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“I miss you too, angel.” It had been less than a week since I was arrested, only a few days, but it was harder to breathe on the days I didn’t see her. It felt like it had been weeks. I brushed my thumb over the back of her hand slowly, staring at the way she watched me. “I don’t know how long I’ll be in here.”
“I know.” She sighed. “Elliott and Ronan said it should be soon. They’re trying.” The smile she offered me was filled with hope, and my stomach sank.
“You can’t come back here.” When I said it, her mouth dropped open, and her eyes widened.
“What? Why?” She gripped my hands like she was scared to let go.
I matched the pressure, giving hers a squeeze. “Because it’s not safe for you.”
“I don’t care.” She was shaking her head quickly. “I have to see you.”
“No,” I said sternly. “I don’t want you here. I’ve asked them to take you off the visitors list. I told Elliott and Ronan to keep you away. You can’t come back here, Amanda.”
“Drake, please. I want to help you.” Her voice broke on the last word when she sobbed.
I lifted her hands to my lips, kissing them. “I’m doing this because I love you. It’s for your safety.”
Amanda nodded and then shook her head. “But I need you,” she cried. “I’ll bring one of them with me. Please.”
“No.” I let go of her hands, my heart cracking when she left them palms up on the table. She stared at them, closing her fingers.
Her body folded forward while she wept, and her hair fell over her shoulder, allowing strands to cover the side of her face. Amanda shook. I tucked her hair behind her ear, lifting her gaze to mine.
“This isn’t goodbye. I’ll be out of here soon.” I brushed a tear from her cheek with the pad of my thumb. “I promise.”
“Can you keep that promise?” she asked, and her eyes burned into mine.
“I wouldn’t have said it if I couldn’t.” I pulled my hand from her face, and it felt empty. Nodding at the door, I stood up. “You need to go now.”
Amanda stood up and reluctantly made her way to the door where the guard was waiting for her. She looked back at me from the doorway and nodded, fresh tears wetting her face. “I’ll do anything for you.”
“You are everything for me.”
Chapter forty-two
Amanda
“Oh, come on. I made chicken nuggets. They’re your favorite!” Mackenzie said, sliding the plate of chicken towards me. “Please just eat a couple?”
I put my hand up and shook my head. “I’m really not hungry.”
My head was spinning with images of Drake’s face when he’d told me to leave. Not knowing how long it would be before he would be freed was wearing at me. Bryson grumbled across the table from me. At least he was here.
“Will you at least drink some water?” Mackenzie handed me a glass, shooting a glare at her husband when he grunted. “And you need to get over this attitude you have. Come on.” She put her hands on her hips, earning a scowl from Bryson.
“I have every right to be angry,” he said, crossing his arms. It heaved with angry breaths, and while he glared in my direction, he didn’t look directly at me.
I choked on the water I was drinking, and I coughed, setting the glass on the table. “You do not!” I shouted.
“You guys,” Mackenzie said, trying to reestablish the peace before it got out of hand.
I ignored her attempt. “Drake was protecting me,” I snapped. “He’s been looking after me for months. Just like you told him to!” Mackenzie put her hand on my shoulder when my voice came out shrill and hysterical.
“I also told him not to fuck my sister, but he did that!” Bryson glared at me, raising his voice to the same volume as mine. “Didn’t he?”
I chewed at the inside of my lip. “What do you want me to say? I’m not going to apologize for falling in love with him.”
“How many times?” Bryson asked, closing his eyes tightly like he didn’t want to actually hear the answer.
