Page 24 of Cheshire

I never thought I’d find solace in another person again, not after the hell I had endured. Trust was a luxury I couldn’t afford, a weakness that could be exploited. But here, in this moment, with Jo by my side, I thought it might be okay to let people in. At least, the ones here at the clubhouse.

“I never knew words could be so powerful,” I whispered, my voice raw with emotion as I traced the lines of Jo’s poetry with a reverent finger. “The way you wove them together, it was like…”

“Magic?” Jo finished, her lips curving into a smile that was tinged with sadness. “Yeah, I used to think so too. Before… I mean, I guess I haven’t thought about it much since I picked it back up. It was just a way to process everything in my head.”

She didn’t need to say more. We both knew the horrors that haunted our pasts, the scars that marred our souls.

She cleared her throat. “As I said before, I draw too. Actually, I only started writing poems again recently. Like you, I worried I wouldn’t be good at it anymore.”

For so long, I’d believed I was worthless, that my existence held no value beyond what my abuser decided. But here, with Jo, I was beginning to see the truth: I was an artist. A creator. A survivor.

As I finished my last drawing, the final lines taking shape on the page, a sense of peace settled over me, a balm to the jagged edges of my shattered heart. Jo’s presence was a steady anchor, a reminder that I was not alone in this fight.

We were warriors. We were healers. We were artists. And together, we had risen from the ashes of our pasts, and we were going to paint the world anew.

Chapter Nine

Cheshire

I slid into the booth across from Park. He eyed me, suspicious. Smart man. I let him stew a minute while I sipped my black coffee. The diner bustled around us, clanking silverware and sizzling grease. Finally, I leaned in.

“We needed to talk. Sheriff Holmes wasn’t the only rotten apple in this barrel of pigs. Mayor Davis and Robert Lewis -- they were in on it too.” I watched his face, waiting for the info to sink in.

Park blinked. Furrowed his brow. “What? No way. You sure about this?” He gripped his mug tighter, knuckles going white.

I nodded, holding his gaze. “Dead sure. We need to root out the whole infestation before this town turns to total shit.”

Park sat back heavily, processing. I could practically see the gears turning behind those green eyes. Poor bastard, still wanted to believe in the system. Well, time for a wake-up call.

“Sheriff Holmes was just the start,” I pressed on. “We’re talking high-level fuckery here. Real deep. Your precious boys in blue couldn’t handle this. Not to mention, most are looking the other way if not outright helping.”

Park glared at me, jaw clenched. For a second I thought he might take a swing. But then something shifted. A hardness settled over his face.

“All right. I’m in,” he said.

I smiled, cold and sharp. Welcome to the real world, Deputy. Time to get your hands dirty.

“I just… I don’t understand how this can be happening.” He ran his hands through his hair, staring into his cup of coffee like it had all the answers.

He glanced up, his gaze finding mine, almost as if he was hoping I’d tell him it had all been a lie. I wanted to reassure him, tell him everything would be fine. But truthfully, I wasn’t sure how we’d fare this time. Eddie Lewis had been one thing, but this… this was so much bigger.

“Everything I’ve believed in, fought for… it was all a crock of shit. I refuse to stand by and let it happen,” Park said.

I stared at him, waiting for him to confirm he’d join us. If he decided not to, then I’d walk away and pretend we never had this talk.

Park firmed his jaw. “Whatever it takes to clean up this mess. Just point me in the right direction.”

I smiled in answer. I’d hoped he would join our cause. We needed one good man in law enforcement in this place. Once we got rid of the corruption, someone would need to step in as the new sheriff, and I had a feeling Park would fill those shoes nicely. Even though he’d have to run for office and be elected, I had no doubt he’d win, as long as we killed the corruption in town. Hell, I’d help with his campaign if I needed to.

Park drained his coffee and dropped some money on the table. “This one’s on me. Call me when you’re ready for me.”

“Why don’t you come with me?” I asked. “Better to be in on this every step of the way, right?”

“Fine.”

I stood and we went outside. I climbed onto my bike and started her up. As I backed out of the space, I saw Park pulling out in his truck a few spots away. With a wave of my hand, I motioned for him to follow me.

I led Park through the nearly empty streets. The clubhouse loomed ahead, and I pulled through the gates, parking out front. I killed the engine and swung off, my boots hitting the pavement.

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