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Marcus is the epitome of smooth “Thank you, Mr Mason—”

“Earl,” the prosecutor corrects him

“Earl,” he nods “I knew once you’d had a chance to see as at stake, it would be a pretty simple decision”

“Nothing is sioes iilante justice, these are not things I take lightly by any means”

“Of course not,” Marcus says “I didn’t mean to imply—”

“However, there are also situations in which reasonable, thoughtful men are compelled to act” He pauses as if for emphasis “In my considered opinion, this was one of those situations”

Rising fro outme a firm shake back

“I can assure you,” I say, infusing my words with as much sincerity as possible “This was one of those situations”

Earl nods and set Mr Alexander back home to his family”

Chapter 15: Badass

Derek

Breakfast is over, and I’ free time I know my defiance of Chairo unanswered What I don’t knohen or how the ansill coht room in the interim It’s been years since I’ve faced the prospect of hand-to-hand combat I was trained to do it in the Middle East I never dreamed I’d face it behind bars in my own country

The prospect of Rev and a shiv flickers through et a whole lot worse than hand-to-hand It doesn’t scare es inon three weeks of uninterrupted frustration here, starting the day Melissa put me out of the house My only break lasted all of five ain When she’d askedcops walked in Maybe a good fight is exactly what I need

Last night, I’d stood at the bars of my cell My forear white paint, the center space filled with round tables bathed in the blue light of the dark hours None of us would be here for long Jail was a constant strea on what happened with the courts I wondered howallowed to walk

Stuart had said he would bring uess he wasn’t able tomy eyes, I tried to conjure the scent of ocean roses I couldn’t, but I could reme in the darkness, I considered the worst—a lifetime of separation It clenched my insides, and even if I wasn’t afraid of the inet through the years of this separation Would I ask her to wait for me? Could I be that selfish?