Page 117 of Tank’s Weakness

As the conversation shifts, Delaney’s body relaxes more against me, and she rests her head on my shoulder. She has a smile on her face as she watches her favorite person get to know mine. It feels so normal and right.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Two months later

Delaney

Standing outside the prison, I feel nervous. It looks like such a normal building, but inside, I know there are prisoners.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Tank asks.

I look up at him. “Every month until he is released. I don’t care what is going on. Acid will not be doing this alone.”

He nods. “Then let’s not make him wait.”

He’s right. I should get used to this. I won’t let him down. Not after what he is doing for me.

With my hand in his, we walk up to the gate. We have to get buzzed through two separate checkpoints before we get to the metal detectors. Tank prepared me for this, so I have nothing that can be taken away, but watching the others in front of us getting angry over things they have to put up is wild. I’m glad I was told what to expect.

After a pat-down from a female officer who looks like she might have sucked a lemon, we are led to a large room with several tables. The officer in charge tells us where to sit as everyone fills the room. Then the inmates are brought in one by one.

My heart breaks as I see Acid being led in with shackles on his wrists and ankles. He smiles when he sees us, waiting as he is cuffed to the table. Then he takes a seat.

“You guys didn’t have to come. I’m doing great.”

I frown. “Get used to seeing my face. I plan to visit a lot. You aren’t having any trouble, are you? You haven’t been shanked?”

I whisper the last part, making both him and Tank chuckle.

“No. It’s not like the movies. Sure, that stuff happens, but not as often as you think. I’m fine. I keep to myself. My roommate is decent and is in for a crime I can tolerate. The lawyer did his best, and the warden is keeping the promises the DA made. You don’t have to worry about me. Honestly.”

“I will worry. I owe you a lot. I put five hundred on your commissary. Did you get it?”

Tank turns to me, surprised. “You did? You don’t have to do that.”

Acid shakes his head, a smile on his face. “Yes, and the two thousand the club put on there too. I’m good. I don’t need anything else. Warden says I’ll get assigned a job soon. I haven’t decided which one I want, but it will give me something to do to pass the time.”

“I thought you were thinking about getting a degree,” Tank says to him.

“Oh, that would be beneficial,” I say, turning to him.

“I am. I have time to decide. My first parole hearing isn’t for another three years.”

“God, I wish the judge hadn’t gone so hard on you,” I murmur.

“I don’t mind. I wasn’t doing anything productive with my life before now. I’m seeing it as an opportunity.”

“It’s prison,” I whisper-yell at him.

“Yeah, and it’s not a walk in the park, but it’s not hell either. Seriously, I’m fine. Please stop blaming yourself. I am right where I want to be. Hell, who knows. Maybe I’ll come out the other end better off.”

“Tank,” I huff.

“Laney, baby, Acid is strong. He knows what he’s doing. I don’t like it either, but we have to let him make his own choices. Even if it should be me in that seat.”

Acid loses all humor. “You have something worth living for out there. I don’t. It’s better that I was the one who found him.”

He says it pointedly, reminding us that we aren’t alone. Our conversation is being monitored.