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I turned to Ramirez, asking nervously. “What’s going on? Why am I here?”
Ramirez smiled. “Go ahead and dress out.”
“Dress out?” I repeated, blinking. “Why? Am I getting transferred?”
Harold stepped forward. “No, Ms. Carter. You’re being released.”
My brain short-circuited. “Released?”
He nodded. “Early release.”
My knees went weak, and before I knew it, Ramirez had reached out to steady me.
“I… I don’t understand,” I stammered. “What do you mean early release? I still have time left.”
Harold smiled faintly, pulling a paper from the file in his hand. “You’ve been granted a reduction. Between your good behavior, your lack of disciplinary tickets, and the work you’ve done in the inmate education program, your time’s been cut. You’re being released immediately.”
I stared at him, mouth open. “Immediately?”
“That’s right. You’ll walk out of here today.”
I covered my mouth as the tears came, shaking my head like I was trying to wake up from a dream. “Seriously?”
“Dead serious,” Ramirez said, handing me a folded stack of clothes. “Congratulations, Solae. Here—these are the clothes you came in with.”
He stepped outside the room to give me privacy. My hands trembled as I changed. I could barely pull the jeans up. Myfingers were fumbling through the tears and trembling. Every breath I took felt unreal, like I was learning how to breathe again.
Ramirez came back a few minutes later, grinning from ear to ear. “Come on, Carter.”
I looked up from where I was still trying to zip my jeans. “Where am I going? I didn’t even get to tell anybody I’m getting out. I don’t have a ride or nothing.”
“You’ll be fine.” A smile tugged at his lips like he was keeping a secret.
My heart thudded in my chest as I slung my property bag over my shoulder and followed him. We walked down the long corridor toward the exit.
When we hit the last set of double doors, I hesitated. I’d done this walk a hundred times in my dreams, butactuallystanding there felt unreal.
Ramirez pushed the door open and held it for me. “Go on.”
I cautiously stepped out onto the walkway that led to the main gate.
And then Ramirez tilted his head toward the curb, smiling wider. “Your ride is waiting on you.”
I followed his gaze, and my breath caught in my throat.
Priest was leaning against his car like a god straight out of a dream, with the sun glinting off the diamonds in his chain and his arms folded across his chest. He looked beautifully dangerous and fine as ever.
I took off running.
He pushed off the car just in time to catch me. I hit his chest hard, and he wrapped me up tight in his arms. I clung to him. The sobs that came out of me were ugly and loud, but I didn’t care.
He held me with one hand at the backof my head and the other rubbing slow circles down my spine, like he’d never let go.
“How?” I cried against his chest. “How did this happen? They said I was required to do half my sentence. It’s only been two months.”
He pulled back just enough to look down at me. “I pulled some strings.”
I blinked up at him, trying to process it. “You…What?”
