Four Flames for Angela

“It started slow. When I got out of prison I had nowhere to stay. The house was gone. Mom and her husband were gone. I ended up staying with Jimmie Jackson. I needed money to live on. I tried to find a job. I did!”

Hunter pressed down a little harder on his shoulders, keeping him from standing up.

“Okay, I know it’s hard to find work. What happened next?” Rock asked.

Angie looked over at Sawyer who had picked up Todd and standing a few steps away. She didn’t know how much either of them could hear.

“At first I was doing shit like I was supposed to. Going to see my proby officer and all that shit. That lasted a couple of months.” Thomas let out another sigh.

“Jimmy was using, and all the old gang was coming around. I tried to stay out of it, but you don’t understand. I was sad and shit, and when I’m using, I don’t care about anything. Everything is good. I needed money to get shit. Jimmy hooked me up with his dealer, and I started dealing, too. I know I shouldn’t, but I needed money to live,” Thomas whined and looked down at his hands.

“There was a big drop, and they trusted me to get it. I fucked up and didn’t get there.”

“If you didn’t get it there, that means you still have it? Right?” Rock asked, moving around to stand in front of Thomas.

“Most of it,” Thomas answered and looked at the check again. He handed it back to Angela. “You might as well keep this. It won’t do me any good.”

“That’s a good start,” Rock said. “You know what you need to do.”

“What?” Thomas answered.

“You need to turn yourself in. Go the cops and come clean. That’s the only way to end this. You know that,” River said.

“We know several high-ranking officers in the county sheriff’s department and the local police officers. I think your best bet would be to talk to one of them,” Rock said, and Angie could see he was watching Thomas closely.

“But that means I go back to jail!”

“Yes, it does. But think about it. In jail, you’ll be safe. You won’t have to deal drugs to survive. They’ll make sure you have food. You’ll have a roof over your head and won’t have to stay with someone on drugs. I’ll make sure they get you in a program and you get straightened out. When you are released, I’ll help you find a place to stay. If you get clean and stay clean, you could stay with me.”

Angie took a deep breath and said a little prayer before she said the next part. “Thomas, as long as you are clean and behaving like a responsible adult, I want you to be around Todd. You’re his uncle, and I want him to get to know you. He needs family in his life, and I don’t want him to be scared of you.”

“How is he related to us?” Thomas asked, looking over at Sawyer who was holding Todd.

Angie motioned them over and took Todd from Sawyer, holding him on her lap. Then she told Thomas the story of what had happened after their parents were killed and how she and Todd came to be a family.

While Angie was telling Thomas her story, Rock and River made some calls to law enforcement friends of theirs. It wasn’t long before several cop cars were pulling up.

Thomas stood and looked like he was ready to run. Angie handed Todd to River and grabbed Thomas by the hand. “I’ll walk over with you. You can do this,” she said, threading her fingers through his.

Thomas nodded and stood up straight. He looked at Angie and let go of her hand. “I can do this by myself.”

Rock wrapped one arm around Angie and pulled her close. “Let him do this.”

Angie nodded, and they watched as Thomas got in the police car. One of the officers walked over to talk to Rock and his brothers.

“Angie, this is Chad Parsons. He’s a good friend of ours. He and his two brothers, Zeke and Brock, are both with the sheriff’s department,” Rock said, introducing them.

“Howdy, ma’am,” Zeke said, reaching for her hand. He grasped her fingertips and pulled her knuckles to his lips.

Rock tightened the arm he had around her and pulled her close. “Back off, Parsons. She’s taken.”

Zeke looked at Angie and his eyes twinkled. “If you ever get tired of these boys, you come find me and my brothers. We’ll show you what real men are like, honey,” he said with a shit-eating grin on his face.

Angie didn’t know what to say but was saved by River. “I wouldn’t be waiting if I were you, Parsons. Angie knows who makes her happy.” He leaned down and brushed a kiss against her lips before saying, “Isn’t that right, sweetheart?”

Angie nodded and threaded her fingers into River’s hand, smiling. “Thanks for the offer, but I’m happy with what I have.”

Zeke nodded, then he and his brother shook hands with each of her men and they walked away.