Page 27 of Key Of Dreams

“With Bull, that could mean many things. Bull is all about respect. I don’t think you made a very good impression on him at the start. He’s a very private man, and I would never share his story. That’s his to tell. However, I will tell you this much. He’s the best man you could ever have on your side. Bull and his team work on making our country a better place. He’s close to people who feel the same way. You want his respect, you have to earn it.”

“What did you do to earn it?” Calvin asks.

“I’m not exactly sure, to be honest. It’s not grand gestures that make relationships. It’s all the small stuff. Making sure you don’t take someone for granted. Really listening. Genuine caring for those special people in our lives. What do you think?”

“He’s cool,” Calvin mumbles.

“All his friends are cool, and they all have awesome nicknames.”

Calvin shuffles his feet and looks at his shoes. “I’m sorry I was goofing off and being a pain.”

“I believe in second chances. Clean slate, what do you think?”

He lifts his eyes. “Really?” he murmurs hopefully.

“Chapters two and three for tomorrow. One last chance at getting the homework complete and bumping up your grade to where I know it could be. You’re an intelligent young man. I think you already know that.”

He gives me a smile, lifts his textbook, and gives me the sign that he’s going to give it a try. Bull doesn’t understand the impact he had on Calvin. I’m going to make sure I tell him he made a difference. I’ve spoken to many of Calvin’s other teachers, and none have been able to reach him like Bull has.

Chapter14

Saving a Nation

Bull

After leaving Maya at the school, I go to Storm to meet up with the guys. Waking up to Maya’s note isn’t nearly as good as reaching out and finding her beside me, but it tells me how much she thinks of me. The note on the coffeemaker made me chuckle, and the fact that she went to the bakery we talked about to get the Danishes I like so much tells me she not only listens, but truly hears me.

I trust a select few people with my secrets. My Storm family, and now Maya. I can add Gertie to that list, simply because it was she who confronted me about my past. She didn’t pry and ask a thousand questions, and yet somehow, she knew I had a shitty upbringing.

“You made it. I thought you were going to sleep the day away,” Falcon teases.

I look around to see that I’m the last one in. “I’m not late,” I say, pointing to the clock on the wall.

He laughs. “Nope. Just that you’re usually the first one in.”

“Had an errand to do.” I jerk my chin in a silent hello to the rest of the guys sitting around the table. I noticed that Kailyn wasn’t in her office when I walked down the hall. I glance at Phoenix. “Is Kailyn all right?”

“It was a long night. I told her to stay home and rest today,” Phoenix replies.

“Wish I could have said that to Maya,” I murmur.

“Working here with us has its benefits,” Phoenix says with a chuckle. “Then again, she has to put up with all of us and our shitty moods.”

“Yesterday was intense,” Rebel agrees. “But it all worked out.”

“Thanks to Maya,” Wire says. “That was a good idea to talk to the kids again. She was able to get the lead we needed.” He hangs his head. “I missed Allen. I should have caught that.”

“He was part-time and wasn’t supposed to be there that day. All his paperwork wasn’t complete, and he wasn’t in the school system,” Falcon tells him. “This one is on me.”

“We learned something.” Phoenix focuses on the positive. “Troy’s safe at home with his parents. I’m more interested in the real reason behind all this.”

“Allen is being charged with kidnapping.” Falcon turns to me as I sit in the chair next to Wire. “It’s good that you left the backpack where you found it. It proves that Troy was in the house and is incriminating evidence against Allen. Once the detectives got him in the interrogation room, he offered to make a deal.”

“What kind of deal?” Rebel asks.

“He gave up the person behind it all and the evidence needed to make the charges stick. Allen gets a reduced sentence,” Falcon explains.

“Dan’s partner, Porter,” I state, and Falcon nods. “But why? The company is doing well. Wire didn’t find any misappropriation of funds. Why would he risk it all?”

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