Chapter 6
Flynn
The clatter of bowling pins sounded, and Hollywood threw up his arms. “Strike, baby!”
“You sure know how to handle those balls,” Tex drawled. “Your cellie teach you those tricks?”
“Watch it,” Matteo said. “No homophobia bullshit on my watch.”
Tex raised his hands. “Who said I was a ’phobe? I find it downright inspiring.” He winked at Hollywood and lifted his hand in the universal call me sign.
Hollywood rolled his eyes. As the pretty boy ex-con, he’d heard it all. No doubt, he’d had to fend off more than one creep in prison. It wasn’t funny, but Tex hadn’t yet shaken that old inmate humor.
“Okay.” Matteo clapped his hands once sharply. “Let’s get the meeting started. There’s coffee and soda. Grab a drink and sit down.”
The Redemption Road members met once a week. Matteo, my former cellmate, organized the work-transition program with the help of a grant. The money only went so far, so for now, we met at a deteriorating bowling alley.
We were the most action this place saw on a Monday evening, so it worked out surprisingly well. Hollywood’s desire to show off his ball-handling skills notwithstanding.
I poured myself a root beer from a pitcher on the table next to Matteo and squeezed myself into a plastic booth. Knight slid in across from me, knees jostling mine.
“Sorry,” he said. “Tight fit.”
Tex was passing by. “That’s what he said!” He gave a rusty laugh. “Shit, you all make it too easy.”
Knight shot me a rueful smile. “You can take the con out of the prison—”
I chimed in, “But you can’t take the prison out of the con.”
There were a handful of empty tables, but Tex made a beeline for Hollywood. His real name was Hendrix Wood, but with his leading man charisma, he’d picked up the nickname.
Tex loved to give the youngest guy among us a hard time. Maybe a little too much? Hollywood grumbled but slid over to make room.
Ghost—otherwise known as Elias Mann—took a seat at an empty table. He’d gotten the nickname in prison because he’d been there longer than most guys and was unnervingly quiet. Like a phantom, he just seemed to materialize next to you.
I had a nickname too. Dozer, because I was big as fuck.
Most of the cons in the program called each other by their prison nicknames, even if Matteo didn’t. It was a reminder of where we’d been and where we could end up again if we weren’t careful. But the rest of the time, I did my best to forget Dozer and everything he did and tried to be Flynn.
“All right.” Matteo perched on the edge of a table, facing the rest of us.
“I wanted us to get started a little early because I’ve got a new guy coming in today.
I’ll need to spend more time than usual at the meeting going over the basics.
So, let’s do our rundown real quick. Elias, how’s the new place working out? ”
Ghost dipped his head. “Fine.”
“Is this one a better fit?” Matteo asked. “I know customer service wasn’t ideal for you.”
He shrugged. “It’s a paycheck.”
A man of few words, Ghost. Matteo pulled a few more vague assurances from him, then moved on.
Ghost had gotten fired his first day at the hardware store for refusing to answer customers’ questions.
Then he’d lasted all of a week at a grocery store.
This third job, in a greenhouse with fewer public interactions, seemed the best bet.
Tex grunted agreement that his spot on a construction crew was going okay. Hollywood waxed poetic about his new barbershop gig.
“You would love it,” Knight called. “You get to look in the mirror all day.”
We all laughed, because Hollywood was a tad vain. But hell, the kid was a looker. No one blamed him.
One by one, the guys checked in. Knight was over at the tattoo shop, though he mainly swept up and disinfected equipment. With time, he might get to be an apprentice like Gray’s boyfriend, Emory.
Knight had picked up his nickname because he was always looking to rescue the other guys in the pen. Especially the new, green ones who had a target on their back.
You wouldn’t guess it from looking at him, though. He had bad boy biker vibes and a fondness for leather and tattoos, but he was actually pretty laid-back.
“Flynn, how about you?” Matteo asked. “All good at the auto shop?”
I plucked my toothpick out of my mouth and cleared my throat. “Uh, yeah. It’s busier, what with the county contract.”
Matteo nodded. “You keeping up okay?”
“Doing my best.”
He frowned, forehead creasing. Matteo had a vested interest in the place because he’d worked there first. Also, his fiancée was besties with Emory. I didn’t want to let him down.
“It’s good,” I said hurriedly. “I’m adjusting.”
“Good.” He smiled. “I knew you’d do great there. Guys, Flynn is what this program is all about. He’s a certified mechanic now. Even if things don’t work out at Forrester’s, he’s got skills he can take with him. That’s what I want for all of you.”
Why would he say that? Even if things don’t work out. Had Holden said something to him? Shit. My hands started sweating, and I swiped them on my jeans under the table.
Matteo didn’t notice my reaction. The door to the bowling alley opened, and a short, wiry guy made his way toward us.
I knew that guy’s shape. His movements. Familiarity tingled at the edge of my mind.
Then he stepped out of the gloom, joining us at our little cluster of plastic tables.
Shit. It was Snake.
“Everyone, this is Shane Messinger,” Matteo said.
“He’s joining the Redemption Road program.
Make him feel welcome, okay? It’s not the easiest transition to make into that first job, but the point of this program isn’t just to get employers to give you all a chance, it’s also so you have a support system.
That’s all of us here. So please, look out for each other.
Give each other support.” His eyes landed on Ghost. “I know it’s not the same as prison.
There, you want to keep your head down and not draw attention. But you’re not in prison anymore.”
This was the spiel that Matteo gave us all when we joined. We’d heard it before.
Knight kicked my ankle. I dragged my gaze from Snake, who was still standing by Matteo with a little smirk on his face as he scanned us, looking like he was trying to pick who to stab in the back first.
“What’s wrong?” Knight murmured, keeping his voice low.
“I know that guy,” I muttered.
Knight raised his eyebrows in question.
I shook my head. Snake was bad news, but I wasn’t really one to gossip. Still, I didn’t want his true colors to come out and taint the rest of us by association. I’d have to talk to Matteo.
“Does anyone have any concerns before we wrap up?” Matteo asked.
“Yeah, when do we make more money?” Tex called. “I can barely afford my shitbox room!”
There were grumbles of agreement. Redemption Road had helped offset employers’ expenses so we could get jobs, but we were all being paid at entry-level amounts.
My pay was probably the best, as a certified mechanic, but nowhere near what a typical mechanic would make.
I shifted guiltily, thinking of my nice two-bedroom rental.
I didn’t really need all that space, but I’d wanted a place for Aiden to sleep if he happened to visit.
And after prison and a run-down halfway house, it was absolute luxury.
“My roommate is moving out,” Knight said. “I’m a little worried about covering the rent until I find someone new.”
Matteo turned to Snake. “You got a place yet?”
“Not yet. Crashing at a fleabag motel.”
Matteo motioned between them. “Why don’t you two talk when the meeting’s over?”
Knight flicked a glance at me. I cringed and shook my head.
“I know the pay isn’t great in the entry-level,” Matteo continued, “and I know housing isn’t ideal.
I’m working on that. We’re applying for more grants.
I want to give you more security so you can really focus on getting your lives together.
Be patient, please. This program will only get better.
The goal is for all of you to end up in jobs like Flynn’s, where you have more opportunity. ”
“Lucky Dozer,” Hollywood grumbled. “Why couldn’t I have been Matteo’s prison BFF?”
“And not be the prettiest boy in your cellblock?” Tex teased. “You’d have hated it.”
Hollywood rolled his eyes. “Might have been a relief. I could have turned unwanted attention his way.” He punctuated the statement by turning Tex’s hard-featured face toward Matteo.
Everyone laughed, but Tex’s lips curled with satisfaction. He really was an odd one. I couldn’t figure out if he was really hot for Hollywood or if he just liked hassling him.
The meeting broke up, and I made a beeline for Matteo. “Can I talk to you real quick?”
He glanced over at the other guys, who were still shooting the shit as they got to their feet and threw away their disposable cups.
“Sure, what’s up? I need to onboard Shane, so I don’t have a lot of time.”
“That’s the thing,” I said. “I don’t think you should.”
“Should…what?”
“Onboard Snake,” I said. “I mean, Shane.” I lowered my voice. “He’s bad news.”
Matteo flicked a glance toward Snake. He’d cornered Knight and was no doubt talking him into rooming together.
“He meets the criteria,” Matteo said slowly. “This program is about giving guys a second chance. You know that. He served his time.”
“Not enough,” I grumbled.
“Where is this coming from? I’ve never taken you as the type to hold grudges.”
“It’s not about some personal grudge,” I said, neck heating. “You can’t trust this man. He’s duplicitous. He’s always running a con of some kind.”
Matteo shook his head. “We were all different in prison. You of all people should know that, Flynn.”
I flinched. “What does that mean?”
“You know what I mean.” Matteo averted his gaze. “You saved my life in there, but you didn’t exactly use civilized means to do it.”
I hunched my shoulders, trying to curl in on myself.
To hide that ugly core of anger and violence that had kept me alive.
Kept my friends alive. In prison, there were two types of men.
Those who took, and those who were taken.
Guys like me and Knight did our best to be a buffer for the guys who couldn’t stand up to the ugliness of that place.
But that took something from us too. It took our innocence. Took our peace.
Matteo laid a hand on my arm, and I pulled away. “That wasn’t me. Not the real me.”
“I know,” he said gently. “And maybe that wasn’t the real Shane in there either.”
I shook my head. “He’s like the guys I was protecting you from, Matteo. Don’t you get that?”
He nodded, eyes locked on mine. “I do, Flynn. I can’t thank you enough for protecting me when I needed it.
But out here, the rules are different. I don’t have to be afraid.
Neither do you. If Shane is who you think he is, then he won’t last in this program.
But if he wants to start over and find redemption, I won’t be the one to tell him no.
I can’t. That’s the point of this whole program. ”
I nodded reluctantly, my throat too tight to answer. Maybe Matteo was right. Maybe I was unfairly judging Snake by his actions in a toxic environment. Still, Matteo didn’t know him like I did. He’d gotten released before Snake was transferred into our cellblock.
He hadn’t seen the way this man charmed the guards, cozied up to the worst of the worst, and manipulated everyone else. He’d convince you to trust him, get you to tell him your deepest, darkest secrets, and then use them against you.
Knight sidled up to me. “Spill it, Dozer. Should I not let this guy move in with me?”
“I wouldn’t,” I said tightly. “But Matteo thinks he deserves a chance.”
“Does Matteo know him?”
“Not like I do,” I said grimly.
Knight nodded. “Looks like my roommate will change his mind at the last minute. Not move out after all. But how am I going to cover the rent?”
“I’ll ask around. Outside the program. Maybe the guys I work for will know someone.”
“Cool. Thanks for the heads-up.”
My heart thumped. “Yeah. Thanks for trusting me.”
“Of course, brother.” He tapped my fist with his. “We’re in the trenches together.”
My eyes caught Snake’s from across the room. Maybe it was my imagination, but they seemed to taunt me. Would he tell my deepest secrets like he had in prison?
Tell everyone I was bisexual. That I’d once been in love with my former cellie. In love with Matteo.
That would be embarrassing. But those truths didn’t have the same power out here.
Matteo was straight. He was engaged to a beautiful woman. He was, for all intents and purposes, my boss. I had moved on to another untouchable, inappropriate attraction.
Maybe it said something about me that I only lusted after men I shouldn’t have. It probably did. I’d spent most of my life in the closet to avoid the wrath of my homophobic stepdad. I wasn’t sure I even knew how to live my life openly, even though I had nothing to hold me back.
Once you went to prison, being bisexual didn’t seem like such a crime.
If Snake wanted to tell everyone I liked dick, he could go for it. He’d never drag me into his twisted games again.