She was in a light green top and a pair of jeans. Her hair was down and had a bit of curl to the tips. She’d even put a little color on her face, not that she needed it. She looked fucking amazing. No. Better than amazing.

“Hey, you,” she said when I sat at the table in front of her.

The cuffs on my hands rattled when I placed them on top of the table, and my fingers flinched with the desire to touch her. She looked up at me under dark lashes and smiled, making my heart beat funny, but I knew I couldn’t soften in front of these people. As happy as I was to see her, I knew people were watching. They were always watching.

“This wasn’t safe,” I said, my eyes scanning the room and landing on Jose.

The side of his mouth lifted in a knowing smirk, and it took all the strength I had to remain seated.

“I know, but I wanted to see you. I quit without saying goodbye.”

Her fingers twitched, and she moved her hand a little closer to mine. Closing my eyes, I imagined she was holding my hands. I pictured her soft skin touching my rough and her sweetness pouring into me.

“I’m glad you quit,” I said, my eyes moving over her face and taking in as much of her as I could. I was hoping she would never come back to Fulton. I’d hoped to see her again on the outside maybe, but never inside of Fulton.

“Miguel’s dead.”

Her eyes widened, and she licked nervously at her lips. “Did you?”

I shook my head and chuckled sarcastically. “You know, everyone in Fulton thinks I did it. I guess it was stupid of me to think you’d know better.”

At my words, she reached out and covered my hands. “I’m sorry. I just know how protective you are of those you care about. After he attacked me, I just figured…”

I squeezed her fingers, stopping her and relishing in the feel of her skin against mine.

“I didn’t kill him, but I would’ve. I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for you.”

“Stop, Christopher. All that matters now is I quit. Our next step is getting the charges dropped against you. Give me time, and I’ll have you out.”

“And then we can be together?” I asked, intertwining our fingers together and not caring who saw.

She grinned, her face lighting up the room and making the gray in the room feel happy. “Yes.”

I smiled, and then my eyes met Reeves from across the room. The look he gave me was full of hate and accusation. The proverbial cat was out of the bag, and everyone in the room could look at Lyla and me and know we were more than just nurse and inmate.

I pulled away, not sure if they could still file charges against her or not since she no longer worked at Fulton, and her face dropped.

“I didn’t think I’d ever get you out of here,” I said, turning my head and taking in the rest of the room.

As long as I wasn’t looking her in the eye, I didn’t feel like I was falling. When I had the feeling I was falling, I wanted to hold on to her. Touch her and imagine she was the anchor that kept me rooted to the earth.

“Oh, you begged me to quit every day, but I guess I didn’t realize how serious the situation was.”

“I did a hell of a lot more than beg. Scoop placed the narcotic blame on you for me, and I slipped the knife in your pocket.”

Her face darkened with anger. I knew there was about to be hell to pay, but suddenly, she burst into laughter.

“I can’t believe you.”

We spent the rest of our visit going over things about my case. The insider she was dealing with inside the police department had asked her to let him take care of it, and I agreed. It wasn’t safe for her, and I could tell there was a lot more about my case that she wasn’t telling me.

Maybe the real killers were still a danger?

Something told me that whatever she was holding back was something that would push me over the edge.

“So there’s going to be a lawyer stopping by next week to talk things over with you. So far, everything is looking good for you. I think this might actually happen.”

I’d heard her, but I was too busy watching her lips move. I couldn’t wait to get her alone and be able to kiss her. Sitting across from her and smelling the scent of her hair and her skin was making me wild with want.

We didn’t touch each other again during her visit, but when it was time for her to go, we stood and hugged. My eyes went across the room to Reeves, and his eyes burrowed holes in the back of her head.

If anyone asked, she’d visited about the case. No one needed to know there was more.

While I held her close, I whispered to her so only she could hear me.