The Princess And The Criminal

7

SAWYER

After speaking to Viper Noah pursed her lips and led me to her car.

"Which carpenter?"

I looked at her from the corner of my eye. She was tense, her shoulders bunched up and her back straight.

"It's opposite Old Mc Donald's."

When we hit the first traffic light Noah looked like she wanted the car in front of us to combust.

"Noah... calm down."

She sighed and relaxed into the chair. We were going to be in traffic for a while.

"I don't get it.. I thought you'd be mad at me."

I lifted an eyebrow. "Cause you didn't want to date a convict?"

She winced. "That's not why I broke up with you."

I smiled. "Noah, I get it, you don't have to lie to spare my feelings."

She shook her head and tightened her grip on the steering wheel her back once again straight. "My dad paid your judge to make sure you spent as long as possible in prison."

I blinked.

"I.. I told them about us. I told them that I didn't care what they wanted anymore, that I loved you and I'd do anything to be with you."

I clenched my jaw. "What do you mean he paid my judge?"

Noah swallowed. "The prince of Prigairy came to stay with us during your trail. He was in town looking at colleges... You know how my parents are about Prigairy. It got too much... so I told them I was in love with you and they blew up... My dad ... he said he was going to make sure you died in prison if I didn't end it."

I sucked in a breath. During my sentence several inmates and some guards tried to... well at the time I didn't think they were trying to kill me.

"The judge could only get you five years. He knew your sentence before the trail.. he said if we got back together after you came out... Sawyer, I was young and scared but my dad doesn't bluff."

"He'd do what Noah?"

"He'd get you sent back."

I closed my eyes and huffed. Jonathan Reed didn't bluff that I knew. There was once a teacher making inappropriate comments about Noah always participating in pageants when we were in high school. She's the school janitor now. It was the only job she could get after Jonathan Reed was done with her.

I didn't even want to think about how he was going to try to accomplish that. If Viper was cunning, Jonathan Reed was a master strategist in being sinister.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"What was I supposed to say? My dad is going to try to kill you Sawyer, be careful in prison, I'll try to visit you as long as they don't lock me in the house."

I breathed and swallowed. Jonathan Reed. Fuck Jonathan Reed. "Pull over."

"What? Sawy—"

"Pull over Noah."

When she stopped the car I turned to her and smashed my lips against her. She moaned into my mouth but pulled back. "Sawyer... did you not just here—"

"I love you Noah, I love you more than I love myself so I want you to listen. Nothing, not even Jonathan Reed will tear us apart, not again. You are mine, I am yours, do you understand me?"

She swallowed, her eyes glossy. "I'm scared."

I rubbed my nose against hers. "We can do this Noah. We did it before and we will do it again, and to the end of time.