moment. “I need to talk to you about Reid Allister.”
He made a sound of disgust. “The man is exactly where he deserves to be.”
“No, you don’t understand—”
“There’s nothing to discuss on the matter of Reid Allister. You’ll only distress yourself further.”
She crossed her arms where she reclined in the bed. “He saved my life.”
Her father’s top lip curled faintly, as though he had just tasted something unpleasant. “And what else did he do to you?”
She sucked in a slow breath. He knew. Of course he knew. He must have had agents out to the cabin by now. She winced. They would have relayed what they found there. Even if they hadn’t found a half-empty box of condoms, her father could probably take one look at her and surmise the truth of it. But she loved Reid Allister and was not going to sit by idly and let him rot away in prison for the rest of his life.
“You can pardon him,” she said calmly, not so much as blinking under her father’s unflinching regard. “You have that power.”
“And why would I do that? So my only daughter can ruin her life and be with a degenerate?” He shook his head slowly. “Not happening.”
She propped up on her elbows in the bed. “Even if he’s innocent?”
“Innocence is a relative thing.”
She shook her head. “If you care about me at all—”
“I do care about you. I know I never say it. Your mother and I haven’t been the most demonstrative with you over the years, but we love you. Believe it or not, I’m looking out for you.”
“I know you think you are. But you’re controlling. I’m twenty-six and can lead my own life. Make my own choices.”
“And would one of those choices include being with Reid Allister?
She refrained from agreeing or disagreeing. “I’m done. I’m leaving DC. I won’t be your puppet anymore.”
His nostrils flared, the only indication that her declaration had affected him. “You’re right, you know. I do have the power to pardon him.” Hope started a slow whisper through her heart. “How badly do you want him to have his freedom?”
“You know I do.”
“Enough to stay in DC?”
She sank back down on the bed as understanding began to penetrate. She gave a slow nod. “Yes.”
“Enough to marry Charles?” he pressed.
She jerked back into a sitting position, outraged and prepared to object, but the look in his eyes told her it was no use.
“You don’t dislike each other,” he reminded her sharply. “Charles was sick with worry while you were gone. He’s a good man. You could be good together, Grace.”
This was what her father did. He was a master negotiator. And he never lost.
“You would manipulate me like this?” she accused softly.
“I’m doing what’s right for you.” His expression was earnest, and she knew he thought that was true.
She gave another nod, feeling like she was sinking, falling, as she settled back down on the bed again. Falling into a grave. Her grave.
“Enough to promise never to see Reid Allister again?” The words hit her, landing like dirt over her grave. That was the final point to be negotiated. Maybe the most important one for her father.
She nodded once, hard. Thankfully, the boulder-sized lump in her throat blocked the sob that rose up in her chest.
“Say it, Grace. I’ll have your word. You will never attempt to see Reid Allister again.”
“You have my word,” she whispered. She would stay in DC under her father’s thumb. She would marry Charles.
Her sentence had just begun, but it didn’t matter because Reid would finally be free.
Reid was buzzed through a second set of doors. With his hands and ankles shackled, he walked with shuffling steps down the halls, a corrections officer on each side of him.
They usually didn’t bother with the leg shackles, so he guessed they were taking him to meet with someone important. Probably the district attorney to talk to him about his testimony against Sullivan.
He was glad for the meeting. Whatever the reason, it was a nice break from segregation, where they’d had him ever since his return to Devil’s Rock. He passed through several more doors until he was in an area of the prison he’d never seen before. Soon he was being led through a carpeted reception area, heading for the door marked as belonging to the warden. Oh, shit.
His mind raced, wondering what this could be about. Maybe it was about the riot . . . or breaking out of prison . . . or how much he’d embarrassed them by escaping, and they planned on keeping him in the hole for the rest of his life.
One of the bulls opened the door for him. Reid stepped inside. Immediately, he noticed two men in suits who were the size of NFL linebackers. It was impossible not to notice them. They were even taller than him. They sucked up all the space in the room.
“Have a seat,” a voice intoned.
He looked over to a small sitting area. The President of the United States sat on a couch, a cup of steaming coffee in his head. His free hand motioned to the armchair across from him.
Reid moved slowly, as though expecting some kind of trap. Was this when one of those Secret Service agents forced him to his knees and put a bullet in the back of his head for fooling around with the president’s daughter? For putting her life in danger?
Reid sank down into the chair, extending a small nod to the man who, in his opinion, had been a shitty father to Grace. He wasn’t going to get a warm welcome from him. Reid didn’t give a damn who he was.
The president stared at him for a few moments. “I understand I’m to thank you for saving my daughter’s life.”
Reid merely stared. Reeves was going to have to say more than that to get him to talk. He would have to make it clear why he was here.
Reeves continued, “Grace seems to think you deserve a pardon.”
Of course Grace would be trying to get him free. She was good like that. Sweet. She believed in things like justice. She believed in him when no one else in the world did.
“What do you think my daughter deserves, Mr. Allister? Do you think she deserves you? Some lowlife degenerate who’ll never amount to anything?” He waved an elegant hand in the air. “Who’ll always wear the stain of this place on him?”
Reid finally answered him. “No. She deserves better than me.”
President Reeves smiled then. It was fake and didn’t reach his eyes, and Reid bet he did it every day and people bought into it. “Good then. I’m glad to see we’re in agreement. As long as you agree that my daughter deserves better than you and you promise to stay far away from her, I’ll see to your pardon.”
Reid sat there for a moment, waiting for the rush of exultation to flow over him. Nothing. Without Grace, it didn’t even make an impression.
“Mr. Allister.” Hard eyes fixed on him. “Do I have your promise? Your freedom and you forget all about my daughter
.” His expression turned faintly mocking. “I’m sure that won’t be that difficult for you to manage.”
Reid’s hands curled at his sides and it took everything in him not to lunge at the man. He didn’t think Grace was one to inspire love and loyalty? Or maybe Reeves just thought he was incapable of feeling such dedication.
After a long moment, Reid nodded. Because Reeves was right. Grace deserved better than him. “Yes.”
“Then you have your pardon.”
Twenty-Four
A soft knock sounded at her hospital door. She ignored it, scraping the inside of her Jell-O cup with a spoon, hoping whoever was there would just go away. Her mother, Holly, and Diana, her mother’s personal aide, had just left, and her head was throbbing. She wasn’t in the mood for more visitors. Hopefully the person would just go away.
Her spoon continued scavenging for the last bit of Jell-O. She probably hadn’t had Jell-O since middle school. How had she gone this long without it? Especially black cherry. She was going to have to start adding it to her grocery list.
A rerun of The Big Bang Theory played on the TV. She’d seen the episode before but it still succeeded in distracting her. She laughed at Sheldon and wondered if Reid had ever seen the show before. Did they play it in prison? Did he have access to TV?
Hell. So much for distracting her.
The door opened. “Grace? Hello?” Charles stuck his head inside the room.
“Hey, Charles.” She reached for the remote control, powering down the volume. He’d come by earlier with her mother, but she hadn’t been alone with him since before . . .
Before everything.
Except now they were engaged.
“I brought you some breakfast tacos.” He held up a brown paper bag. “The nurses here raved about them.” He shrugged amiably. “Figured you should always go with the recommendations of the locals.”
“Thanks, Charles.”
He pulled a chair up and drew the bed tray closer, setting the bag on it. “Unless you want more Jell-O cups.” He nodded at the empty cups littering her tray.
“Thanks, but I’ll take the real food, please.”
“Your mother said they should release you tomorrow.”
Grace nodded, watching as he lifted a taco out of the bag and handed it to her. She opened the tinfoil and immediately the delicious aroma of warm flour tortilla, scrambled egg, and bacon wafted to her nose. “This smells like heaven.” She moaned at her first bite.
At the stretch of silence, her gaze drifted to Charles. He watched her with a rapt expression.
She held her fingers over her mouth. “What?” she asked around a mouthful of taco. “You’re not eating.”
Nodding, he looked down at the taco in his hand, hurriedly unwrapped it and took a bite. She watched him curiously. He looked almost nervous, which he couldn’t be. Charles was confident and charismatic. Never nervous.
“Good,” he said approvingly, and took another bite. He glanced up at the TV, smiling. “This is a good one.”
They ate in silence for a few moments. Companionable silence. Like before. That much hadn’t changed.
“You seem . . . different,” he announced.
Her gaze swerved back to him at this. A nervous tremor ran through her. How could he know? “Different how?” she dared asking.
Did he look at her and know she’d fallen in love with one of her abductors? That she’d slept with someone else and there had been sparks? Epic sparks. Once in a lifetime sparks. The kind she and Charles didn’t have and never would have.
“I don’t know.” He shrugged one shoulder. “Stronger maybe?”
She smiled at that, a little relieved.
She felt stronger. It was a new day and she was a new Grace Reeves. She was glad he sensed that. “Tell that to my mother. She hasn’t stopped hovering.”
He smiled back. “She was worried. We all were.” He paused and looked down at his taco. “I was worried, Grace.”
“I know—” she started to say.
“No.” His voice sounded almost pained as he cut her off. “I was really worried.”
“Charles,” she said softly, unsure what to say.
“I mean it.” He lifted his gaze back up. “What we had was so comfortable. I realize that I took it for granted. I took you for granted.”
She took another bite of her taco, chewing steadily so she wouldn’t have to say anything right then.
“I know I went about all of this wrong, Grace. I went about us wrong. Your father has been calling the shots from the beginning.”
“Well, that’s what he does.”
“Well, I shouldn’t have let him. Not in this. Maybe that’s why you and I never felt real.” Abruptly, he put down his taco and stood up.
She watched him with wide eyes, her heart pounding like a jackhammer at her throat. He ran both hands through his well-groomed hair, sending the chestnut locks into uncustomary disarray. “Your father said you agreed to marry me.”
Heat crept up her face. Did her father also explain that he had blackmailed her to get her agreement? For the first time, she thought about Charles and how he would feel if he knew she had been coerced. He couldn’t like the idea. What man would?
Even knowing that, she didn’t care. She did it for Reid. For his freedom. She didn’t regret it. The choice was hers, and she did feel good about that at least. It was her decision. She was calling the shots. The very thing she had vowed to do when she returned to her family.
Charles cursed and looked away for a moment. She blinked. It wasn’t like him to use language. “Charles,” she started, pushing herself up a little higher in the bed. “Look . . .”
Her voice faded as he got down on one knee. She peered over the side of the bed at him, her mouth sagging open at the sight of him on bended knee. “I don’t need anyone to propose for me. Not even your father. I’m quite capable of doing it myself. Grace Reeves, will you marry me?”
She stared, stunned.
He straightened and seized her hand. “I know this is probably not the most romantic gesture. And certainly not how any woman imagines a proposal.” His lips twisted in a wry grin. “Over tacos in a hospital bed leaves a lot to be desired. But it’s me that’s asking this time, Grace. Not your father.”
She cleared her throat. “I appreciate that.”
“We can have something real, Grace. We can be good together. I believe it. Tell me you believe that, too.”
Her mind touched on Reid and then shied away. It hurt too much. “I don’t love you, Charles.” She had to be honest with him. She couldn’t go into this with him thinking she felt more for him than she did. She wouldn’t do that to him no matter what she promised her father. She’d marry him, but he would know the truth.
“Do you like me?”
“Yes. Of course.”
“Good, because I like you. I more than like you, and I think some day we could maybe even love each other. When I thought something might happen to you . . . that you might die—” He stopped and gave his head a swift shake. As though it was too unthinkable to say out loud. He pinned her with his gaze. “Say yes.”
He knew she didn’t love him. Despite his optimism, he knew she might never love him.
Reid’s face flashed across her mind and she shuddered. It was all the incentive necessary.
“Yes.”
Twenty-Five
Reid walked into the diner where he was meeting Knox for breakfast before heading into work. It was New Year’s Eve. His boss had offered him the day off, but he declined. As soon as he finished breakfast, he’d clock in like usual. Work kept him busy. His mind off other things.
He had a job working at a garage in Sweet Hill. Since he’d been pardoned, he’d started looking into graduate schools that offered masters in criminology. He was up for leaving the area. Starting fresh. There was nothing keeping him here anymore.
He’d been planning to meet with Knox for a while now, ever since he got out, but he’d been dragging his feet.
For one thing, he’d promised to keep an eye out for North. Not only was Reid now free and unable to do that, but four years had been added to his sentence for the riot Reid had started. Talk about shit luck.
Knox spotted him from where he sat in a back booth and waved him over. Shrugging out of his heavy coat, he hung it on the hook outside the booth and slid onto the bench seat.
He reached across the table to shake his friend’s hand. “Hey, man. How you doing?”
Knox shook his hand. A good sign, Reid guessed. At least he wasn’t planting his fist in his face and cursing him.
“Doing great. You look good.” Knox nodded. “Never thought I’d be sitting across a table from you on the outside, though.”
“I know.” He reached for the menu, his discomfort growing.
“I’m happy for you, man.”
“How’s your girl?” Reid asked dutifully. He knew Knox was with someone now. He’d mentioned it when they talked on the phone.
“Briar is great. Christmas was . . .” He looked away, his eyes growing suspiciously wet before he blinked them. “Never thought I’d have that again, you know. A girl to love. A real family Christmas with a tree and decorations. Huge turkey. Christ, she can cook.” He shook his head. “The pies she can bake.” He patted his flat stomach and grinned. “She’ll have me fat soon enough.”
Reid doubted that. His friend might be happy and at home on the outside, but he still looked hard and alert and ready to bust heads at a moment’s notice.
“Never thought I’d have this, you know. Wasn’t sure if I deserved it.”
Reid nodded. “I know what you mean.” Of course, he did. They came from the same place. Knox had spent seven years in Devil’s Rock.
“Means there’s hope for you.” Knox grinned.
Reid’s smile felt brittle.
Silence descended. The waitress came and took their orders. When she left, Knox cut to the point. “You see North before you left the Rock?”
Reid grimaced even though he had been expecting that question. “No, I was in the hole until my release.”