Branded (Fall of Angels #1)(95)

I look up from my paper and gaze blankly ahead. “As soon as I know what to write.”

“You don’t get much time, y’know,” she adds, shrugging. “Suit yourself.”

I nod a few times. Advice is best not taken for granted, so I pick up the pencil and rub my lips together.



Dear Daisy,



You’ll probably never read this letter, but I want you to know that at least I tried. I’ve told your auntie Dana to hold onto the letters I send her until I get the chance to hand them to you myself. As much as I want to, I can’t be with you right now. But I promise it won’t be long. I’ll be with you again soon. Before you even know it.

I know you’ll be good. I know you’ll do great out there in the world.

And you know … I will find you again.



Love,

Mommy



Smiling, I read over the words again before my letter and those of all the other women next to me are taken by the guard as she passes us.

They’ll read the contents and decide whether it’s suitable to send.

This is how it always goes … here in prison.

There’s no choice to make, no autonomy whatsoever. Nothing but sleep, eat, work, and wait.

Wait until your time is up.

Until you can see your baby again.

But I knew the consequence when I did what I did. That I’d end up sacrificing precious time I could’ve spent with her. But it was the only choice I could make, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat if I had to.

It’s no one’s fault. Not mine or his.

Circumstances brought me here, and I accept that wholeheartedly.

Love … is what brought me here.

I made the ultimate sacrifice for my little girl.

For a man I couldn’t stop loving even when that same love ripped her away from me.

For both … I’d willingly hang.



*

Hanson



After



I park my green truck on the side of the road near the long, dry grass. Another truck is approaching not far up ahead, so I step out of the vehicle and shut my door. Tapping the top, I silently wait until it stops right in front of mine. The sun blocks the view as the guy steps out, but I can still make out a smile.

“And?”

“It worked,” Brandon says as he whisks an envelope from his back pocket. “You were right.”

“They wouldn’t follow you from her sister’s place,” I say as he walks toward me.

“I didn’t even see her. She just left a key on her porch and sent me to a PO box to get this.” He holds it out to me.

As I reach out to grasp the envelope, he maintains his hold, looking me straight in the eyes. “I’m doing this for you because I’m your friend, but—”

“I know,” I say, nodding. “I know what she sacrificed.”

“Good,” he says, licking his lips. Then he releases the envelope and turns around.

“Thanks,” I say as he walks back to his truck.

All I get is a quick glance and a hand going up in the air before he climbs back inside and drives off. But it’s enough to know our friendship is still alive, even after everything that happened recently.

Besides, I have other things to worry about now. There’s a whole world out there begging me to explore it.

It’s what she would’ve wanted me to do.

I bear the burden now to live a fulfilled and happy life because I owe it to her. To the woman who gave me my freedom back … in exchange for her own imprisonment.





Chapter One





Hanson



Present



I run through the thick fog, zigzagging through the woods, avoiding stumps and rocks as best as I can. I trained for this all these months, so I have to give it my all. I have nothing to lose.

Nothing will stop me from reaching my goal … Freedom.

I know I don’t deserve it, but damn, did I hunger for it.

And now I’m finally out here in the real world again.

This was unplanned and completely outrageous. I didn’t think I’d succeed, but now I don’t want to stop. The more I run, the bigger the grin on my face even though I know it’s wrong. The farther away I get, the bigger the taste for more. The outside world is waiting for me.

Despite my brain telling me to go back, to surrender, to fight this selfish desire, I can’t stop myself from putting one foot in front of the other and doing everything I can to stay out of their claws.

Even when I’m being chased and forced to run and swim for miles on end, I can’t give up.

The primal need inside me is too strong to ignore.

I must escape.

I have to see her.



*

Lillian



A few weeks later

The onions are strong, but they’re not making me cry. Maybe because I refuse to ever cry, not even for the onions. There’s only one exception … her.

I chop the onions into tiny pieces. They smell good today. Perfect for the pasta I’m making with homemade tomato basil sauce. A vegetarian dish with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese. Daisy’s favorite.

I never used to like cooking much, but I do it with love for her. Especially when she gives me that sparkly eyed look when she peeks into the pot to see what I’m making. She grins and squeals. “Pasta! Yay!”