Hearts Incarcerated

Chapter 2

Sitting in my office after an immensely busy day, I glanced over at the clock on the wall; one more session and I could get home and get ready for my blind date with the detective.

Martha had assured me he would be perfect for me, understanding what it was like to work in a prison.

Something every other guy had wanted to change, none of them understanding how much I loved my job.

I got to help so many people who genuinely needed it, people who were often looked over and looked down upon.

The door opened and our resident guard Zeke walked in with none other than Jax Delton.

I frowned and looked down at my notes, "I was meant to see Drey?"

Zeke shrugged, "Drey switched with Delton."

Jax grinned at me, hands cuffed in front of him, "No need to lie, Miss Hart, we all know you're happy to see me."

Despite the situation I couldn't help but smile, this man clearly knew that he was easy on the eyes.

"Take a seat, Mr. Delton."

He sat down with a grin still on his face, "Please, call me Jax."

Zeke rolled his eyes and stood at the door.

"Zeke, it's okay, you can wait outside."

He nodded and walked out, I knew how he hated sitting in, and often the inmates preferred to talk when it was just the two of us.

"So, Jax, I haven't managed to go over your file yet, what are you in for?"

He scoffed, "You think that matters? Ain't no amount of time in here with you, will get me back out there."

The sadness in his eyes was nothing new to me, I saw it each time someone new came to see me.

"Jax. There is always hope. And with enough sessions, you can be okay again-"

"Okay? You think I'm some headcase?"

I sighed, this one would be a lot of work, "No, Jax, I think you've probably been through a lot and you need to work through it."

He put his cuffed hands on my desk and leaned forward, "Been through a lot, huh? Nah, I'm just here 'coz I think you're beautiful."

I cleared my throat, annoyed with myself for the blush creeping onto my face.

"Jax, come on. You don't want to get back out there? Do you really want to stay in prison for the rest of your life?"

"What's so great about 'out there? I've tried, man, I've tried. But these walls always call me back."

"How many times have you been in prison?"

He shrugged, "A lot. I've been to juvie for theft and selling guns. Been arrested for armed robbery. Shooting at people."

"And would you do any of it again?"

"Why do you this, Indi? Is it the pay?"

"No, I enjoy helping people who need the help. Who are worth the help."

He sat back and studied me, "You think we're worth it?"

"Of course. You're all people like the rest of us, you've just made mistakes, and I'm a firm believer that everyone deserves a second chance."

He sat forward again, a smile on his face, and my God was he even more gorgeous when he smiled.

"I wanna talk about you. Can we do that?"

Against my better judgment, I nodded.

"You married?"

"That is none of your business, Jax. But no, I'm not."

"I like that," he chuckled, "You're beautiful if I wasn't in here," he shook his head, "Read my file. Tell me if you still think I'm worth saving."

"Jax, no matter what happened, I will still know that you are. Now, tell me, how long do you still have?"

"A year."

"Okay, and where will you go once this is over?"

He shrugged, "I have nowhere to go, Indi. My mother doesn't want anything to do with me and my daddy is a drunk."

"I'm sure your mom may change her mind. What are your skills or qualifications? You will need a job once you get out."

"I can shoot," he laughed, "I'm good with cars."

I wrote this down, "Okay, so I'll speak to parole and see what ideas we can come up with."

He stood, "You read my file and if you still think it's worth it, I'll tell you anything you want to know."

"The session isn't over yet?"

"I won't get my hoped up till you read my file," he winked, "See you soon."

I watched him leave with Zeke, a frown on my face, he was so strange.

But I had a feeling that he needed my help the most.

×××

I had arrived twenty minutes early, and where I normally didn't drink a lot, I was already on my fifth glass of wine.

I had tracked down Penny Dalton, Jax's mother, and she had agreed to meet with me within the next week.

She sounded like a cold, hard woman and she had no idea that I had called her about her son.

Now, I was regretting it.

Why I was getting so involved was beyond me, it wasn't part of my job.

"Hi, Indigo?"

I looked up to see a man in a dark blue suit, he must have easily been six feet; his dark wavy hair styled neatly, and his piercing blue eyes shining with friendliness to match his smile.

He was good-looking but not ruggedly hot like Jax.

I frowned, why did I just compare him to my patient?!

He tilted his head slightly, "Sorry. I'm Leo, Martha arranged this."

"Yes! Hi, sorry. Please sit. How did you know it's me?"

He sat, giving me yet another kind smile, "Well, your aunt told me you have strikingly beautiful blue eyes with an amazing mane of brown hair."

I chuckled, "Trust my aunt to sell me. I hope yoy don't mind, I started drinking before you."

"Not at all, hard day?"

"Not really, my mind is just on one of my patients, he needs a kind person. Anyway, patient confidentiality and all that."

"Right, you work at the prison? Martha said you're a qualified nurse but you prefer counselling."

"Yes, I enjoy helping people."

"That's great! So many of the guys I've put behind bars could have a much different life with the help of someone like you."

"They aren't all bad people, and so many don't understand that."

He nodded, "Exactly. How long have you been doing this?"

"Since I was eighteen, a whole eight years. What about you?"

"I've been doing this for fifteen. The Delton case really put me on the map though."

My mouth dried, "Delton? Jax Delton?"

He looked up from the menu, "Yeah, he's one of your patients?"

"He's a new transfer to the prison. We had our first session today."

"Just be careful of that one, he's charming and knows how to play on the right emotions. The fact that he only got ten years for attempted murder shows you that. Not to mention that he had priors."

"He deserves a shot just like the rest."

"Let's order, shall we?"

I nodded, something told me that Leo wasn't a fan of Jax Delton, and I intended to find out exactly why.