“We aren’t your enemy. That’s something you need to learn. You made everyone afraid and now you need to show them you aren’t so damaged that you can’t fit in with your own people. We’re family, Obsidian. I know you’re enraged but the only way you’re going to get Alli back is by fitting in. It’s not fair, it wasn’t our decision, but that’s the truth.”

“It is,” Moon agreed. “Think about it. Learn control while the drugs work their way out of your system. How you get out of that bed is going to determine if you live or die.”

Breeze nodded. “We want you to have Alli. She is depending on you to do this so they will return her. She didn’t want to leave you but they made her. She’s terrified you will die. You should have seen her tears. I promised her that we’d do anything to help you survive. Don’t let her down.”

That statement made him close his eyes. Is she being hurt? Who has her? Where is she? Is she afraid? He hated the helplessness he felt.

A masculine hand gripped his shoulder and he snapped his eyes open and stared at Moon. “Are you worried about her? She’s safe. No one would dare harm her. She just isn’t here anymore. No one is keeping her prisoner or abusing her. She’ll be given housing similar to what she has now. Relax. Prove you’re not deadly and no one will feel the need to protect her from you.”

He’d never harm his Alli.

“We’ll get her back,” Breeze swore softly. “She’s my friend and you’re going to be one too. You may be stubborn but so am I.”

His eyes closed again. He needed to think.

Chapter Nineteen

Three months later

“He looks really good.” Alli hugged her waist, overcome with so many emotions she wasn’t sure which one was the strongest. Obsidian played soccer with over a dozen males on the side yard next to the men’s dorm. His hair was down, the silky strands blew in the wind, and her fingers flexed from the desire to touch him.

He’d filled out more, judging by his arms and chest, which were displayed in the red tank top that also accented his tanner skin. He ran across the grass barefoot, kicked the ball and it made it past the goalie. He turned—she was sure he smiled and high-fived another male wearing the same-colored shirt.

“He’s healthier and stronger,” Breeze agreed. “He’s not as lean as when you last saw him. I told you all this when you arrived. Do you believe me now? Why are we hiding inside Smiley’s room spying on your male?”

That was the problem. Is he still mine? Fear wrapped its icy tentacles around her heart. She’d been a mess since she’d received the call three hours before from Homeland. They’d offered her the option to visit Obsidian. It had been a dream come true but at the same time, worry had nearly given her an ulcer.

Sixteen weeks and three days had passed since she’d been escorted by a few members of the NSO task force to one of their vans. Fuller Prison was less than an hour’s drive from Homeland. The new boss had been an ass**le with a Napoleon complex—she’d barely tolerated him. The entire facility had been contained by high walls similar to Homeland but it was a lot smaller. The job sucked but she’d endured treating the prisoners, hoping to get “the call” saying she could see Obsidian.

“Allison?”

She refused to look away from the man she loved as he ran the length of the yard. “Yeah?”

“Are you well? Was it bad at Fuller?”

“I thought about him every day. It helped battle the loneliness.”

“You didn’t make new friends?” Breeze’s voice drew closer.

“No.” She pushed back unpleasant memories of the time she’d spent away. “It was a coin toss whether the prisoners or the guards were more offensive.”

“Did they offer to share sex with you?”

Too many times to count. The question did make her curious enough to turn her head and stare at her friend. “I was the only woman working there. What do you think?”

Breeze sniffed loudly. “I don’t smell a male on you. Is that it? Did you form a bond with someone else?”

“Hell no.” She took a calming breath, the sharp retort revealing too much of her anger. “Sorry. Let’s just say it isn’t the best job in the world. I’d be a billionaire if I got a dollar for every time one of them hit on me.” She gazed back out the window of the third-floor apartment to locate Obsidian. “Has he missed me?” Hope flared while she watched him kick the ball.

“He doesn’t speak of you at all.”

Ouch. The jab to her heart felt as though a knife had been shoved into it.

“He did at first, maybe two weeks. After that he stopped.”

“Oh.”

“I think it made him too angry.”

Alli glanced back. “At me?”

“At you being gone. He knows you didn’t abandon him. I left no doubt in his mind that you had no choice. Moon and I were very blunt with him.” She lowered her voice. “Although I wanted to break it to him more gently.”

“What does that mean?”

Breeze moved close enough to peer outside. “Moon and I had different ideas of the best way to handle Obsidian. It worked out well though. He’s made friends and has a job.”

“Really?” That was good news.

“Lots of friends. Moon taught him how to drive and guessed right when he believed he’d take well to delivering things around Homeland.”