SARAH Remind me to always do whatever it takes to make sure I never end up in prison. It smells like industrial cleaner and broken dreams, if the latter had a smell. I sit down at the visitation booth and wait. The brothers are in the parking lot. We had a discussion last night and I told them I needed to speak to him alone. They didn’t like the sound of that. However, we agreed to disagree. They decided they’ll drive me to the precinct, and I’ll face him alone. In no time, Aaron appears on the other side of the glass. He looks different. Thinner, sharper somehow. I have his bald head and chin to thank for that. Prison orange washes out his complexion, makes him look shallow and lifeless. But the smirk—that goddamn smirk I remember too well—is still plastered across his face as he settles into the stool. He picks up the phone. I pick up mine. “Sarah.” His voice is smooth, arrogant and confident. I’m tempted to look around, to search for the source of his audacity. “I see Julian sent you my message.” I chuckle dryly. “I knew you’d come eventually. You always come back to me.” I don’t respond. It’ll do me some good to hear him rattle on in his foolishness. Looking at him, I can see the two years I spent loving this man, and the six years I spent married to him, flash before my eyes. It makes me want to smash my head against this mirror. “We’re going to be family again,” he continues, leaning back like he’s sitting in a boardroom instead of a prison. “Julian’s plan was solid, you know. Once you’re out of Wellspring, you’ll need somewhere to land. I’ve only got eight years left on my sentence. Could be less with good behavior. We can start over. Do it right this time.” Yeah, right.Go to hell and freeze in it. The thought must show on my face because his smirk falters. “You haven’t realized it yet, and you will soon. But I don’t have time for your delusions, Aaron.” I keep my voice flat. Bored, even. “I’m only here to tell you one thing. Your little plan with Julian? To vote me out of my company? It failed.” His expression shifts. The smirk disappears completely, replaced by something darker. Something I used to be terrified of. Now? Now I feel nothing. “Failed?” He leans forward. “That’s impossible. Julian has my shared, and he…” “Julian has nothing,” I cut him off. “And soon, he’ll have even less than that.” “What are you talking about?” “I’m talking about the fact that you bet on the wrong horse, Aaron. Again.” I tilt my head, studying him like he’s a bug under glass. “You thought you could bring me down from behind bars. Thought you could manipulate Julian into doing your dirty work. But you chose the wrong person to fight.” “I chose perfectly,” he hisses. “Julian has connections. Power. He…” “He’s desperate,” I interrupt again. “And desperate men make stupid mistakes.” Aaron’s jaw clenches. I watch the muscle jump. “What did you do?” “Me? Nothing.” I examine my nails, the ones I got done on the night of the proposal. Almost three weeks, and they’re still fresh. “I was on my own, that was Julian’s biggest problem.” “Stop talking in riddles and tell me what the fuck happened.” There he is. “Fine.” I lean closer to the glass, meeting his eyes. “Julian was helpless. Hopeless. Turns out, he’s been obsessed with me since I was married to you. He watched me for years, and waited. When you went to prison, he thought he finally had his shot.” Aaron goes very still. “But I wasn’t interested,” I continue. “And you already know why.” “Those three bastards.” Aaron chokes on the word. “Youre still fucking those three bastards.” “I’m engaged to three billionaires,” I correct, holding up my hand, putting my rings on display. “There’s a difference. Not that you’d understand.” His face turns red with rage. If he had his way, his hands would be around my neck by now. “Still all bark and no bite, I see.” He takes a breath, forces himself to calm down. I can see the effort it takes. “What happened with Julian?” The question comes out tight, strenuous. “He tried to assault me,” the thought of it makes my rage build up again. “He tried to corner me in my own office. Locked the door. Backed me against the wall. I made him pay for it.” Aaron’s eyes go wide. For a second—just a second—I see something that might be concern. It disgust me. “You’re lying.” “There’s CCTV footage,” I inform him. “You planned this.” His voice is accusatory. “You set him up.” “I didn’t have to.” I shrug. “Julian did it all himself. His self destructive character is to blame for the destruction of your plan. Not me.” “You think you’re so smart,” he mutters. “So powerful. But you’re still the same scared little girl I married. And you need me.” “I don’t need you. I never needed you,” my tone and demeanor are as cold as ice. “I survived you. And now?” I gesture around the visitation room. “Now I’m the one thriving while you rot in here.” “I’ve got eight years, remember?” he reminds me. “I’ll be out before you know it.” “You’re dreaming if you think you’ll make it out.” His head snaps up. “What?” “You heard me.” I lean back, cross my arms. “You think you’re going to waltz out of here in eight years and pick up where you left off? You know me. You know I won’t let that happen.” “I still have…” “You have nothing,” I cut him off. “And when you get out—if you get out—you’ll crawl away and hide forever. I’ll make sure of it.” “You can’t…” “I can do whatever the fuck I want, Aaron Connor. I WILL.” I stand up, preparing to leave. He shoots up, pressing his hand against the glass. “Sarah, wait! We can talk about this. We can…” “No.” I put the phone down, but I can still hear him shouting through the glass. “You need me! You can’t do this alone! Sarah!” I turn back one last time and pick up the phone. “I’m not the one who’s lonely behind bars now, am I?” His face contorts in rage. “Fuck you,” he spits. Ah. Oh well. I hang up while he’s still screaming, pounding on the glass. I’m already walking away. The brothers are waiting by the car. Ronan sees my face and immediately opens his arms. I walk into them. “How do you feel?” Malachi asks softly. I think about it, really think about it. “Free,” I say finally. “I feel free.” “Good.” Jaxon kisses the top of my head. “Because you are.”