Page 86 of Nitro

“Sure. Maybe that will help calm my nerves. I think that’s why my stomach’s acting up.”

We head out into the crisp November night. Snow decorates the ground around the base of the pine trees. It’s been a warmer-than-normal start to winter, but I have no doubt snowmageddon’s coming. We might make it until December before we have to plow our way out of the clubhouse, but it’s only a matter of time.

“What if he wins?” Nitro asks.

“I honestly don’t know.”

“Why do bad people get rewarded?”

“That will be my first question when I get to Heaven. I wish I knew, but karma will get Blackstone eventually.”

“Like it got Jeff?”

“Exactly.”

“Good. But I hope Blackstone suffers. Jeff had an easy death. He got lucky.” The darkness in his voice chills me. I zip my jacket tighter and wrap my arms across my chest. He glances at me. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”

“Don’t apologize for telling me how you really feel. I don’t agree that torturing Jeff would have helped anything. While I didn’t wish for his death, I’m not sad he’s gone. If anything, I’m relieved.”

“Me too. I hated the idea of him being out there. Even if you got divorced, he’d still be lurking. That’s why we create new lives for the survivors we rescue.”

“It’s like witness protection,” I say.

“Exactly. Maybe not as legal, but we get the job done.”

“Have you had anyone new contact the club recently?”

“Not for a few months. In a way, it’s good. But I know people need our help.”

“They have to ask for it.”

“Right. We need to know they’re ready to leave before we step in. Once we take over, there’s no going back.”

“After they leave, is it hard not knowing what happens to them?”

“Sometimes. The kids stick with me, especially the boys. I always wonder how they ended up. We try to get them into the best possible situation with people we trust completely, but life is hard. It’s an uphill battle when you’ve been through a traumatic situation. Some people recover mentally. Others don’t.”

“What about you? Do you feel like you’re doing okay now?”

“Most days, yes. But there are times when I’m not sure.”

“Like today?”

“Yeah.”

“Because of the election?”

“If he wins, the power he’ll have … I can’t even think about it.”

“Then don’t.”

We stop next to the river. The frozen edges haven’t quite reached the center, and I can’t help but think about the guys. They’re like this river, frozen over in places but still flowing. Still trying to go on. That takes courage. They’ve got more than most men. I’ll always admire them for what they do to help others. They’re good men.

A full moon hangs over the mountains. Moonlight shimmers off the rippling water. Nitro puts his arms around me. He pulls me into his chest and rests his chin on my head. I let him hold me for a long time, even though the wind has picked up and it’s freezing. He needs this, so I’m going to give it to him.

“Should we go back?” he asks.

“Sure.”