Page 27 of Give Me Forever Love

She’ll marry me.

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Walking into the courtroom, my eyes search until finally landing on my girl. Tired eyes of silver-blue follow me as I make my way over to sit beside my lawyer. Her hair’s up, showing off her neck and jawline. She’s lost weight over the weekend.

It wasn’t as noticeable yesterday, but with her hair pulled back, it’s evident. I feel horrible for putting her through this. She’s been through enough in her life without me having to add to the stacked pile.

I wonder how pissed she is at me. It can’t be too bad, right?

I mean, she’s here.

She looks beautiful in black. Her eyes roam over me, inspecting, studying before reaching my face again. I give her a wink, and she returns it with a small smile.

Relief fills me, knowing she’s still on my team even though she has no idea what decision I’ve made.

Hell, I still don’t know what’s going to happen. I only know what is expected. I reached Danny last night. After I decided what I wanted my future to be, I contacted my lawyer and told him to call Bones. He showed up late to the jail with paperwork and a pen.

“Don’t look so disheartened. You’re getting out of this shithole.” Danny’s in black again. I’m starting to think that’s all he wears. There’s no suit this time, though. Just some black jeans and a black button-up, tucked in with a matching belt. Between the two of us, we look like Halloween. He’s a slick dude.

Holding the pen in my hand, I shake my head. “Do you even realize how hard I worked to get to where I am?”

“Where? About to go to prison?”

I narrow my eyes.

He waves me off. “I’m stating facts, boy. Don’t take offense. You got caught. It’s done. Be proud of what you built and know it’s in good hands and not shut down for no one to enjoy.” He leans up, planting his forearms on the table and clasping his hands. A solid black watch rests on his wrist and two rings cover his fingers. I inspect the one with a skull on it. “Look, you’ve got a good woman. You’ve got more money than you could ever spend. If you don’t, then you surely will after this deal.

“Take your girl. Travel, man. Be happy.”

I lean back, tapping the pen onto the papers. Tilting my head, I chew on my inner cheek before asking, “What’s your story, man? How did you get mixed up in all this shit?” I wave my hand at our surroundings.

He exhales. “Some of us don’t get to choose the life we live.”

“I’ve never understood that saying. I believe everything you do is a choice. You being here right now. You made that choice.”

He shrugs. “It’s a good business deal.”

I nod. “But what about the other things you do? Are those good business deals?” I’m hinting at the killings and God knows what else this man does. I’m sure he makes my felony charge look like a walk in the park.

He chuckles. “Don’t ask questions, Bryce. It can make you a liability.”

“Not if you don’t answer.”

He nods with a grin before looking down at his hands. The one without the watch looks 3D. As if he has no skin, just flesh and bone. The artist did an impeccable job.

“Sometimes I think about a normal life.” He looks up at me. “In a way I envy you, Bryce. You’ve got the girl, and now you’ve got the freedom. Not all of us have that option.”

There’s a longing in his words. And for the first time since I met Bones, I see the man behind the black. I see Danny. He’s tired, even though he’s clearly no older than me and he misses someone.

“You got a girl, man?” I ask.

He runs his hand over his tattoo and shakes his head as his eyes look past me. “Nah.”

I look down at the papers covering the steel table. Maybe he doesn’t have her, but without a doubt, she’s got him.

I exhale. “Maybe one day you’ll get your freedom.”

His eyes jump to me and we exchange a look of understanding and respect. But it’s gone before a moment passes. He clears his throat. Gone is Danny. Back in full form is the man they call Bones.

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