Page 93 of Captured Heart

The chains clink again as he shifts, pulling me closer, trying to find some way to hold me. “Fuck,” he rasps, his breath hot against my skin, his voice trembling with a mix of need and frustration.

I press my lips to his again, silencing whatever protest he’s trying to make. His tongue sweeps over mine, and I feel the world tilt, like nothing else exists but him—his heat, his strength, the way our bodies are fused together.

I quicken my pace, my breaths coming out in hasty puffs. He bites into my shoulder, trying to stifle every rapturous sound he makes as his climax draws closer. The little wrinkle on his forehead is the first sign. His body stiffening is the second. But then he shuts his eyes, and after a strained groan, I feel warm liquid trickling down my thigh.

I don’t stop, though. I’m too close. Gripping onto the back of the chair, I ride him harder and faster until I burst. The pressure releases and euphoric waves of pleasure ripple through me.

Sated and breathless, I drop my forehead onto his. I hold him close and wait to feel normal again. “I hope I proved my point,” I say after a long while.

He’s still huffing. “Which is?”

“You can’t push me away. You didn’t leave me, so I’m not leaving you. I won’t give up on you. Trust me...I’ll keep fighting until I get you out of here.”

His arms tighten around me, and he nestles his head in the curve of my neck. “I don’t know what I did to deserve you.”

“It’s not what you did, it’s what you going to do,” I whisper, lifting his head for him to look at me again. “You’ll testify, right? You’ll do it for me?”

He lets out an irritable groan because he clearly still hates this idea. “You’re slowly proving that I’d do just about anything for you.”

20. Aleksandras

The fluorescent light buzzes softly above me as I sit on the edge of the cot, staring at the floor of my cramped cell. Today’s the day. Five grueling months of this case, and it’s finally coming to an end. At least for me. Victor will continue his legal battle, but today is my last day in this hellhole.

I run my hands down my face, trying to shake off the weight pressing on me. The day I signed the plea deal, my entire life shifted. It wasn’t just about testifying. It was about giving up everything I knew, walking away from the person I was, and becoming someone new. Witness protection. A clean slate. That’s what Katelyn fought for, and somehow, she got it.

It wasn’t supposed to go this way. Detective Collins told me what they initially planned to offer me a bullshit deal. Two years inside, with the possibility of parole after one. A slap on the wrist compared to what I was facing, but still a prison sentence. Still another year, maybe more, of looking over my shoulder, waiting for one of Victor’s guys to take me out. It was better than nothing, but it wasn’t freedom. Not really.

But Katelyn... Christ, Katelyn. Collins said she stormed into his office the second she heard about the deal. Told them it was an insult, that my testimony was worth more than they were giving me. He said she fought like a bulldog, refusing to back down, refusing to settle for anything less than a full pardon and a fresh start.

I still don’t know how she did it, how she convinced them I was worth the risk. But somehow, she did. She didn’t just get mea reduced sentence. She got them to wipe my slate clean and give me a new identity. Aleksandras Kazlauskas is as good as dead. It’s ironic, really. My life started over the day I met her, and now it’s starting over again because of her. When this is over, I’ll be a free man. No charges. No prison. Just...a new life.

That’s the part that feels the heaviest.Mynew life. The unknown. I’ve spent so long living in the shadows, staying inconspicuous and under the radar. I don’t know how to be someone else, how to live a life that doesn’t come with strings or debts or danger lurking around every corner. But for her, I’ll figure it out. I have to. She fought like hell to give me this chance. The least I can do is make it worth something.

The clink of keys pulls me from my thoughts. A moment later, Detective Collins steps into the room. “Big day,” he says, leaning casually against the wall.

I nod. “Yeah. Let’s get it over with.”

He crosses his arms over his chest. “Here’s how it’s gonna work. You’ll be transported under heavy guard straight to the courthouse. No detours, no stops. Once you’re done testifying, you’ll be taken back to the safe house, where you’ll stay until we think it’s safe to move you.”

“And after that?” I ask, even though I already know the answer. I want to hear it. My brain needs the confirmation.

“After that, you’ll be relocated. New state, new name, new everything. Witness protection doesn’t cut corners, but it’s on you to stick to the rules. No contact with anyone from your old life. That means no friends, no family...and no Katelyn.”

The last part hits like a punch to the gut, but I don’t let it show. “Where am I going?”

“That’s classified for now. All you need to know is that it won’t be anywhere near California. Victor’s reach extends too far here. The fewer people who know your whereabouts, the safer you’ll be.”

“And how long do I stay in the safe house?”

“Depends on how things shake out. If Victor gets put away for life, the heat will die down faster. But if he walks, or if any of his associates decide to make a move, it could take months. Maybe longer.”

Months? I press my lips into a thin line, nodding. “And the transport today? How secure is it?”

“Secure enough that even Victor’s best men couldn’t get close. You’ll be escorted by a convoy, and the courthouse will be locked down tighter than a drum. The only thing you need to focus on is telling the truth when you’re up there.”

Telling the truth. That’s the easy part. It’s living with the consequences that’s harder.

Collins watches me for a moment, his expression showing a hint of concern. “You nervous?”

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