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“Uh-huh. We will need to talk about responsibilities.” I was able to laugh even though I noticed the news report on the man’s murder was now playing across the screen. When we both heard a knock on the door, I wanted nothing more than to ignore it, but my gut told me I wouldn’t be able to.

“More room service?”

“I don’t think so. I have a feeling that things are about to go south.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m on parole, Noel. Because I violated the rules.”

“So?”

I didn’t answer her before heading to the door, only hesitating when I got to it. She’d come even closer, wringing her hands and I could tell by the look on her face she already knew the answer.

“I love you, Noel. Don’t forget that. I would do it all over again to keep you safe.”

As soon as I opened the door, a badge was thrown in my face, one of three officers already reading me my rights, telling me I’d violated my parole.

I droned out their words, trying to find a way to calm her as she berated the officers, screaming at them to get out and that I’d helped them catch a serial killer. Max was right by her side, barking as if he was going to chew them to bits.

Everything was in slow motion all over again, their words little more than a rumble of mutterings. All I could concentrate on was the look of horror in her eyes.

That I’d promised her she’d never need to express again.

I’d failed, like I had with everything else in my life.

But in the end, nothing that was said could matter.

I was a convict after all. I would never find enough evidence to exonerate me.

She was still screaming as they took me from the room.

“I will get you out. I will clear your name.”

I knew she’d try but hopefully at some point she would return to her life.

One well deserved for an angel of mercy.

Noel

“Don’t you dare tell me that shit all over again. I do not want to hear it.” I was pacing Zoe’s office as I had more than once during the last two weeks. Two fucking weeks of solid hell. This time, we were in a small waiting room prepared to head into court where Kage would be presented to the judge, the prosecutor trying to get his bail revoked.

God bless Zoe. She’d worked diligently to try to keep him from heading back to the hellhole. We both knew if he returned, he’d end up dead.

“Just try and calm down or you won’t be allowed to stay in the courtroom,” Zoe said softly.

“Calm down? You fucking want me to calm down when a man’s life is at stake?” I was glaring at her with hatred in my eyes, which wasn’t at all how I felt. She’d tried her best to build a case so the judge would understand he was a hero, not a criminal, but it didn’t seem to matter.

That coupled with being forced to explain for the fiftieth time what happened at the cabin had made me a ball of rage.

“I’m doing everything I can but I’m not going to lie to you. Short of a miracle, I don’t think he’s going to catch a break.”

“Then I tell you what. I will work until I am one hundred years old to put the corrupt politicians and law enforcement officers behind bars. I will go to every news station, every radio and newspaper and they will listen to me. Period. I won’t stop.”

When I was finished, I took a scattered breath, finding it almost impossible to hold my shit together. I tucked my hair behind my ear, praying for his exoneration, which was something I had very little faith in.

I expected her to tell me I’d get myself killed, but she sighed instead. “You really love him. Don’t you?”

Up until now, she hadn’t asked me that. But the answer was easy. “Yes. With all my heart. He would have jumped through fire ten times to keep me safe. No one has ever cared enough about me to consider something so dangerous. Don’t you get it? He’s one of the good guys.”

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