13. Chapter 13 - Zachariah
I step off the treadmill, wipe the sweat from my forehead, and head for the free weights.
Funny how before I got locked up, I used to think people who went to the gym were like hamsters on wheels, trapped in a giant cage.
Now, here I am, locked up behind bars, yet the gym’s the only place where I feel free.
Aside from the guard positioned in the hall, Alyssa and I have the place to ourselves.
Always do. Not sure if it’s because we stick to off hours, or no one else dares to step on her turf.
Either way, I’m happy that everyone is out there, watching the game—or, in the case of assholes like Ram and Raicus, moving illegal contraband—and not in here bothering us.
“How does it feel, being a free man?” Alyssa asks while strolling on the treadmill. She knows I prefer not to talk while running—but lifting is fair game.
“Don’t jinx it,” I say, grabbing a fifty-pound dumbbell.
“Not how jinxes work,” she says. “I’d know.”
“Just… ask again after the hearing, okay? If it goes well.”
“Of course it’ll go well,” Alyssa says. “I can wait a day.”
My gut churns. A day. In one day, I’ll get to find out if I’ll spend the next year behind bars, or if I’ll be out there, with Minnie and Natty.
She’s probably at work right now, since she has two jobs.
Not that she ever mentions them. She makes everything look effortless.
But I’ve heard enough talk from the guards—and a few locals who recently got locked up—to know she’s a barista and she waits tables.
Both jobs she clearly hates. Doesn’t do that great a job at them, either, from the sounds of it, but she hasn’t given up.
She took in my son. She’s done whatever she had to do to take care of him. Legally. When I was in her shoes, I broke the law and ended up behind bars. I’m so proud of how much better she’s doing than me.
The realization that I really fucked up hits like it always does, full-force.
I never should have broken into those stores.
I should have found a way. Asked for help.
Worked two jobs I couldn’t stand. Figured it out, the way Minnie has.
Instead, I got locked up, and my woman is busting her ass off every day.
She’s struggling because I’m not there to take care of her and my boy.
If I hadn’t fucked up, I would have still met her, somewhere, somehow. Run into her at Jewels Cafe. Asked her out on a proper date.
She deserves that. She deserves everything.
The minute I’m free, I’m going to dedicate my life to showing her that.
I clear my throat. “Hey, Lyssa. I need some advice about Minnie.”
She grunts. “What kind of advice?”
“I’m going to marry her.”
“Ah, the wedding night.” Alyssa grins as she rides the treadmill to the end and hops off.
“Nope. Got that handled.”
“You sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure.” I set down my weight, because this matters more than reps. “I want to give her everything. But I’ve got nothing. No cash. No place to call home. Just the clothes on my back.”
“Ah, that’s easy. Take them off. She’ll like you better without them.”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I. Minnie doesn’t strike me as the gold-digging type. Just don’t be a douche, and you’ll be fine.”
“How am I supposed to not be a douche when I can’t afford to take her out? Hell, I can’t even afford flowers.”
“Can you afford orgasms?”
I picture Minnie. Naked. In my bed. With my head between her thighs.
Licking her. Tasting her. Hearing her sweet moans.
Knowing I’m the one bringing her pleasure and taking care of her in every way.
I instantly spring a boner—in the prison gym—which is definitely a douche move. I just can’t help it, when it comes to her.
I’ve wanted Minnie since the first day she brought my boy here. At first, it was just a small flame. But each visit fanned it, and over the years, it’s turned it into a bonfire. Then, the ward fell, and everything went to shit. That fire? An inferno. Burned down the whole fucking forest.
Didn’t care how different she looked in that split second, her freckles gone and her hair all flat and silky. Nothing mattered except me and her. And nothing but us matters now.
Every part of me burns for her, telling me that the first thing I need to do when I see her is push her against the wall and claim her.
“I’m going to scare her off,” I groan. “Fuck.”
“Do women usually get scared when you mention sex?” Alyssa asks.
I scowl at her.
“She’s a grown woman. And she’s into you. Just make sure you have consent.”
“She’s not just a hookup or a one-night stand. I need to show her how much she means to me.”
“You’re overthinking this, Ri. She’s your mate.”
“All the more reason to give her romance,” I say.
“Nothing more romantic than a good orgasm,” Alyssa says.
I roll my eyes. “You need to get laid. It’s not too late to change your mind about parole.”
Alyssa shakes her head. “We’re not talking about me, Ri. We’re talking about you.”
“Then we need to figure out how to romance Minnie.” I frown. “You’re a woman. How would you want to be romanced?”
“By organizing a complex heist on a world-renowned museum… or shopping if you don’t want to end up back in prison. But with Minnie, just ask her out. Take her on a date.”
“How do I take her somewhere with no money? I can’t even go to the beach. It would violate my fucking parole. And no way in hell am I taking her to the zoo.” I grimace. “At least I deserved to get locked up. Those animals… they did nothing wrong.”
Alyssa growls. “There aren’t any zoos in Silver Springs.” And I bet if there were, Minnie would find a way to set the animals free. “And it would cost way more than flowers.”
“I thought zoos were free.” I frown. “They were on a list of the top ten most romantic places to go on a first date. Who the fuck put zoos on that list?”
“To get in the mood by watching monkeys fuck? Hell if I know. What else did that list have? Prison?”
I snort. “A cafe, but she works at one. And I can’t afford an arcade.”
“You could go to the park. Or on a hike. Or just stay in and watch a movie. People like that shit.” She shrugs. “You could also make something special for her. Something that shows you care. And if that doesn’t work, there are always orgasms.” She wiggles her eyebrows.
“Park sounds nice,” I say, cutting off yet another mental image of Minnie without a lick of clothes on. And me giving her a good lick. “Nothing like being trapped in here to make you appreciate nature.”
“Nothing beats fresh air. One time, I was hiking through the Alps to steal—I mean, do something legal. Beautiful views.”
I focus on my workout and settle into my third set when Vigga—one of the few decent guards in this place—steps into the gym. “There you are, Ri.”
“Here I am,” I grunt as I do another rep. “Not like I can just get up and go home.”
“Not yet, you mean.” Vigga glances at Alyssa, who’s jogging at the fastest setting the treadmill’s got without breaking a sweat. “You go, girl.”
“The 90s called, they want your catchphrase back.”
Vigga chuckles and turns to me. “Going home is actually why I need to talk to you. Ri. Judge Adeboye—the one overseeing your hearing—decided to take tomorrow off—”
I drop the dumbbell. It crashes to the ground, the sound echoing through the gym.
“Fuck!” The parole hearing was my one chance at getting out. At being with Minnie. At finally being free.
“No, wait, it’s—,” Vigga says quickly.
“All I fucking do is wait.”
Vigga opens her mouth to speak, but Alyssa interrupts. “What, you don’t love my company enough to stick around a little longer?”
“Not everything’s about you,” I snap. Groan. “Sorry. I just…”
Alyssa shakes her head. “Don’t worry about it. This sucks.”
“Actually—” Vigga says, but I don’t need her comfort right now.
“I should be out there,” I shout, jumping to my feet. “With Minnie. With Natty.”
I’m not a violent man, but I feel like punching something. Throwing a dumbbell.
“Yes, and—” Vigga says.
“This was my chance to make us a family. To take care of them. To be there for my boy. To watch him grow up. Play with him. Hug him. Hold Minnie in my arms. Take her out. Put a ring on her finger and make her mine. I need to be out there, Vigga,” I’m shouting, and I don’t give a damn.
Not when my one chance at freedom is gone. “I’m done with this place. I—”
“Back up.” Vigga shouts back. “First of all, awww. Second of all, Judge Adeboye didn’t cancel the hearing—he’s flying into Silver Springs today.
” She means literally—since the guy who put me away, and is the one who could set me free, is a damn dragon shifter.
“He’s in town for a last-minute wedding, so he decided to bump up all his hearings to this afternoon. Save a trip.”
I drop back onto the bench. “This afternoon?”
“Not like you guys have anywhere else to be.”
Which is a fair point.
Alyssa whoops while continuing to jog without even breaking a sweat. “That’s great news, Ri! Congrats.”
But I’m too busy feeling like someone punched me in the gut and then gave me a fucking prize. “This afternoon…” I repeat, trying to wrap my head around the fact that in a few hours, I could be free.
If all goes well, I’ll be out there. With Natty. With Minnie.
My heart thunders in my chest. This is it. My chance to finally be there for them, the way I should have been for all these years. All of Minnie’s struggles are because of me. Well, now it’s my turn to shoulder that load. To take care of her. To make her my wife.