Sydney
The orange jumpsuit scratches as I walk down the hall. The chains linking my wrists to my waist clink in time with the ones that link my ankles and waist. My guards each hold an elbow.
We arrive at the visitors’ corridor. I'm the only prisoner here. They are taking this solitary confinement thing seriously—wouldn't want me inspiring a revolution. I see Robert Maxim as they bring me to the booth.
Sitting in the chair provided, I turn to my guard so he can remove my wrist restraints, then pick up the phone between us. Robert already cradles his to his ear. "Sydney," he says, no smile.
"How nice of you to visit." How nice of you to fall right into my trap.
He ignores my sarcasm. "I have a proposal for you." I wish I could raise one brow but never did master the skill, so I just purse my lips. "Marry me."
I cough a laugh. "What?"
He scoots forward on his seat, getting closer to the glass. "You need to marry me."
"Excuse me?"
"My testimony is the most damning against you."
"Nice to know."
"If we are married, then they can't make me testify against you."
"Wow." I sit back, the clink of my chains a not-so-subtle reminder of how much this man has tied me up in binds. "You planned this. I mean, you really fucking planned this." I reach out with my free hand to touch Blue's head, but it isn't there. I swallow the panic rising up my throat. This is not permanent.
"I plan everything," he says.
I suppress a smile and look down at my hands to hide my eyes. He can read me well. I must be very careful. "You faked your own death, you set up your child, the mother of your child, and brought down a huge number of criminal organizations all to marry me?"
"One stone, many birds." He doesn't smile. He's still not sure if I'll do it.
"Robert, even if I marry you, if you force me to marry you, that won't make us husband and wife in the way you want," I point out.
"I will get my fortune back. You will have to be with me for a lifetime to avoid prosecution."
I laugh, letting the ridiculousness of this very serious man roll over me. I knew he wanted to save me; I didn't realize his plan involved marriage. "Do you hear yourself?"
"I am very self-aware."
I fold over myself laughing, tears wetting my lashes. "Self-aware," I say aloud, shaking my head. "You are an idiot." I raise my head to meet his gaze. "You can't force me to marry you and expect it to be a good relationship."
"I expect it will keep you safe. It will keep you close. And those are the two things I want most in this world."
"You're willing to risk my freedom on this gamble?"
"It's not me risking it. I can get you out within days. All you have to do is agree. You are the one risking your freedom. I am the one offering it to you. Is the idea of being with me worse than prison?"
"I'm not totally sure of the difference."
He snorts. "You are not so impractical, Sydney. You can see that living with me—something you've chosen to do in the past—will be far superior to spending the rest of your life alone behind bars. I have Blue, Nila, and Frank. We are all just waiting for you to come home. I can protect you, Sydney. You know that."
I close my eyes and take a deep breath, bringing in the stinking staleness of the prison. He put me here. This selfish bastard will taste the stink of failure soon though.
"What about Mulberry?" I ask, playing along, pretending like I don't have a plan of my own.
"He can see the child, of course. But you will be my wife. I expect you to live with me, to be faithful."
"Faithful." He's fucking crazy. "You think I'm going to sleep with you?" I lean closer, wishing the glass wasn't between us so I could hit him upside the head.
He smiles, this slow, teasing smile, as if he knows how to woo me. As if I'm a bunny with its leg caught in his trap. I will gnaw my fucking leg off and beat you to death with it, asshole.
"I guess that can all be discussed on our honeymoon," I say, sitting back.
"So, that's a yes."
"You've left me no choice, Robert. Obviously, I will marry you to get out of this hellhole."
The smile that steals over Robert's face is like a thief, lightly floating over rooftops, leaving no trail, but taking everything of value with it. It tugs at something in my chest. He is trying to get my heart, but he can't have it.
My son kicks out and spins once in my belly before settling down again. I lay my hand over him and smile at Robert, pretending I'm a bunny, pretending he has caught me but knowing that it is the other way around.
Turn the page for a sneak peek of Fatal Breach, Sydney Rye Mysteries book 14, Coming 2021