Preview?

Jason’s eyes get wide as Misty talks, a bit of irritation surfacing. He stares down at her, using his height to his advantage. “Look, Misty, I’m sorry you think we’re all being bullies or something, but how long will it take you to realize this isn’t some game? I wish it could all be sunshine and roses where everyone could be best of friends, but it just doesn’t work that way.”

He shakes his head, trying to keep his tone from rising too much. “Now I’m glad you think Carson’s on the up and up, and contrary to your belief, I do care. I know good and well he’s human and he deserves a chance. But he’s also the guy who smashed in my knee with a sledge hammer and who tortured Jamie to the point that she’s terrified of just seeing him. Whether he’s at the bottom of the barrel or not, he’s too capable of too many things just to let him loose and trust him.”

He takes a deep breath. “Like it or not, when he’s physically capable, he’s going back in his cell until we can be dang well sure which side he’s on. If you want to stay friends or whatever with him when this is over, be my guest. I’m not asking you to drop him. All I’m asking you to do is be yourself because apparently he likes that. We need to have answers for the safety of many people, Misty…like it or not, Carson got himself into this mess when he tangled with the Agency. Sometimes ya gotta take the heat. If you don’t want to do this, just say so, but I doubt you’d like any other route we’d choose.”


Carson stands behind the door out of sight, taking in the loud conversation in the hall. Misty’s words send him hurling back into an emotional corner once again. How on earth could she care that much? It was obvious that she was being truthful about the way she felt… it was just so foreign to him. The women he’d ever been around…he’d had his own motives, and they’d certainly never cared about him like this…

How could Misty see his pain? How could she see what even he himself didn’t dare to look for? That past…that hurt…it had been buried so deeply, that he never wanted to dig it up again. But Misty had seen it. That much was apparent, and it made Carson wonder just what it was about her that caused her to be so caring.

And yet, he could feel an irritation starting to boil. Misty shouldn’t be caring about someone like him. She was too nice to be tangled up in a life like his, no matter how many times she said she didn’t care about his past, or him leaning on her. Jason was right. He couldn’t be trusted, and he was reaping what he had sowed. Though some might view Jason’s words as harsh, Carson heard them as true.

He crumples up the now-empty paper cup and tosses it in the waste basket. His brow furrows, his eyes becoming cold. He was being stupid to let Misty so close to him…she deserved better…and he deserved to be put back in that cell.

Carson leans his hands on the counter, ignoring the pain it causes to his wrists. Looking up, he sees his eyes staring back at him in a mirror. Who was he? Who had he become? Was he destined to remain chained to this misery?


Laura frowns and shakes her head at Nate. “You men are all alike. You’d rather be macho than take a rest when you need one. But if that’s what you want, go ahead and sit there trying to make yourself feel better. When you pass out, don’t come crying for help ‘cause I’ll just remind you that you’re fine and that there’s too much work to be done for you to be sprawled on the floor.”

She shakes her head and kneels back down to pick up her papers, muttering under her breath. “I’m tired of everyone treating me like I don’t know any better.” She grits her teeth as she thinks of Con. “They all think I’m too naïve to see when something is wrong. Well fine. They can just keep on thinking it.”


As Katie’s prayer comes to an end, Kyle is the last to raise his eyes from the table, emotion filling his face. Swallowing hard though, he musters up a crooked grin as he takes a bite of chicken. “We may be able to stuff our faces with her good cooking, but Jen keeps us busy enough that we just work it right back off again.”

Phil laughs. “I feel sorry for the guy who marries her – he’s gonna have a “honey-do” list every day!”

Kyle shakes his head in amusement. “Naw, honestly, I don’t know how we stay in shape. I’m sure she’d love to give you the recipe.”

Mike nods at Katie’s question. “I think we’ve got the songs we want. Got a new one Kyle wrote.”

“Oh yeah.” Kyle rolls his eyes. “It’s a classic.”

Phil throws him a teasing glance. “They’re gonna love it.”

“So you can’t decide on your own stuff, huh?” Mike questions Katie. He throws her a grin. “I don’t supposed you’d give us a preview so we could help you out.”