Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 65809 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 329(@200wpm)___ 263(@250wpm)___ 219(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65809 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 329(@200wpm)___ 263(@250wpm)___ 219(@300wpm)
“Here are the keys and the code to the alarm.” He hands everything over and I set them down on the counter next to me. “Keys to the SUV are hanging there.” He points to a hook hanging next to the door that leads to a garage. “Take any room you want, but I suggest the master.”
“I can move in right now?” I ask, surprised.
“Yep. Use the SUV to help move your stuff, or some of the guys from the LR crew can help after their shift tonight,” he offers. He’s being more than nice to me.
“I don’t have much. I can manage it on my own, but thanks for the offer.” It’s sweet of him. Maybe my luck is changing. This is almost too good to be true, but how much bad can keep happening? I cringe at my own question.
Rocco’s proof that things can get worse and then I feel guilty. I want to talk to him so badly that I sent in a request to see him. I haven’t gotten word yet if it’s been granted or not because he has to agree to it, and he likely hates me. Why wouldn’t he?
“If you need anything you have my number.” Mike points to the paper that has the alarm code on it and his number is next to it. I already had it from when I’d called about the place but I nod. “You can call me day or night for anything you need. I’ll make sure you get it.”
“Thanks.”
He gives me one last look before he walks out the front door and leaves me standing in the house alone. How can you feel like you do and don’t belong somewhere? That’s the feeling settling over me right now.
“Alarm, Liz,” I hear Mike say from the other side of the door.
I walk over and hit the code then lock the door. I lean up against it, knowing I need to go get my crap and get out of that hotel. Looking at the almost empty house makes the ache in my chest grow. It looks like a home where a family would live. That’s something I thought one day I might have. One that I would make so different from the one I was raised in.
Rocco’s dark eyes flash through my mind and I remember the whispers in the courtroom. Some saying Gabe got what was coming to him but they still thought Rocco was scary. That he’d gone too far.
I didn’t see it, no matter how long I started at him. He wouldn’t glance my way, but I didn’t see a scary man when I looked at him. All I saw was an enormous guardian angel who saved me that day.
I need to see him so I can talk to him. Maybe that’s selfish of me, but I feel that I have to explain to him how thankful I am that he saved me and how wrong it is he’s in jail. Maybe I could write him a letter and ask him to grant my request to come there.
I wipe away the tears that fall and I know I won’t stop reaching out to him until he lets me face him. Who knows what would have been left of me by the time Gabe was finished?
Rocco may not have felt the same thing I did that day when his eyes locked with mine, but I have to try. I don’t care how long his sentence is, I’ll wait forever for him if he’ll let me.
Four
ROCCO
It’s been a week since I turned down her request to see me and I still haven’t gotten over it. I can’t look into those eyes that saw straight through me while I’m behind bars. I’m sure she just wants to say something about saving her or thanking me and I don’t need to look at her to know that. I’m not strong enough to see her and walk back into my cell. Could any man?
She’s always on my mind in everything thing I do. I’ve done all I can from the inside to take care of things for her, and I have to just know that’s what I can control. Thoughts of things happening to her while I can’t keep my eyes on her plague me when I go to sleep at night. That’s when I wonder if I’ve made all of this up in my mind and it’s more than she thinks it was.
That’s all I need, me tripping over myself like a fool while she looks at me in disgust. That’s why I had to turn down the request for a visit. I don’t need the disappointment while I’m locked up. It will only eat at me for as long as I’m in here.
I’m allowed an hour a day outside and I usually spend it walking the perimeter of the fence. I want to stretch my legs and walk as much as I can before I go back into my cell. The sun is out today and I take my shirt off while I walk. That’s one thing I liked about working construction. On the days when we were down a man, I’d haul lumber or hammer in a roof. I liked being outside with the sun on my back and feeling like I earned what I made that day.