She crosses the room in two strides and drops into the chair across from me. Her hands reach for mine despite the cuffs digging into my wrists. Her fingers slide over the metal, and her breath hitches.
“I can’t believe they put you in here,” she whispers.
“I’ve had worse accommodations.”
Her eyes fill instantly. “No. Don’t joke about this. This is not funny, Hunter.” She looks away from me, and I can see her fighting to hold it together.
I lean forward and lower my voice, just for her. Trying to pull her to me. Away from this shit. Just focus on me. “Hey. Look at me.”
She does. And I can see it. The fear. Real, bone-deep fear.
“Ace said Drago is going to be here soon,” she says quietly.
“I know.”
Her grip tightens on my hands. “Wyatt is fine. I went and checked on him before we came here. He thinks you’re at a bar.”
That guts me. My six-year-old son is asleep in his bed, thinking his dad is having a drink somewhere, and I’m chained to a table in a holding cell.
“Thank you, firefly,” I whisper, trying to keep the hurt out of my voice.
Silence hangs between us. The officer shifts by the door but keeps his mouth shut. There’s something I need to say. Because seeing her in this place, for me. Sitting across from me in a room designed for criminals and the lawyers who keep them breathing. It isn’t right. My city girl deserves better. And I don’t know what magic Drago can pull to get me out.
I saw the life she used to lead. And I’m not sure I can offer her something better.
“Lola.”
She goes still. “What?”
“I need you to listen to me.”
Her brow creases. “Hunter?—”
“No. Just hear me out.”
She nods reluctantly. She still looks terrified.
“If this gets messy,” I say quietly, “you have an out. You don’t have to deal with this shit.”
Her expression changes immediately. The fear gives way to something sharper. “What?”
“You can leave.” I hold her gaze. “Next week, when you go to New York… you can stay there. It’s safer for you there.”
Her grip loosens on my hands.
“You’ll still have protection,” I add quickly. “Frankie will make sure of it. Here or there. You’ll never be alone.”
She just stares at me. If anything, there’s disappointment on her face.
“You don’t have to wait and go through all this for me. You didn’t sign up for this life. I love you too damn much to expect you to put up with this shit.” I swallow. “You keep my name. You use that to keep yourself safe. But you don’t have to be with me for that.”
The room goes quiet. The officer glances between us, then looks at the wall.
“You deserve the world, firefly,” I say gently. “And I really wish I was the man who could give you that.”
Seeing me in this jumpsuit should have had her turning on her heel. Yet she walked in here with every ounce of love I’ve ever seen in a human being’s eyes.
For a moment, she doesn’t move. Then her hand swings across the table and cracks against my face. The sound echoes off the concrete as my head snaps to the side.