Full Circle (14 page)

believe he would somehow be a burden to me and I…I have

no idea how you could do that to your own son.”

“I was trying to help him.”

“You didn’t,” Max snapped. “But I’m to blame too. I fell

for the lies. But I’m lucky enough to be with Jaylin again and even if I don’t deserve it, he loves me and he’s willing to give me another chance and I won’t blow it this time.”

“Max….”

“If you are about to put him down, or try and make him

feel badly about himself, just turn around and walk away.”

Max watched as his father turned his full attention to

Jaylin. “You have no say in how I speak to my son or what I say.”

“Actually, Mr. Sydney, I do. Because I love your son.

And I won’t allow you to hurt him.”

“I only want what is best for my son.”

“If you really meant that, you wouldn’t try and change

him. If you love him, accept him for who he is and respect

what he wants.”

To his credit, Chad looked away, and Max knew Jaylin

had hit a nerve, which was something of a surprise.

“I will admit, I have made mistakes.”

It was a start, Max supposed, but it wasn’t enough.

“What does that mean exactly?”

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“It means I should never have interfered with your

relationship with Jaylin.”

“Is that an apology?”

Chad drew in a breath, looking at Max again. “I suppose

it is.”

“Dad….”

“I made mistakes. I’m sorry for them. But I can’t lie and

say I support your lifestyle.”

Despite everything that had come before, hearing his

father say that still hurt and Max sighed, nodding, accepting reality for what it was.

“I guess there’s nothing left to say.”

“Max….”

“I’m gay. And I love Jaylin. He and I intend to be

together. And we won’t hide it. If you can’t accept me, if you can’t support me unconditionally…well, I guess that’s your

problem.” He glanced at Jaylin, who squeezed his hand in

silent support and Max was grateful for it, as he turned his eyes to his father once more. “For four years, you haven’t

reached out to me and, despite your apology, I can tell you’re not really reaching out to me now and that’s fine. I’ve

accepted that unconditional love is a concept you can’t

grasp. And that’s fine. I have a family now and I will never allow anyone or anything to come between us again, so

unless you can somehow accept me and Jaylin both, there is

nothing left for us to say, Dad.”

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Chad nodded slowly, but his eyes remained cool. “I’m

sorry you feel that way.”

“Is that your way of saying you can’t accept me?”

“It’s just not possible.”

Jaylin squeezed his hand again and Max shook his

head. “Goodbye.” He knew it was final. He wouldn’t see his

father again after today, but there was nothing he could do to change how Chad felt or how he looked at the world, and

he was fine with that.

He had Jaylin and that was enough.

Turning, they walked into the courtroom, taking a seat

in the front row, by Max’s choice. He wanted Trent Miller to know he was there, ready and willing to face him. He felt

empowered by the confrontation with his father, and

knowing Jaylin was at his side calmed any and all fears. He felt he could face anything or anyone.

Once they were seated, Jaylin turned and looked at him,

concern in his eyes. “I’m sorry about that, Max. I really didn’t expect to see him here.”

“Neither did I, truth be told.”

“You okay?”

“Yeah. I’m good. I meant what I told him. I have all I

need.”

“I’m glad. Because I love you.”

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Max smiled. “I love you too.” It felt so natural saying

that, even after seven years, and Max knew they would be

okay. They were back together and once this ordeal was

behind them, they could build the life they wanted.

Glancing up, he watched as three people—two women

and a man—entered from a side door to the left. They quietly sat down together at a table facing the room. It was a little surreal to realize in just a short amount of time they would decide if Trent Miller deserved an early release from prison and Max wondered about them.

He wondered what, if anything, he could say to make

them realize Trent should be forced to serve every day of his sentence.

Another door, one to the right, opened and Max tensed

as Trent Miller was guided into the room, with two armed

guards on either side of him.

He wore an orange jumpsuit, his hands were cuffed in

front of him, and his hair was longer, almost to his

shoulders. It was obvious the nearly seven years in prison

hadn’t been easy. He looked at least ten years older than his actual age, but Max didn’t feel any compassion or pity for

him, and when he glanced at Jaylin, he could sense the

anger burning in his lover.

“Jaylin?”

He pulled his eyes from Trent and Max could see the

raging emotions. “Sorry. I know it has to be even harder for you, seeing him….”

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“It’s not easy for either of us, but we can handle it.”

“I just…I feel bad. I fell apart last night and you pulled

me back together. But you’re the one he hurt and I just want you to know, I can be strong for you, Max.”

“The fact that I have you here, sitting beside me, makes

this easier for me.”

“Max….”

“We’re going to be fine. I don’t doubt that.”

Jaylin smiled, sighing, and Max could feel some of the

tension leave him and he was glad. He knew this wasn’t

going to be pleasant and he just wanted it over and done

with. He wanted the past settled once and for all.

Leaning close, he let his lips linger close to Jaylin’s ear.

“When we get back to our room, I want you to do

something for me.”

“Anything.”

“I want you to fuck me.” He whispered the words,

knowing the impact they would have on Jaylin, knowing his

nearness, the feel of his breath only added more fuel to the fire. “I need it. I need you to make me yours completely.”

“Max….”

“As soon as this bullshit is over, I’m dragging you back

to the B and B.”

“You won’t have to drag me.”

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Pulling back, Max faced the front of the room again and

Jaylin reached for his hand and Max smiled, knowing Jaylin

needed the contact as much as he did. He needed something

to keep him tied to the present, because it would be all too easy to get lost in the past, in those dark memories that he wanted to leave in the past once and for all. And he knew

Jaylin wanted and needed to do the same. He had held so

much in for so long and Max suspected Jaylin breaking

down last night was something he had needed to do for a

while.

It was cathartic. He never really faced what happened.

He never got the help I did.

He was back in Jaylin’s life and he would help him now;

now, they could truly help each other heal and move on to

something better.

The room filled quickly and ten minutes after Trent was

walked into the room, one of the women on the panel called

the hearing to order. She introduced herself and the others, explained the docket and reviewed the crimes for which

Trent had been convinced and Max tried to detach himself as he listened. But it wasn’t possible. He knew, firsthand,

exactly what Trent and Greg had done, while Lane and Hank

stood back and watched, and he felt slightly ill as he listened to the details. Jaylin stared down at the floor, clearly

struggling for control.

The review finally ended and the woman leading the

hearing called on Trent’s lawyer to explain why Trent was

eligible for early release.

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For nearly fifteen minutes, he recited Trent’s supposed

attributes, his good behavior. He had been a model citizen in prison and not only had he finished high school and college, he helped other inmates with their education.

Isn’t he fucking noble. I can’t believe anyone could buy
into this shit!

“Mr. Miller has paid for his crime. And he regrets his

actions. He is not the same man he was when he committed

those crimes and he should be judged based on the man he

has become, and I ask that this panel please keep that in

mind.”

He sat down and the chairwoman scanned the room

slowly.

“Is there anyone here who wishes to speak out against

Mr. Miller’s release?”

Drawing in a breath, Max stood. “I would like to speak.”

“And you are?”

“Max Sydney. I’m the man Trent Miller nearly killed.”

The woman nodded and waved him forward and Max

walked to the podium in the center of the room, not casting a look in Trent’s direction.

“Thank you for being here today, Mr. Sydney. Please

make your statement.”

He drew in another breath, pushing past the memories

and the old fears. “I don’t have to tell you what Trent Miller 140

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and his cousin did, because you know. All the details have

already been made public today and not for the first time.

And I think anyone who possesses a soul can easily agree

that it was horrible, but hearing all the details read out loud isn’t the same as living through it, or being handcuffed to a bed and forced to witness it.”

A quick glance over his shoulder calmed him a bit.

Seeing Jaylin there gave him the strength and the courage

he needed.

“I get that Trent has so-called behaved himself since he

went to prison, but so what?” Max looked forward again. “It doesn’t erase what he did. And I don’t believe for a second he has changed, because he…he was filled with hate that

doesn’t just go away because he helped a few people learn

how to read and write.”

“It’s taken me years to get my life back. I nearly died. At one point, I wished I had. And I’ve got to live with the scars and memories for the rest of my life, so, no, I don’t think Trent needs to be released early. He doesn’t deserve a chance like that. Giving him one would be an insult to me and to the people that care about me and frankly, we’ve suffered

enough.”

He thanked the panel for listening and turned, ready to

get back to his seat, back to Jaylin, who nodded at him,

before glancing at Trent and when he did, he tensed and

everything seemed to fast forward and stand still all at once.

He heard Jaylin scream, shouting his name, and

suddenly, he was out of his seat, shoving Max down as

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someone else shouted and Max heard the unmistakable

sound of a gunshot and then more screams erupted. People

were running from the room and someone was throwing

Trent to the floor. A host of police officers seemed to spill in from the hall, shouting demands, and Max realized Jaylin

was on top of him.

And he was unconscious.

Frantic, he sat up, carefully rolling Jaylin onto his back, calling his name, nearly passing out when he saw blood

pouring from a wound on his head.

“Jay…Jay, please! Please….” Hands shaking, he felt for

a pulse, gasping in relief when he found one. “Oh God,

Jaylin, you can’t leave me. Please, baby.” Looking up toward the army of police officers, he called for help, and several rushed forward, one calling for an ambulance as another

pushed Max out of the way.

Stumbling back, he looked at his hands, at the blood

there, hearing Trent screaming insults as he was pulled from the room, but Max didn’t care what the bastard said, what

horrible names he called him in his rage.

He cared about only one thing and that was Jaylin, the

man he had already lost once, the man he realized he could

lose again.

Forever this time.

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Two hours after Trent managed to get a gun ripped from

one of the armed guards, Jaylin sat on a gurney in the

emergency room, listening to a doctor explain to him how

lucky he was.

The bullet had only grazed the left side of his head, very

close to his temple. He required just a few stitches to close the wound. Most head wounds tended to bleed a great deal,

which made the injury initially seem worse than it actually was.

The doctor saw no need to keep him in the hospital,

which Max insisted was insane and he voiced as much as he

stood in the corner of the exam room. He had refused to

leave Jaylin for more than the five minutes it had taken him to give his statement to the police and Jaylin could easily sense how on edge he was.

All things considered, Jaylin couldn’t blame him.

“Luckily, you don’t have a concussion. But I will give

you something for the pain. Keep those stitches clean and

see your regular doctor in a few days.”

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“Thanks, Doc.”

He handed Jaylin a prescription slip for the painkillers,

casting a glance at Max. “He really will be fine.” He nodded one more time at Jaylin and slipped from the room and as

soon as he was out of the way, Max was there, reaching for