Page 57 of Minnie

“So, who was it?” Vigga calls out in the background.

“Her friend’s mate. I’m so glad I reached you, Minnie. Third time’s the charm.”

“Enough small talk,” Vigga snaps. “Only reason I’m letting you make this call is because I like Minnie and that adorable boy of yours.”

The way she says it makes it sound like we’re one big happy family. Could we be someday? Would Zachariah want that? And would Formula M let me?

“Minnie…” Zachariah says my name in that deep, sexy way of his and I feel another wave of panic.

What if he wants to talk about the mate bond? I’m not ready for that! Especially with Amber and Wes in the room.

As if reading my mind, Amber pushes herself to her feet. “We’ll give you some privacy,” she whispers.

But that doesn’t make things any better. If anything, it makes things worse. I’m not ready to talk about our future. Then I’d have to explain how different I am outside the warded prison. And how I act every time I’m around Julian. And the fact that I’ll have to follow him around for the rest of my life. Not to mention the fact that I’ve been raising his son in the boarded up, dusty bakery my parents sold to a developer when they disowned me. Fully knowing a crew might show up to renovate it or tear it down at any moment.

And the thought of bringing all that up literally makes me want to throw up.

I take in a deep breath. “Did you want to talk to Natty?” I ask quickly.

“Actually, I wanted to talk to you.”

Chapter 29

Minnie

My heart leaps. Then sinks. Zachariah wants to talk to me. To me.

I take a deep breath, then another.

“Tell her already,” Vigga complains in the background. “Marty with a D is taking over in a couple minutes, and that guy’s got a stick up his butt longer than the queen of England.”

I hadn’t realized sticks were measured in queens, I think idly. Now that my phone is charged, I’ll have to look it up.

I think I’m going insane.

“My parole hearing was moved up,” Zachariah says.

It takes me a moment to wrap my mind around what he just said. “What? To when?”

“Monday.”

I gasp. “Monday? As in this Monday?”

“Yes. This Monday!” I can hear the excitement in his voice. “I don’t want to get ahead of myself, or get your hopes up, or Natty’s. Don’t tell him until it’s a sure thing. But there’s a really good chance I may get paroled.”

“It’s pretty much a done deal,” Vigga shouts. “Prison’s overcrowded with all the witches that rained down this morning. Once they’re sentenced, some of them will be moved to other prisons, but until then, a few of the good ones are getting out. Like your Ri. Pardon me. Zachariah. Keeping it fancy, huh?”

My heart and stomach leap, sink, and leap again.

Zachariah could get parole and be out in a few days. And now that we know we’re fated mates, maybe there’s a chance we could make a relationship work. Assuming he can stand Formula M me. Or at least, maybe he’ll let me stay in Natty’s life? Assuming he doesn’t tell me to go to hell when he finds out where I’ve been living with his son.

“It’s just me and a few guys,” Zachariah explains. “Alyssa’s still got one more year, and she doesn’t want parole.”

“That’s too bad.” Though a bit of that is relief. It’s not like I’m jealous of Alyssa. I know she’s not interested in him, and she was genuinely happy when she saw our mate bond. Plus, she’s been looking out for him in prison, and I owe her. Big time. But a part of me doesn’t want to share. A part of me wants Zachariah all to myself.

“Once I’m out, I’m going to need a place to stay,” Zachariah adds. “And I was hoping I could crash at your place.”

The boarded-up bakery? Shit. Shit. Shit!