After getting away from his cruel father's tyranny, Randall has to learn how to live again, and accept the person he was meant to be - with a little help of a local bartender...
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An empty shell is all what is left of twenty-five-yea...
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-Tony-
I stared at the building in front of me, feeling numb. It was almost surreal to be there, after all this time. It was completely silent in the car. Cole sat behind the wheel, not moving an inch, not saying a word. He wanted to give me all the time in the world, even though I couldn't just sit there forever.
There were so many things I wanted to say to him. I was scared. I couldn't do this. This was a bad idea, after all. Please start the car and take me home. I thought I was ready for this, but I actually wasn't. Not now, maybe never.
He knew all that, and he was ready to do whatever I told him. He always did. He always respected my wishes. Hell, I usually didn't even have to say anything, and he still knew exactly what to do. This past year had taught me that. I trusted him, and I loved him, and that was why I needed to do this.
The last step.
"Okay," I breathed out, reaching for the handle, but I still didn't open the door.
"It's not too late to change your mind," Cole said softly, taking my hand in his. "You don't have to go alone."
"I... I want to do it alone," I muttered. Lied.
"Okay." He didn't buy it.
I let out a sigh. "Well, I don't want to do it alone, but I have to. This is my step to take. And you'll just rip his head off if I take you with me."
"That I definitely will," he spoke with an unusually dark voice when he glanced at the prison in front of us. "I just hate to leave you alone with him."
"I'll be fine," I promised, and leaned in to kiss him. "I'll be back soon."
"I'll walk you inside," he said, and I knew there was no way I could convince him to stay in the car.
"Okay," I just said, and smiled at him.
It was easier to get out of the car when he came with me. I didn't stop walking until we were inside the building and reached the reception. I was afraid that if I even thought about stopping, I wouldn't be able to continue. Cole stayed right next to me when I introduced myself to the man behind the glass and went through the process.
To visit my old man.
Too soon, it was time for me to leave Cole's side. I tried to be brave when I followed the prison guard through the hallways and finally stepped into the visiting room. The cubicles were at the back; the glass separating the visitors from the inmates looking sturdy enough for me to trust it. Man, I did not trust my old man. I still couldn't trust I was safe from him.
The last time I saw him, he was trying to beat me to death, and even now, after all this time, those memories nearly got the best of me. Vaughn had tried to prepare me for this moment for almost a year now, but my bravery was growing thin. I was about to see the man who ruined me and my life so completely it was a miracle I'd stayed alive. And now I was going to face him.
