Page 7 of Dirty Ginger

“Yeah,” Hayes said before glancing up at the security camera and nodding.

The cell’s door clicked open, and Beckett stepped inside. “Dad,” he called.

A loud snore greeted him.

“Dad,” Beckett said, louder, shaking him on his shoulder.

Jim moaned.

Beckett sighed and glanced back over his shoulders at Hayes. “Sorry, man, but I’m going to need your help getting him home.”

Hayes stepped up. “You’ve got my help. Always.”

Beckett would never forget it either. Never forget that even with the hardships and the loss of all his family, the dad he once knew and loved included, he had good friends and a good life that Beckett worked hard to achieve. And now he had the chance to get the one that got away back in his life. Permanently. Keeping that on his mind, and not allowing his father to encroach on Beckett’s happiness that Amelia was a free woman again, he grabbed one arm as Hayes grabbed the other. “Dad, wake the hell up.”

When they hoisted him up, Jim murmured nonsense.

Every step Beckett took out of the cell made him proud that, after he lost his way when his mother and grandfather died, he eventually found his way back to himself. Sure, he’d fallen deeper into a pit of misery when Amelia fell in love with someone else, but seeing her leave had been the push to better himself. It had made him look hard at himself and question why he let her walk out of his life, and it had made him realize she did deserve better than him. It made him change. Do better. Be better. And as they headed out of the police station, he promised himself that he’d get everything right this time around.

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