Hell Breaks Loose (Devil's Rock #2)(68)

They usually didn’t bother with the leg shackles, so he guessed they were taking him to meet with someone important. Probably the district attorney to talk to him about his testimony against Sullivan.

He was glad for the meeting. Whatever the reason, it was a nice break from segregation, where they’d had him ever since his return to Devil’s Rock. He passed through several more doors until he was in an area of the prison he’d never seen before. Soon he was being led through a carpeted reception area, heading for the door marked as belonging to the warden. Oh, shit.

His mind raced, wondering what this could be about. Maybe it was about the riot . . . or breaking out of prison . . . or how much he’d embarrassed them by escaping, and they planned on keeping him in the hole for the rest of his life.

One of the bulls opened the door for him. Reid stepped inside. Immediately, he noticed two men in suits who were the size of NFL linebackers. It was impossible not to notice them. They were even taller than him. They sucked up all the space in the room.

“Have a seat,” a voice intoned.

He looked over to a small sitting area. The President of the United States sat on a couch, a cup of steaming coffee in his head. His free hand motioned to the armchair across from him.

Reid moved slowly, as though expecting some kind of trap. Was this when one of those Secret Service agents forced him to his knees and put a bullet in the back of his head for fooling around with the president’s daughter? For putting her life in danger?

Reid sank down into the chair, extending a small nod to the man who, in his opinion, had been a shitty father to Grace. He wasn’t going to get a warm welcome from him. Reid didn’t give a damn who he was.

The president stared at him for a few moments. “I understand I’m to thank you for saving my daughter’s life.”

Reid merely stared. Reeves was going to have to say more than that to get him to talk. He would have to make it clear why he was here.

Reeves continued, “Grace seems to think you deserve a pardon.”

Of course Grace would be trying to get him free. She was good like that. Sweet. She believed in things like justice. She believed in him when no one else in the world did.

“What do you think my daughter deserves, Mr. Allister? Do you think she deserves you? Some lowlife degenerate who’ll never amount to anything?” He waved an elegant hand in the air. “Who’ll always wear the stain of this place on him?”

Reid finally answered him. “No. She deserves better than me.”

President Reeves smiled then. It was fake and didn’t reach his eyes, and Reid bet he did it every day and people bought into it. “Good then. I’m glad to see we’re in agreement. As long as you agree that my daughter deserves better than you and you promise to stay far away from her, I’ll see to your pardon.”

Reid sat there for a moment, waiting for the rush of exultation to flow over him. Nothing. Without Grace, it didn’t even make an impression.

“Mr. Allister.” Hard eyes fixed on him. “Do I have your promise? Your freedom and you forget all about my daughter.” His expression turned faintly mocking. “I’m sure that won’t be that difficult for you to manage.”

Reid’s hands curled at his sides and it took everything in him not to lunge at the man. He didn’t think Grace was one to inspire love and loyalty? Or maybe Reeves just thought he was incapable of feeling such dedication.

After a long moment, Reid nodded. Because Reeves was right. Grace deserved better than him. “Yes.”

“Then you have your pardon.”





Twenty-Four




A soft knock sounded at her hospital door. She ignored it, scraping the inside of her Jell-O cup with a spoon, hoping whoever was there would just go away. Her mother, Holly, and Diana, her mother’s personal aide, had just left, and her head was throbbing. She wasn’t in the mood for more visitors. Hopefully the person would just go away.

Her spoon continued scavenging for the last bit of Jell-O. She probably hadn’t had Jell-O since middle school. How had she gone this long without it? Especially black cherry. She was going to have to start adding it to her grocery list.

A rerun of The Big Bang Theory played on the TV. She’d seen the episode before but it still succeeded in distracting her. She laughed at Sheldon and wondered if Reid had ever seen the show before. Did they play it in prison? Did he have access to TV?

Hell. So much for distracting her.

The door opened. “Grace? Hello?” Charles stuck his head inside the room.

“Hey, Charles.” She reached for the remote control, powering down the volume. He’d come by earlier with her mother, but she hadn’t been alone with him since before . . .

Before everything.

Except now they were engaged.

“I brought you some breakfast tacos.” He held up a brown paper bag. “The nurses here raved about them.” He shrugged amiably. “Figured you should always go with the recommendations of the locals.”

“Thanks, Charles.”

He pulled a chair up and drew the bed tray closer, setting the bag on it. “Unless you want more Jell-O cups.” He nodded at the empty cups littering her tray.

“Thanks, but I’ll take the real food, please.”

“Your mother said they should release you tomorrow.”