CHAPTER 73: CHAPTER 73

Olivia’s POV

A cold chill ran down my spine at Big Mike’s scary words.

"Who was that?" David’s voice sharpened with alarm. "Olivia, who’s there with you?"

"It’s... it’s my cellmate," I whispered, pressing myself harder against the bars. "He’s been very... friendly."

"Oh God. Okay, yes. Yes, of course I’ll help you. I’m wiring the money right now."

"David, I..."

"You still have the same bank account, right?"

I blinked, surprised he still had my banking details. That was both convenient and disturbing. "You still have my banking information?"

"I never deleted it from my contacts. Look, I’m logging into my account right now. Fifty thousand to your account?"

"Yes, but David..."

"Don’t say anything else. I’m doing this because I care about you, not because I expect anything in return. Well, maybe just an explanation when you’re safe."

The line went quiet except for the sound of him typing.

"There. Sent. It should clear very soon. I paid extra for the rush processing."

I felt tears prick at my eyes, as my freedom loomed before me. "Thank you," I whispered. "I can’t tell you how much this means to me."

"Just promise me you’re going to be okay. And that you’ll call me as soon as you’re out."

"I promise." I lied.

"I love you, Olivia. I know I don’t have the right to say that anymore, but I do. I never stopped."

And just like that, the line went dead.

I stared at the phone for a moment, "Wow. That was... easy," I muttered to myself.

"You done?" the officer asked as he took the phone back.

"Yes. Thank you." I replied, before turning back toward the cell.

That’s when I froze. Big Mike, who’d been stretching his muscles just seconds ago, was now standing directly in front of me, completely blocking any route of escape.

"Well, well," he said in a voice that made my skin crawl. "Aren’t you just full of surprises, pretty boy."

I tried to step around him, but he moved to block me again. The cell suddenly felt very small.

"Look, I don’t want any trouble," I said, backing toward the bars. "My bail should be processed soon."

"What’s your hurry?" he asked, taking a step closer. "We’re just getting acquainted, boy. And have I told you your skin looks so soft and succulent for a man?"

My heart was racing as I pressed my back against the cold metal bars. This was exactly the kind of situation I’d been dreading. My hands were shaking as I tried to think of something, anything, to say that might make him back off.

"Listen, I’m really not looking for..."

My phone suddenly chimed with a notification. I’d never been so grateful to hear that sound in my life.

"Officer!" I called out immediately, gripping the bars. "I think my bail money just came through!"

"How do you know that?" the officer called back from his desk.

"Please, just check the phone! The notification sound - that’s my banking app!"

The officer sighed heavily but picked up my phone, squinting at the screen.

"Well, I’ll be damned," he said after a moment. "Fifty thousand, just cleared. Looks like you’re getting out of here, kid."

The relief that flooded through me was so intense I nearly collapsed. As the officer approached with the keys, I kept my eyes fixed straight ahead, not daring to look back at my cellmate.

The metal door opened, and I practically stumbled out in my haste to get away.

"Someone sure must care about you," the officer commented as he led me toward the processing desk. "Fifty grand is no small amount."

"Yeah," I said quietly, following him down the hallway.

As we walked away from the cell, I could hear my former cellmate calling out behind us, but I didn’t turn around. I focused on putting one foot in front of the other, on breathing normally, on the fact that in just a few minutes I’d be free.

But even as relief washed over me, a new anxiety crept in. I’d just promised David a reunion and an explanation I couldn’t possibly give.

Tomorrow, I was going to have to face the consequences of that decision. But for now, I just wanted to leave this place and go eat.

"Alright," the officer said, settling behind his desk. "Let’s get you processed and out of here."

Just then, Kira busted in, carrying a big fat envelope like her life depended on it.

She stopped short when she saw me standing there, free and unrestrained.

"I thought you were in jail!" she gasped, looking between me and the officer with confusion.

"I was," I said, gesturing toward the processing desk. "But someone sent money for bail."

Kira’s eyes went wide. "Really? Who sent it?"

I hesitated, knowing exactly how this was going to go. Kira had never liked David, and she’d made it no secret in hiding her dislike for him.

"It was... David," I said quietly.

I watched as Kira’s face transformed quickly. Her mouth opened like she was about to unleash the verbal assault of the century, her eyes flashing with the kind of rage that could melt steel. But then her gaze flicked to the officer behind the desk, who was watching our interaction with interest, and she clamped her mouth shut immediately.

Instead, she grabbed my arm and yanked me toward the corner of the waiting area.

"Are you out of your goddamn mind?" she hissed in a sharp whisper. "Why would you accept money from that psychotic ex of yours? After sleeping with him last week, you’re receiving money from him this week?"

*I slept with... oh shit! That’s true. I’d lied to Kira about sleeping with him.*

"I had no choice, Kira..."

"No choice? Olivia, that man is insane! He stalked you for months! He showed up at your workplace! He..."

"I know!" I whispered back desperately, glancing over at the officer to make sure he wasn’t listening. "Trust me, I know exactly what David is capable of. But you don’t understand what was happening in there. My cellmate was..." I shuddered, unable to finish the sentence.

Kira’s expression shifted from anger to concern. "What about your cellmate?"

"Let’s just say he was getting way too interested in why a ’young man’ had such soft skin. If I’d stayed in there much longer, he would have figured out I’m a woman, and then..." I didn’t need to spell out what would have happened next.

The color drained from Kira’s face. "Oh my God, Olivia."

"So yeah, when David called at the exact right moment, I didn’t exactly have the luxury of being picky about my rescue options."

Kira stared at me for a long moment, then held up the envelope she’d been holding. "Don’t touch his money."

"What?"

"I said don’t touch David’s money. Use this instead." She thrust the envelope toward me.

I stared at it like it might bite me. "Kira, where the hell did you get fifty thousand dollars?"

"A delivery man brought it to our apartment moments ago."

"A delivery man?" I felt my stomach drop. "What delivery man? From who?"

"I don’t know! Some guy in a suit knocked on our door, handed me this envelope, said it was for Olivia’s bail, and left before I could ask any questions."