Page 4 of Hot For Her Ex-Con

Just like it should be.

Like I knew she would be.

How it will be from now on.

It’s as if I rubbed the magic lamp just hard enough to make the genie appear.

Allison…

At least now there’s a word, a name. And a sweeter-than-I-could-ever-have-imagined face to match the feeling her room’s given me since I’ve been out.

The one thing that not only pulled me back here, but I know at a glance, seeing and feeling her in person for the first time, that she’s the only thing that’s ever felt right.

The only thing in this world to dial down whatever the fuck is wrong with me most of the time, which is usually every second I’m awake.

Carol’s bad timing doesn’t help my mood. Not only has she lied about who was in this room before me, but she’s interrupted what’s clearly the defining moment between Allison and me.

I’m swift to ease the hand cannon from her first, though.

“Why don’t I hang onto this?” I murmur, able to speak my mind once I know I’m not about to get my face blown off.

“You never told me this was your daughter’s room,” I accuse her between gritted teeth. Furious I’ve been denied knowing more about Allison for so long.

But Carol’s own jaded look shifts to puzzlement, and her eyes narrow on mine. Her head tilts to one side.

One thing that makes me mad is people who lie.

“And you never said you were leaving,” she finally huffs in reply. “I noticed your bag parked by what used to be my front fucking door. And just what the hell are you doing in here with Allison on the bed like that? Huh?”

She’s recovered herself after seeing the front door and then her estranged daughter, summoning enough angry mom energy to show me she’s not afraid of me.

But I’m not so easily swayed. I’ve played dumb with Carol, really, spent the same 23 hours each day in this room, just like I’m back in my cell.

I stand up to my full height, moving towards her.

“Why. Didn’t. You. Tell. Me?” I ask her. Feeling myself about to lose what control I have left. The edge of my vision floods crimson, and a tremor threatens to take me over as I try harder than ever to keep my shit together.

For Allison.

For us.

No point strangling my future in-law. Especially when she’s just got in, I mean. I guess it’ll take her some time to get used to the idea of Allison and me.

My mind was made up the second I walked into this room a few weeks back. I just knew she was the one. The reason for everything so far bringing us together at the perfect moment. So we can be perfect together forever.

My reverie’s broken by Carol, snorting that she’s calling the cops and ordering Allison to get up and go wait in the kitchen.

“Mom! This man… Killian savedme. I came home, and the door was all busted up. I rushed in, and there was this guy…”

My reflex is to tense up, already primed to chase down this fucker and wring his neck… until it dawns on me that Allison might not only like the little show I gave her, she’s actually covering for me at the same time.

“A guy…” Carol repeats, looking doubtful from Allison to me and then back to her daughter again.

I turn away, only to stifle the smile spreading across my face. After Allison’s animated account of a home invasion that never happened, hell, even I’d believe her if I didn’t know any different.

“Then I’m definitely calling the cops,” Carol asserts, looking more determined than ever. Allison catches my gaze, shooting me a worried look.

I gently grip Carol’s elbow before she can leave the room, easily holding her to the spot even when she tries to wriggle free.

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