Locked Up Love Read online

  LOCKED UP LOVE

  ALEXA RILEY

  Contents

  HEA on the go

  Locked Up Love

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Epilogue

  Epilogue

  Ps. You’re Mine

  Chapter 1

  Stalk the Author

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  Locked Up Love

  by Alexa Riley

  When Lizzy Roberts agreed to go on a blind date she never imagined it would turn into such a nightmare. Thankfully she’s rescued by a dark knight named Rocco, but his heroic act is seen as a violent attack after the judge is bought off and Rocco is sent to jail.

  Rocco Lang took one look at the blonde and knew he had to save her. But when his anger got the better of him he ended up behind bars. He doesn’t regret his actions, just that they took him away from her. Now all he’s got are her letters to keep him warm at night.

  Can they fall in love with just a pen and paper and their hearts on the page? You’re damn right they can!

  Warning: This alpha might be behind bars, but he’s still running the show. Grab your jumpsuits and cozy up because this prison romance is everything your Valentine’s Day needs!

  Copyright © 2019 by Author Alexa Riley LLC. All rights reserved.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, email to [email protected]

  http://alexariley.com/

  Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.

  Edited by Aquila Editing

  Cover Design: Perfect Pear Creative Covers

  Model: Carly Stone

  Photograph by: Jessica Rae

  Chapter 1

  Lizzy

  I look down at the address on my phone to make sure I have the right place. Maybe there are two Italian restaurants called Leo’s in this city, because this one can’t be right. I turn to ask the cab driver to make sure we have the right place, but he pulls away and the door I had left open slams closed. I nearly fall backwards over the curb as I try to avoid being hit, and when I catch myself my hand flies to my chest.

  “Crap,” I mumble, taking a deep breath.

  Why did I agree to a blind date with my new roommate’s brother? Oh yeah, because I wanted her to like me. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t flattered when she told me she showed her brother a picture of me and he wanted to go out. I should have said no, but she talked me into it even though I knew it was a bad idea. What if this went terribly? Then things could get super weird between the two of us, and that’s the last thing I want.

  I only moved in with Carrie a week ago and we barely know each other. So far it’s been fine, but it’s weird living with someone you aren't related to or friends with. It was time to for me to move out of my parents’ house. I love them, but they can be odd and difficult. I never asked, but I think I might have been a late-in-life surprise for them. If someone told me I was adopted I wouldn’t be surprised because I never fit in with their odd quirks. I don’t look or act like either of them, but they have control issues that work well for the two of them together. Since I was a little girl I felt like I was always walking on eggshells around them. Little things set them off and I swear I could never do anything right.

  They didn’t seem sad when I told them I was looking for a place. In fact, they acted happy. Overly happy, actually. It hurt seeing their reactions, but it only pushed me to find something sooner. It didn’t take long to see I couldn't afford much if I was going to pay for rent on top of my last year of veterinary tech school.

  I had a small nest egg after selling my car, plus I spent all of high school working odd jobs. I don’t need a car now that I’m living in the city.

  Carrie agreed to let me go month to month on the rent and she didn't make me sign anything. That way if something did happen I could get out of it without a problem. I’m hoping that won’t be the case because it’s nice not having to walk on eggshells every day. And her place is close to school.

  I send Carrie a quick text to make sure I have the right address. This place is so nice and I don’t think I’m dressed for it. I wore a simple pink cotton dress with leggings under it because of the chill in the air.

  Carrie: That’s it! Have fun.

  She replies a few minutes later then sends me her brother’s number to text him if I can’t find him inside. I debate texting and canceling, but that would be rude. Maybe I could hint at the idea. I put his number into my phone and send him a text.

  Me: Hey, it’s Liz, Carrie’s roommate. I’m here, but I didn’t know the place was so nice. Not sure I’m dressed for it. Maybe we should try for another night?

  I move closer to the building and off to the side to get out of the way of people coming and going. I stare down at my phone, waiting for a response and see that he read the message. He’s not texting back and I stand there for another ten minutes debating if I should text him again or get a cab home.

  “Liz.” I look up at the sound of my name to see a man in a suit walking towards me. He has the same dirty-brown hair as Carrie and dark brown eyes. He smiles at me and it makes me fidget with my dress. He’s cute in a pretty boy way and I think he might have taken longer to get ready than I did.

  I tuck a piece of my long blonde hair behind my ear and think about how I really should have put more time into how I looked for this date. I know this isn’t going anywhere because I can already tell there’s no spark with Gabe. I’m starting to think people are lying when they say they knew the second they saw their husband or wife that they were the one.

  “Hi.” I smile as his eyes roam over me in a somewhat dismissive way. It makes me think he’s not interested either. Still he moves in close to me and touches my hair. It’s such an odd thing to do and it unnerves me.

  “You are underdressed, but we don’t have to eat here.” He lets his hand drop down to my chest and he grabs my breast. “Little thick for my taste, but your tits are nice.”

  I step away from him, taken aback that he just blatantly did that. He follows my retreat and I’m shocked that this creep just groped me on the street out in the open without hesitation.

  “Don’t be like that.” He pushes me up against the hard brick wall and it’s then I realize I’ve stepped into a side door I hadn’t no
ticed was there and I’ve trapped myself in. “Or do you like it rough? Pretend to fight it a little.” He pushes into me. “Because I fucking love that shit.”

  “Stop it.” I push at his chest, but he doesn’t move. “I said stop,” I say, louder this time, hoping someone hears me. I try to scream but his hand goes over my mouth.

  “I was going to take you back to my place, but we can do this here if you want,” he says against my ear. I want to gag when I feel his erection against me. No matter how hard I push he doesn’t budge. “Why else would you wear a dress when it’s this fucking cold out? You wanted it quick.” He reaches under my dress and panic sets in. I can’t believe this is happening. He pulls at my leggings as I still try and fight him off.

  I close my eyes to get it together so I can push at him again with more force this time. I need to get his hand off my mouth so I can scream at least. When I open my eyes suddenly his weight is off of me and I watch him go flying back into the air and land on the hard sidewalk. I hear something pop or maybe it was a snap of bone when he hit the ground. A stranger stands over Gabe and looks down at him lying like a rag doll on the street.

  When he turns around his eyes meet mine and he’s got the darkest eyes I’ve ever seen. He looks me up and down quickly to see if I’m safe then focuses back on Gabe. He picks him up from the ground then body slams him into the sidewalk again, even harder this time.

  “You’re going to pay for that,” he tells Gabe as he moves towards him again and his intent is clear.

  He’s not done with him yet.

  Chapter 2

  Rocco

  “All rise,” the bailiff says, and the judge enters the courtroom.

  I’m still standing next to my court appointed lawyer until the judge takes a seat and tells me to sit. This is all complete bullshit, but in this city money is the only thing this court wants to hear. Maybe I should have hired my own lawyer, but what would have been the point? I know what’s coming.

  Pretty Boy is sitting on the other side of the room bandaged up with casts on almost every limb. Yeah, I did a number on him, but that motherfucker deserved everything he got and more. It’s just a shame his daddy is one of the biggest prosecutors in the town and has every judge in his pocket. Not that it really matters. Even if I had known that, I wouldn’t have been able to stop. He got what he deserved and should’ve gotten more.

  I don’t listen as they talk about what happened. I was there, I know what I did. My lawyer advised me to make a plea deal, but it’s not happening. I plead guilty because I am. I just wish I’d finished the job. Pretty Boy was on life support for a week, so I got close. If the cops hadn’t been called I’d probably be in line for the death penalty, so I guess there are some small miracles.

  The whole proceeding doesn’t take ten minutes before I hear the smack of the gavel and my lawyer is telling me to stand up. The bailiff comes over to collect me and walk me in front of the judge, where he tells me my sentence is five years with a possibility of parole.

  Five years for kicking that bitch’s ass. I wish I could do it again when I glance over my shoulder and see him sitting there with a smug look on his face. That better be all he does right now or I’ll be all over him again.

  There’s one place in the courtroom I refuse to look and it’s because I don’t want to see her. I’m sure I scared her when I got him off of her and then almost killed him. I was walking down the street and I felt something that made me stop. I looked into the shadowed alcove and that’s when I saw her pinned to the wall. I knew I had to stop it, but once I got my hands on him I lost control. That’s when I heard her scream. I never meant to scare her, only save her. But that’s all too late now.

  I know she’s here without even having to check. I can feel her presence near me. It’s the same as the moment I walked by her and knew I had to save her. I don’t regret what happened, only that she had to witness it, because she’ll never want to look at me again. I might have saved her, but in that moment I became a monster in her eyes.

  It’s not like she would have wanted anything to do with me before that moment though. She’s a beautiful girl. Soft and clean. I’m dirty and rough with nothing to lose. Why would she ever take a second look at me? But I guess that doesn’t matter now.

  I feel the cool steel of the cuffs come around my wrists and click into place. There’s a buzz in the courtroom behind me as the judge tells them to take me away.

  I hear people behind me, but I don’t turn around. If I see her there it will be an image I can’t erase for the next five years. She’ll either have a look of horror as she watches them take me away, or it will be one that wonders what the hell she did wrong. She looked so sweet and innocent she might even blame herself. I can’t stand the thought of it and I know that no matter what I see it won’t do me any favors on the inside.

  “Is there anyone you want to say goodbye to?” the officer asks before he leads me away.

  The image of her horrified expression when the cops pulled me off Pretty Boy flashes in my mind.

  “No,” I answer as I walk out of the courtroom and behind bars.

  It’s not the first time I’ve been in jail, which may be the reason it was so easy for the judge to throw the book at me. But really all he needed was a slight nudge.

  I guess things could be worse. It’s not like I had a lot going for me on the outside. I’ve some money socked away from working construction. I made good money doing it and had plans to open my own company. I guess there’s still time and that’s all I’ve got ahead of me. I can use the solitude to plan it out and decide what to do next.

  I’m transported to a minimum-security facility three hours from the city. It’s in the middle of nowhere, so even if someone could escape, good luck trying to find your way to civilization on foot.

  When I get there I’m strip-searched and told the rules before I’m given my cell. This is a single-seater lockdown, so I get a room to myself. That’s the only positive thing about it though as I step in and look around. It’s so small, that’s why there’s not room for two, but at least I don’t have someone with me trying to show me where I rank in the prison. The worst part about being on the inside is having to watch your back. I plan on keeping my nose clean and getting parole early for good behavior. The only problem is I’ve never been well behaved.

  The entire ordeal of court and getting moved takes all day, and by the time I make my cot and lie down on the rack it’s dark out.

  I stretch out and close my eyes and the first thing I see is her. Only this time there’s no look of horror, only a sweet smile just for me.

  It’s going to be a long five years.

  Chapter 3

  Lizzy

  “There’s really no rent?” I ask as I stand in the three-bedroom home. The house is so new I can I can still smell fresh paint. It doesn’t look like anyone has lived here, but there’s furniture in all the rooms.

  “Yep. You just have to keep the place up while the owner is working abroad.” The man says with a shrug of his shoulders. He’s not a big guy, but he’s built. It put me a little on edge when I got here, but he gave me space as if he knew I needed it.

  “You checked out so you were an easy pick. You’ve never been in trouble and you’re trying to put yourself through school. The owner figured you’d respect the place,” he adds, probably because of the look on my face. I’m not buying it.

  He points to the papers on the counter, which I already read when they were emailed to me yesterday. A girl who worked at the front desk of the hotel I was staying in gave me his number. She told me if I was looking for something more permanent I should give the number a call.

  Within seconds of making the call he emailed everything about the house along with guidelines to staying in the home. The rules the owner had were simple. Always keep the door locked and the alarm on even when I was home. No guys or overnight guests were allowed over, which was an odd request but wouldn't be a problem. I plan on staying away from men altogeth
er.

  There’s really nothing to think over about the contract. There isn’t much of an option at this point if I want to stay close to the city for school, and I really don’t want to go home. I also don’t want to use the money I’ve been given to sue the Conner family. Apparently I can still file a civil suit if I want to. The lawyer who advised me to told me to take what the Conners offered because I’d never get more. I didn’t want the money, I wanted an innocent man out of jail.

  “You can use the SUV in the garage too,” Mike, the guy showing me the place, adds. I look at him like he’s crazy and he shrugs. “It’s not good for cars to sit for long periods of time. They need to be driven, and it’s my understanding you don’t have a car?” He raises an eyebrow at me.

  “I don’t. I sold it, but how did you—"

  He cuts me off. “I saw you pull up in a cab.”

  “Oh yeah, right,” I say as I nod. “I’ll take it.”

  I’m sick of staying at the small hotel where I’ve been since Carrie kicked me out. It was overpriced, but it was in a safe area and I hated I had to go. Not that I hadn’t seen that coming. I knew before I got home later that night after dealing with the cops that she’d kick me out. The past month has been hard, and I can’t imagine what it’s been like for Rocco.

  My giant guardian angel.

  He’s never far from my mind because he saved me and now he’s paying the price. My heart aches every time I think about him and I can’t seem to stop. I’d be a liar if I didn’t admit that it went past the guilt and into a longing for him as well.

  The same day that everything happened I was thinking about people who know the instant they meet that they’ve met their soulmate. All hell might have broken loose when he came into my life, but the moment his dark eyes locked with mine I knew people weren’t lying.

  Mike lets out a sigh of relief when I agree to take the place. He pulls out a pen that reads LR Construction from his shirt pocket and hands it to me.