I push back and look over at Mimi. She stands strong with a fire burning in her eyes, like he fed her desire to finally feel the rage.
“Let’s go, Seamus.I’mdone here. I got what I needed,” Mimi says, calling the shots.
I take advantage of her acceptance to leave and guide her out. I don’t look back, but can feel his laser gaze directly on our backs.
As we exit the visitation room into the lobby, Whitlock is walking toward me from the entrance, his concerned eyes bouncing between me and the other guards.
“What the hell, Seamus?” he spits out. Calling me by my first name is a rarity, especially for a previous Petty Officer under my lead.
“You need to report his attack on Mimi to the warden,” I demand.
“Are you out of your fucking mind? Nobody here is going to corroborate your story,” he says, pulling me to the corner.
“He threatened her and he knows where she lives. What he did should prevent him from having an appeal hearing,” I tell him, even though I know that’s a fucking pipe dream.
“Every guard in this prison is onhispayroll in some form or fashion. His family owns half the state of Texas, and his brother-in-law is running for assistant district attorney. I want to help you, but there is nothing we can do about that here.”
He’s right. I know he’s right, and knew we would be powerless even if he physically harmed Mimi. Which is why I was so hesitant about bringing her here. He could have killed her in that room and they would have brushed it under the rug. It’s their word against ours.
But as I peer past Whitlock, Mimi is looking down at her hands with a smile on her face that could rival a billboard advertisement. She’s beaming with satisfaction, and her once heavy shoulders look lifted, weightless.
Her voluptuous, dark hair surrounds her face in waves. The light in her eyes, the one I saw the moment she wrapped her arm around mine that first day at camp, has returned with more intensity and strength than I ever thought possible. Even standing in this dingy locker room, she’s never looked as beautiful as she does at this moment.
As if she can sense my gaze, she glances up, her smile grows even wider and with one brow hitched, she mouths, “Plan B?”
I can’t help but smile back.
She finally sees what a threat he is, not only to her, but to other women. He’s been keeping tabs on her, and clearly had every intention to find her and do god knows what when he was released. I’m glad he showed her his cards, because it justified her acceptance in what I’ve been wanting to do all along.
There’s not an ounce of guilt on that gorgeous face of hers, and I fucking love it.
Pulling out my phone, I text Rocco and Miller.
Me: Orion is visible in three hours.
My eyes focus backon Whitlock as he studies me, waiting for my next move. He was only with my squad for a short time, but there’s something special about the camaraderie of military brothers.
The loyalty never dies.
“I’m going to need your help at the courthouse.”
Giving me a tight-lipped smile, he says, “Follow me.”
43
NAOMI
Our pace as we exit the prison doors into the parking lot is walked with much more purpose than when we went in.
The feeling is completely different, too. There was always a sensation of dread, fear, and heaviness when it came to my thoughts about Nathan. Like that night would always be something I wore like a noose-fitted scarf around my neck for the rest of my life. And for years, everyone told me the only way to move on was to let go and forgive.
I was pushing myself to try to do that, but I realize now how much my heart fought me back on that. And for good reason. Because Nathan doesn’t deserve that mercy.
That acceptance is providence.
For the first time ever, I feel like I’m floating. That night isn’t sitting like a rock in my stomach or hovering like a dark cloud over my head anymore.
There is so much relief dying to express itself. I want to laugh and twirl like a twelve-year-old little girl through this parking lot.
