Chris

Walsh returned.

One of the COs unlocked my cell.

"You're out of here. Rourke released you."

"For how long?"

"You don't ever have to come back here. I convinced him Shanann, Bella, Celeste, and Niko are alive and living under aliases."

"Thank you so much for doing everything, Walsh."

"It's my job to get you out of here. Since I essentially put you in here. By getting you to accept the plea deal."

"You did the best thing at the time. Thank you."

"It was your ex-in-laws who spared your life, Chris. Don't screw up your second chance. This is your chance to evolve. Without Shanann or the kids. Change your life. Make it better."

"Nobody is gonna hire me with murder charges on my record."

"Rourke expunged them. You can do whatever you want. Just follow the law, Chris."

He sighed.

"Rourke said if you even breathe wrong in their direction, he will lock you back up."

"Rude."

"I guess he's gonna have his investigators watching you. Just... Be on your best behavior. Follow all the laws to a T. And you'll be fine."

"Thanks."

"Of course."

I walked out of my cell.

I got my belongings from the Warden.

"Where's my gold chain at?"

"Did you come in with your gold chain on?"

"Yes. It has the other half of the sterling silver heart on."

"Sterling silver heart?"

"I gave Bella a sterling silver heart daughter necklace for her third Birthday. It has half of the sterling silver heart on it. I had the other half on my gold chain."

"Ah."

"Where is it?!"

The Warden was going through stuff.

"Got it. Here you go, Watts. Sorry for the confusion. But somebody came in at the same time as you."

I gave him a look as I took it.

I got changed.

I had clasped my gold chain around my neck.

I had managed to keep in shape.

I walked out with Walsh.

He started the drive back to Colorado.

"You gonna visit your daughter?"

"Of course I am."

"Good."

"Apparently, my voice is haunting to her."

"Oh. Ignore your ex-Wife, Chris. Her opinion is irrelevant."

"It wasn't her who said it."

"Who said it?"

"Mason."

"Well, it's hard to go against his decisions. Especially as her husband. So... Be nice."

"Yeah."

"Your kids will learn to love you again. In my heart, I know that. Bella feels something for you despite being scared of you."

"Oh, that's a nice thing to say."

"I meant that in the best way."

"Huh."

We stopped talking.

I was just thinking on the drive back to Colorado.

"Do you know what hospital she's at?"

"It's Mercy General Hospital."

"Okay."