Page 144 of Offside Angel

“Am I leaving?”

I don’t dare hope for anything good on the other side of that door, but I can’t exactly help it. He came for me. Just like he said he would.

Instead of answering me, the officer grabs a walkie from his hip. “I’m at the door with Katerina Costa. We’re ready to be buzzed through.”

“Where are we?—”

The door buzzes, and before I can get the question out, the officer pushes the door open.

The room beyond is bright and it takes a few seconds for my eyes to adjust.

Then I see him, standing in the middle of the lobby, and it takes everything in me not to drop to my knees.

“Your bail has been posted,” the officer says, urging me forward. “Clear the doorway.”

I manage two stuttering steps forward—just enough for the officer to slam the door closed behind me—and then Zane is there. His arms around me, holding me up even though there’s no way he should be able to do that yet.

“Your stomach,” I sob, fisting his shirt in my hands, holding onto him the way I wanted to in the hospital room.

Zane kisses the top of my head. “I’m fine.”

“Actually, he definitely is not fine.” Daniel winks when I look over. “He should be in a hospital bed.”

“I’m fine,” Zane grits out again. “The doctor agreed to discharge me.”

“After you bribed him,” Daniel explains helpfully. “They warned you that your stitches could open and you could bleed out, but you said, and I quote, ‘I bet five grand in your pocket will help you agree that those stitches will stay closed.’”

I look up at Zane. There are dark circles under his eyes. He’s too pale. “You shouldn’t be here.”

“Neither should you,” he whispers, stroking his thumb over the bruise on my left eye. “I had to make sure you got out. I couldn’t leave you here.”

“Which is why he also bribed a judge to get your bail set before the courthouse even opened,” Daniel mutters from behind closed lips.

“Zane!”

Zane rolls his eyes at Daniel. “I didn’t bribe him; I threatened him.”

“Worse!” I snap. “You do see how that’s worse, don’t you?”

He kisses my temple again, his lips whispering against my skin as he says, “It’s going to be fine.”

“We’re trying to get out of jail, not find new ways to get locked up!”

“Okay, then how about this: next time you decide to confess to a murder you committed under completely justifiable and legal means, maybe give me some warning. I’d love to never repeat the last six hours ever again.” His hand spreads across my waist like he’s trying to claim as much of me as he can. “I couldn’t get to you and it was driving me mad.”

All at once, every bit of worry and frustration and fear drops away, and I’m exhausted. Zane tightens an arm around me, and I let him hold some of my weight. I lean against him, my cheek pillowed on his warm chest.

I was so close to losing him tonight. But he’s here.

We both are.

And there’s only one thing I want now.

“Let’s go home.”

56

MIRA

---