Burns, the prison guard, is eyeballing me as I stand behind the last gate on my way out of this hellhole. If I were still a guest of the state, I’d be looking at the concrete, but this fucker can’t hurt me anymore. Glenford Maximum Security Prison has been my home for eight fucking years.
But Destiny finally did it.
My kid sister said she’d get me out, and she did.
“See you soon, Bennett.” Burns smirks as he walks away without a backward glance.
“Not fucking likely,” I murmur.
Being in Glenford, there isn’t a lot to do except exercise. The clothes I came into this place with are in a brown paper bag. Destiny brought me some jeans, a black T-shirt, and boots. At least they fit.
The gate buzzes, and I stride out of this place, which has taken so much from me. Once I am outside with those gates behind me, I close my eyes and inhale.
Fresh, free air.
Nothing has tasted sweeter.
“Renny?”
My head snaps toward the voice—Destiny. She’s become a head turner—long dark hair, a figure any woman would be proud of, and the face of a damn angel.
Tears stream down her cheeks as she throws her arms around my neck. I engulf her in a hug, lift her off her feet, and swing while she laughs and squeals.
“Hey, sis, it’s good to be free.”
I let her go, but Destiny moves her hands to my shoulders and leans back, a smile on her pretty face. “I’ve missed you.” She wipes under her eyes.
“Right back at you.”
“Clothes, okay?”
I step back from her and hold my arms out. “Yeah. They fit good.” I glance over my shoulder at the gate. “Can we get the fuck out of here?”
Destiny belts out a laugh. “Fuck, yes.” She puts her hand in mine and pulls me toward a black Escalade. A man is standing there, hair falling over half his face, one blue eye tracking our movements. Instinctively, I put Destiny behind me.
The fucker chuckles and holds out his hand. “I’m Kade Cantrill, Destiny’s fiancé.”
Destiny shuffles around me and latches onto his other arm. “Renny, I told you about Kade.”
Gripping his hand hard, I shake it and grunt out the words, “Yeah, yeah, you did.”
He’s a big fucker, but I’m taller. I’m six foot seven, and after spending eight years with nothing to do but build muscle, I’m a mountain compared to him. Releasing his hand, I step back and smile.
“You want to drive?” Kade asks me.
“Nah, no license. Last thing I need is the cops pulling us over and busting me for some bullshit infraction.”
Kade nods and opens the passenger back door. I move to get in the car, but Destiny squeezes my bicep and hops in the car.
“Nope, you’re up front. I’m in the back.”
“I’m good in the back.”
“Renny, I’m a good foot shorter than you. You need all the leg room you can get. Get in the front.”
“Only a foot?” I tease.
Destiny laughs as I walk around the car and climb in.
“Nice wheels.”
Kade looks at me. “Not mine. It belongs to Dane. He’s the president of the Savage Angels MC in Tourmaline.”
“I know who he is.”
He starts the car, and I hit the button to roll down the window. “A few of your kind were in Glenford.”
“My kind?” Kade tilts his head to the side, a scowl on his face.
“Yeah, MC members.”
He huffs, and the scowl disappears. “Right.”
Destiny’s hand lands on my shoulder. “Kade and I bought an old house.”
“That’s an understatement.” Kade grins. “It was barely standing.”
Destiny laughs and hits his arm. “It was not that bad.”
“You’re right, it was worse,” Kade counters.
Destiny shakes her head and says, “We’ve almost finished the renovations. Your room is all done up. It’s one of the best in the house.”
“I’m staying with you?”
Destiny nods. “Of course, you’re family.”
Staring at Kade, I ask, “Are you okay with that?”
He shrugs a shoulder up on one side. “Is there a reason I wouldn’t be? Family takes care of family.”
My baby sister has him wrapped around her little finger. I smile at her, then stare out the open window at the view. The fresh air on my face feels like heaven, and I close my eyes, but only for a moment, to enjoy the feel of it. After being away for so long, I don’t want to miss a thing.
Destiny is prattling away in the back seat, and I nod or grunt a yes or no to her many questions.
Do I like broccoli?
Do I like carrots?
Do I like meatloaf?
Her questions feel endless.
For eight years, I was told when to eat, sleep, and shit. Do I like broccoli? Fuck if I know. Whatever was put in front of me, I ate. The only thing I really liked was at Christmas when the warden would let us have apple pie and ice cream. This I coveted and would stab any motherfucker who would try to steal it.
“Renny?”
Twisting in my seat, I stare at Destiny. “Yeah?”
“Do you like Italian?”
“I used to like pizza.”
Destiny agrees with a slight incline of her head. “I thought we’d go somewhere nice for your first night out, but we can do pizza.”
“I’m happy to do whatever you want.”
