least you know that guard treats her well,” Riley said.
Roman nodded as he watched the van until he couldn’t see it anymore. “Thank God for small favors,” he mumbled.
“Come on. Let’s go get checked out of the hotel and see if we can meet up with Laz. It’s time to get back home for a while. We’ll be back in sixty days and hopefully, we’ll be taking her home with us then.”
Roman nodded and followed Riley when Riley walked off toward where they’d left the truck parked.
~~~
Talie sat quietly, staring out of the window to her left, doing all she could to hold herself together as the van drove her away from her first court appearance, and from her husband. She’d been afraid to trust him when she’d first met him, but now… now all she felt when she thought of him was warmth, kindness, security. Love, she felt love. She’d said ‘love you’, but she wasn’t sure if he’d understood her. And now she was going back to her tiny cell to wait two more months for a chance to be free. Her first thoughts were I’ll never make it, then she thought of Darcie and Roman. She took a deep breath and steadied herself, imagining all Roman’s strength around her, holding her safely. I can do this, she thought to herself.
“Hey,” her guard said, nudging her shoulder.
Talie turned to her guard.
“There’s your man. Smile for him,” the guard said as she pressed the button to have the window roll down just enough for him to see Talie. She pressed herself against her seat to be sure he could see Talie sitting on the other side of her.
Talie smiled for him as best she could.
Roman smiled back.
Talie’s guard inclined her head, then she rolled up the window as they drove away. “That is one hell of a sexy man, girl!”
Talie nodded. “He is.”
“You don’t sound very happy about it. That man had to run from the courtroom to stand on the dang street corner and wait for another chance to catch just a glimpse of you. That’s love, and that’s dedication,” the guard said.
“He’s a good man,” Talie said.
The guard sat quietly for a minute, then she lowered her voice. “Look, I know you didn’t do what they say you did. But your man hired you an attorney that does not play. I’ve heard of them before — that firm he hired. You won’t be here long, girl. Just hold on. I got a job to do, and I’m gonna do it, but I can keep an eye on you while I’m doing my job. You gonna be okay.”
Talie met her guard’s gaze and nodded again. “Thank you, for being nice to me. It makes a huge difference.”
“You welcome, girl. All I’m wanting to know is does your man have any brothers? Was that his brother with him?”
Talie gave a small laugh. “A friend of his, but he’s married.”
“Dang! All the pretty ones are!” she said, pulling a tissue out of her pocket and blowing her nose.
“You feeling okay?” Talie asked.
“All these damn perfumes and colognes. The men’s colognes are worse than the women’s. They mess up my sinuses something fierce. Don’t know why people think they have to douse themselves in the stuff. Can’t smell a damn thing,” the guard complained.
Chapter 7
Roman and Riley sat in a run down diner called Waffle Cafe, waiting for Lazarus to show. They’d checked out of their hotel and were ready to head back, all they needed was Laz.
After about twenty minutes and two plates of food each, the door opened and Lazarus finally strolled in. He was wearing a dark pair of shades, his beat-to-shit black Converse sneakers, torn jeans hanging halfway off his ass, and a skin tight teeshirt that showed off his muscular physique and the tatts all over his arms, hands, and peeking out of the top of his teeshirt before snaking a bit up his neck. He glanced around and made his way to Riley and Roman’s table. He allowed his body to collapse lazily into the booth beside Roman and sprawled out as best he could.
“’Sup,” he said, lifting his chin in their direction.
“The fuck is with you?” Riley asked.
Lazarus sat up and put his elbows on the table. He pulled his shades enough down the bridge of his nose to be able to peek at Riley over the top of them. “Playing a part,” he said, his voice low before he pushed his shades back