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with photographs. Here, let me show you.” He takes my hand and interlaces his fingers through mine. My heart practically leaps out of my chest at his touch. I am falling for him. Hard.
    As we stroll through the gallery, I can feel eyes on us and can see the admiration on their faces. I overhear a woman talking to a friend about what a handsome couple we make. I glow from within as I enjoy the comfort and thrill of being James’ date.
     
    For the first time in my life I feel like I am a woman who is worthy and accepted into society.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER 6
WE’VE GOT TONIGHT
     
     
    A fter we wander around in awe of the amazing artwork, we run into a friend of James’ standing in the corner looking at us from under hooded eyes.
 
    James strides over to the man and I notice this guy looks tough. He is about five foot eleven and built like a linebacker with tree trunks for legs and a neck as wide as my thigh. He looks us over with some confusion as we approach.
 
    “Hello , Dobbs. I would like you to meet Sophia.” James jabs Dobbs in the shoulder as he would a brother. I sense the two men have a real kinship with each other.
 
    I smile up at James’ friend and say , “Hi Dobbs.  Nice to meet you.” I turn my attention back to James who is grinning ear to ear.
 
    Dobbs shifts a bit in his stance and grunts, “Yeah, likewise.” He gives a half-hearted smile to me and takes a big gulp of his beer.
 
    The two men share a look and I don’t quite comprehend it. It appears they are having a silent conversation and it doesn’t look like it is going well.
 
    I excuse myself to go to the ladies room feeling a little out of place between the two of them.
 
    What was that look? I want to press James for answers but I don’t want to complicate our night with questions and convoluted stories.
 
    I add a fresh layer of gloss on my lips as I try to clear my head of my nagging doubts. I am having the night of my life. Let’s not over-analyze this, Eva!
 
    As though he has heard my thought, James is standing right outside the bathroom door when I walk out. “Let’s get out of here. I am done sharing you.”
 
    He kisses my neck as he slips my coat over my shoulders and it shoots lightning bolts through my body.
 
    “Absolutely , James. Let’s go home.” As I say the word home it is like acid on my tongue. I wish that I could go home with him.  I wish more than anything that I never had to go back to the Parish prison ever again. What I wouldn’t give to watch that place would burn to the ground—with the men left in there to die a painful death.
 
    We drive back in silence holding hands and looking out along the quiet city streets. It is almost peaceful and I feel the world slowing down around me, and then James’ phone rings.
 
    He looks at the caller ID and answers, sliding over to the far side of the seat away from me but close enough to still hold my hand.
 
    “This is James,” he intones.
    I wish that I could hear his end of the conversation so I slyly scoot a little closer to him. He looks over to me and shakes his head with a grim look and releases my hand. I stop moving over, feeling the sting of his rejection.
 
    “Yeah, Sophia is one hot piece of ass,” he laughs into the phone and it reminds me of Felix.“Yep, I am getting my money’s worth tonight , Alexi. Thanks, man.”
 
    My heart constricts as I listen to him spew out those ugly words. I tell myself it is just for show. As I try to reassure myself, I know that it is useless.
 
    My heart sinks back into its dark hiding place and my brain takes over again. Oh. My. God. I am such a fucking idiot! How did I ever think this man and night would be different?
 
    He sounds completely the opposite of the James I thought I was getting to know and it is burning off the fog from my rose-colored glasses.
 
    I can feel my security walls go up again. I have been betrayed by people that I have known my entire