“How long were you in there?”
“It took two years to clear my charges.”
“Why so long?”
“Janna’s family hid the security footage that could prove my innocence. Sundance is the reason I got out.”
“Your president?”
“Yeah. He volunteers a couple times a month, as a mechanic, well he used to before Wyatt. He met me and took me under his wing. He also used his connections to ‘find’ the footage and clear my name. I owe him everything.”
“Wow,” I breathed out. “I can’t wait to meet him.”
“He’s a good guy, baby, you’ll love him.”
“Did you ever find out what happened to Dalvin after the accident?”
“He’s a motivational speaker now.”
“Really?”
“You bet. Speaks at high school assemblies and shit like that. A heartwarming story about never giving up in the face of adversity. Of course, his version of how he ended up in the chair doesn’t mention him sucker punching or kicking me while down, or his girlfriend’s titties being out on display while he did, but one should never let the truth get in the way of a good story.”
“You don’t seem angry about being locked up for something that wasn’t your fault.”
“Juvie was pure hell, but it also gave me some much-needed tools to deal with my anger.”
“How so?”
“Dr. Ambrose. He was my anger management counselor. He saved my life and taught me how to temper the storm raging inside me. Anger had always been my fuel and I had an unlimited supply of it, but Dr. Ambrose showed me how to tap into less destructive emotions. He helped me to see that it wasn’t Dalvin’s fault I was locked up. It wasn’t Janna’s fault, or her parents, or even the courts. It was my fault. The only reason I was even at that house was because I was angry at myself. Ashamed of who I was and where I came from. I wanted to be accepted by the popular kids, and I was angry enough about the rejection that I crippled a man for life. Even if it was self-defense, my actions led to the conclusion of the story, and to my own incarceration.”
“What happened after Sundance got you out?”
“My mom was nowhere to be found. Probably off on one of her legendary runs, so Sundance took me in. It didn’t take long before I was prospecting for the club, and then a full patch. I owe my life to Dr. Ambrose and Sundance.”
I settled my head on his shoulder and slid my arm over his stomach. “I’m sorry your mom wasn’t a good mom.”
“Thanks, baby. She’s gone now, O.D.’d ten years ago, but I was done with her long before that.”
“You always seem so calm,” I mused.
“I work at it. The fury is always there, but I try to leave it sleeping. If I opened the door to that bedroom, I don’t know how far it’d go.”
I gave him a squeeze and he kissed my temple. “I’m so fucking impressed with you.”
He grinned. “Thanks, baby.”
“Mina’s asleep,” I whispered.
“Yeah,” he whispered back.
“And my leg’s feeling pretty good.”
“It is?” he asked, meeting my eyes.
I smiled. “Yeah. But I have a different pain and I’m wondering if you can help me with that.”
He frowned. “What pain?”
