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Christina watched him closely and he knew she could see through him. “I’m damn happy that I’m going to get my brother back, but I’m worried as well. What does he have to come out to? Everyone knows who he is, so he’ll struggle for work. God”—he dropped his forehead to Christina’s—“I sound ungrateful that his life has been saved. I’m not. I love him and never wanted to see him in jail.”
“You don’t sound ungrateful.” Christina cupped his face. “He’s your younger brother and you’re worried about him. What you’re forgetting though is that he loves Saige and she him. They’re going to be together and something tells me, regardless of Quinten’s situation, they’ll make it work...just like we will.”
Alex paused and felt his heart turn over in his chest. “Does that mean what I think it means?” He grinned.
“I’m coming to Tampa with you,” Christina confirmed, and gasped when Alex took them into the water.
Alex cupped Christina’s face and dived in for the first taste of her beautiful lips as his woman. Her long legs wrapped around his waist, her sex rubbing against his erection. Alex slipped his hands up her soaked, clinging dress, to get to her naked bottom.
He moaned and all thoughts of getting them dry left his mind, as he lost himself in her arms and the pleasure between them.
Day 17
3:50am
* * *
Quinten stood on legs like Jell-O while he waited for the official paperwork to be signed. His eyes kept straying to the door that led to freedom, knowing that his brother was on the other side. Would Saige be with him? It had been a constant thought through the night…a night where he laid awake waiting for the minute of his release. He loved Alex but, deep in his heart, it was Saige he wanted waiting behind that door. It was Saige he wanted to wrap in his arms and hold on to.
As much as he’d dreamed of freedom, he’d never expected it. Even now that the warden had appeared, Quinten still thought he’d be stopped from leaving and told that it all had been a sick joke.
“Quinten?” Warden Roscoe stood before him, looking exhausted, as though he hadn’t been to bed yet. “I’m glad it’s you that this is happening to. You’ve never belonged in here.” The warden held his hand out.
Quinten hesitated and then shook the offered hand. “Thank you.”
“Here is your copy of the release. Keep it safe.” The warden stepped to the door. “You ready?”
Was he ready? He’d been incarcerated for eight years. A lot could happen in eight years, and what about Saige? She’d have a life that didn’t include him. What the hell was he going to do out there? His business had disintegrated when he’d been charged.
“Quinten, we need to do this.”
Quinten nodded. “I’m ready.”
Roscoe laughed. “I’m not sure about that.”
Signaling to the guard, the door slid open with a final clang and the warden walked through. Quinten took a step, the absence of shackles causing him to falter…it had been so long. His head dipped to his chest and he closed his eyes. Taking in a deep breath, he forced his foot to move forward…and then the next one. He felt, rather than saw, the moment he walked out of the jail and he came to a stop, his eyes still closed. He was terrified of who he would or wouldn’t see when he looked up.
He no longer wore chains or the horrid blue pants and orange shirt that had been required. The guard had passed him a new pair of dark grey jeans and a pale blue T-shirt, along with new underwear and boots. They fit him fine, but he wondered where they came from because they weren’t the clothes he’d been wearing when he was sentenced.
His thoughts scattered when he felt the soft touch against his fisted hand at his side. He looked down and then followed the arm up until he met the swimming eyes of the woman he loved.
She’d come for him.
He pulled her into his arms and held her close. So close that he was afraid of hurting her so he loosened his grip slightly.
“No,” Saige protested and tried to get closer.
He buried his face in the curve of her neck and held on, his own tears running down his face and getting lost in his beard. He’d dreamt of this day for so long that, now that it was here, and she was in his arms, he couldn’t think of what to say to her.
Time had no meaning as they clung to each other, but eventually the coolness of the early morning started to register and so did the silence.
Cupping one side of Saige’s face, he wiped away her remaining tears, placed a tender kiss to her lips, and smiled. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and finally looked at the others.
The warden and guards had left them, but Detective Robinson and his brother stood to the side watching.
Slipping his hand down to Saige’s, and intertwining their fingers, he moved over to Alex and pulled his brother against him for a one-armed hug.
Tears threatened again as he felt his brother’s embrace. “I never thought this would happen.” Alex kissed him on the side of his head. “It’s such a damn relief to not have you inside anymore.”
