Trevor dropped him off outside of the office building ten minutes before he had to be there giving him just enough time to find the floor he needed to be on and fill out the stupid paperwork. Really only able to complete about half of it due to not having half the things it asked for.

“Rainehart, I assume.”

“Yes.”

“Right this way.”

The man waved him on back into his office, shutting the door behind him. He stood a lot shorter than Dustin, just barely over five-eleven if he was to guess. Brown crew cut hair, grey eyes, wide shoulders, strong country draw to his voice.

“Have a seat.” He spoke, pointing to the only chair across from his cluttered desk.

Files upon files piled high off to both sides, his one of them. Watching as he thumbed through a stack pulling one-out double-checking the name and number before opening it reading out from the first page out loud but more to himself than to Dustin.

“Dustin Rainehart, arrested at eighteen now twenty-eight. Arrested for burglary in the second with an unlicensed handgun, assault with a deadly weapon, resisting arrest.” His words trailed off into silence.

Dustin didn’t bother to say anything while he continued to read over his file. He already knew what it said about him in it and he knew what the truth was from that night. Reading the little nameplate on his desk, Nolan Shields, looking at the wall behind the man that had just about every award a man could have in his name.

“So other than the one big fuck up when you were eighteen it appears you’re a pretty decent guy?”

Dustin looked up at him, “I’d like to think so.”

“Not a lot of trouble while locked up a few write-ups for minor things, only three fights in the ten years. Got your GED even took some college courses passing them as well.”

So far, Mr. Shields seemed pleased with him.

“The first question is what is your status with. . . “eyes looking back at his file, “The Sons?”

Dustin really wasn’t sure how to answer that question. Well not sure how to answer it in a good light that didn’t make him look bad.

“So still running with them then.”

Mr. Shields gave him a hard look before writing something down on his notepad where he couldn’t see it.

“I didn’t even say anything,” Dustin spoke finally.

“You didn’t have to. Look! You can see this isn’t the first go-around I’ve been doing this for a long ass time. I don’t take any bullshit. I don’t allow for slip-ups. There’s no you help me I help you shit. It’s all you. If you want your life back then you have to follow my rules and earn it.”

Dustin felt his hands clench into a fist, clearly seen by Mr. Shields who once again wrote something down on his pad.

“Mr. Shields.”

“Nolan, Mr. Shield’s is my father.”

“Nolan,” he corrected himself, “They’re my family but I’m not running with them. I’m not about that anymore. Ten years was enough of my life to give to them.”

Dustin wasn’t even sure if his words were true or not. Ten years was more than enough sacrifice for them but they were family. You can’t just drop and forget family. Even if he thought he could, Mike clearly wouldn’t let him.

“Better.” Nodded Nolan as he closed his file, pulling out a piss cup pointing towards the bathroom attached to his office. “Door open too.”

The look Dustin gave him was one asking if he was serious but then again what’s new prison didn’t have much privacy either. He was also pretty sure Nolan wouldn’t mind going without having to watch other men take a piss day in and day out.

“Just leave it on the tray by the sink. I’ll test it later.”

Nolan waited for Dustin to wash his hands and take his seat before he started going over what exactly his rules were. Most of which he already assumed them to be. Even went as far as giving him homework. One he needed to find a job and bring proof of hire to him. Two he needed to get his driving license back with proof. Three was to keep his piss clean and not fuck up. Not fucking up was his number one rule. Before leaving Nolan made an appointment for next week at the same time where he expected some progress stating at some point in the next few weeks he planned on stopping by unannounced for his first home visit.

Well, it could have been worse he told himself as he walked out the front of the building. Boots hitting the sidewalk, sun shining down on him warming his skin. Being outside was one of the major things Dustin had missed. Something so simple that most people didn’t even bother to think about becoming something all one could think about. About a mile or so into his walk the sound of a car horn caused him to pause turning to see what the commotion was about. The small red Honda pulled up to the curb next to where he stood, the window rolling down, Danni smiling back at him.

“Tink told me you might need a ride home.” She nodded her head motioning for him to hop in.

“Honestly I don’t mind the walk and I’m sure you’re busy.” He spoke, brushing it off.

“I’m not busy just out doing a few things to help Mike then planned on grabbing lunch.” Danni motion for him to get in again, “Don’t make me beg.”

Oh, there were a few things he would love to hear her beg for. The mind quickly falling into the gutter at this point. Not something that was too far fetched for a man in general. Giving in, he waited for the traffic to clear before walking around and got in. Instantly pushing the seat back as far as it could go to even begin to give him room to sit down comfortably.

“You need a bigger car.”

“You need to not be so tall.” She chimed, pulling back into traffic. “So how was your first meeting?”

She was curious, to say the least. Danni has always been the type to question things, wanting to know. Something she apparently got from her mother, that’s what Mike tells her. Dustin was pretty sure Tink was the one who informed her about where he was at and what he was doing, telling Danni more than him just needing a ride. Rolling down his window, he gave her the short version of what happened. Not giving out too much detail, not that it really mattered. She listened as she drove down Main St. She could tell he was still guarded with the answers he gave her.

“Well, he seems like an okay guy. Not one to play around, straight to the point.” Commented Danni.

She felt that was a good thing. The guy meant business but it was all in favor of Dustin and helping him out. Dustin could feel otherwise about it. Wondering how many before he had a little misstep and he sent them back to finish out their time? Scared that he might be one of those guys. Not able to get his shit together.

Laughing, “I guess you could say that. Just hope it works out.”

Trying to sound more relaxed about it than he really was. After all, he was only human. Humans made mistakes. Dustin went on to say how he needed to find a job and keep it along with getting his licenses back.

“I still have my old driving book. I doubt much has changed since I took the test. I can help you study for it if you like.”

Danni smiled that hundred-watt smile at him. She wanted to be of help to him. After what he did for her family he deserved it and more. She knew more than both Mike and Dustin probably thought she did about the night he got arrested. She knew it was supposed to be Mike there. Dustin just stepped in to cover his ass for the leader at the time.

“I really doubt it would be that hard.” He shrugged.

“Well, my help is here if you want it.” This time her voice came off hurt causing him to feel bad.

“I guess a refresher wouldn’t hurt me. That’s if you have the time with school and everything. Your studies are more important.”

Dustin didn’t want to be a bother to her or anyone for that matter. Part of him was already worrying about becoming one at Tinks house. Yeah, she’s told him more than once that he’s welcomed for as long as he would like but at some point, everyone wears out their stay.

“I’ll always have time for you.”

Danni’s hand reached over touching his thigh in a playful gesture that caused more of a reaction to him than he expected. Pulling his leg away, chalking it up to the fact that he hasn’t been touched or near a woman in a long time. Not the simple fact it was Danni.