Page 75 of Sin Bin

“Really? Why?”

“He doesn’t want to see me.” She sounded like she was fighting back tears. “Every time I go up there to visit him, he turns me away.”

Logan clenched his jaw, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel. “I’ll talk to him.”

“Thank you, Logan,” Lakendra whispered gratefully. “I appreciate you.”

“No problem,” he said gruffly. “Try to get some rest. I’ll be in touch.”

As he drove to the juvenile detention facility, his thoughts didn’t stray far from Lakendra Howell and her three boys. The thirtysomething single mother worked as a waitress and a hotel housekeeper. Even with two jobs she struggled to make ends meet, but she was too proud and independent to ask for help. The one and only time she’d allowed Logan to pay her rent, he’d had to force her to take the money. The long hours she worked meant her sons were often left home alone to fend for themselves. She’d been working a double shift at the hotel on the night Davion was caught shoplifting with some friends. Because it wasn’t his first offense, he was convicted of felony theft and sentenced to six months in juvie lockup. Lakendra still blamed herself for not being there to stop him from going out that night.

When Logan arrived at the youth services center, he signed the visitor’s log and spent a few minutes shooting the breeze with the corrections officer before he was escorted to a visiting room. Davion came shuffling through the door moments later. The fourteen-year-old was tall and lanky, ninety pounds soaking wet.

As soon as he saw Logan’s bruised cheek, he burst out excitedly, “Holy shit! Did you get into another fight?”

Logan gave him a sarcastic smirk. “No, I tripped and fell into a wall.”

Davion laughed, dropping into the chair across the table from Logan. “They took away my TV privileges, so I didn’t get to watch the game last night. Who were you fighting? I bet you kicked his ass! You never lose a fight!”

Logan grimaced guiltily. Some role model he was.

“Why’d you lose your TV privileges?” he asked.

Davion’s expression turned belligerent. He looked away to glare at the far wall. “I got into a fight.”

Logan frowned. “What happened?”

Davion gave a hard shrug and chewed on his thumbnail.

“That’s not an answer.” Logan sat forward, leaning toward the teenager. “Why were you fighting?”

Davion’s sullen dark eyes returned to him. “It ain’t important.”

“C’mon, kid. Drop the tough guy act and talk to me.”

Davion flopped back in his chair and mutinously crossed his arms. He reminded Logan of himself at his age—surly, cocky, rebellious as fuck. He’d spent more than his share of time in juvie lockup and seemed destined for a life of crime until Santino intervened. He’d redirected the path Logan was on, helping him channel his rage and aggression into hockey.

“It was stupid,” Davion grumbled irately. “Some fool was talking shit about me, so I beat his ass. End of story.”

Logan gave him a steady look. “I know it’s hard to walk away, Davion, but you really shouldn’t be fighting.”

“Why not? You fight all the time.”

Got me there. Dammit.

“That’s different,” Logan muttered.

“How?” Davion challenged.

“I’m a hockey player. That’s sorta what we do.”

“Not all hockey players,” Davion shot back. “Hunter Duchene hardly ever fights.”

Logan frowned. The little shit had him again.

“Hunter’s the team captain. He has to set a good example for the rest of us. Anyway, you’re supposed to be getting out of here soon. You need to be on your best behavior so they won’t push back your release date.”

“They can’t do that,” Davion asserted.

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