Hard Time (Hard as Nails #1) by Hope Conrad

when he pulls back there’s an odd look of relief on his face. I’m still not sure who’s at the door, but I’m even more curious than usual given the sudden change in his facial expression.
    He lowers his hand to the doorknob, and I take a split-second to contemplate breaking past him and running. Hell, I might be able to make it through the window over the kitchen sink. It’s small, but I could fit through it with enough wiggling.
    But knowing my luck, I’d probably get dragged into the kitchen by my feet and thrown on the damn laminate floor with no dignity left to my name.
    The door opens, revealing my visitor.
    Katie.
    Oh shit. My situation has grown from terrible to worse.
    I wanted to see her one last time before I was hauled back to prison, but I don’t want to see her under these conditions. I can’t bear to see her face in the background as I’m dragged away from freedom.
    “Hello,” Katie says to Bastard with a warm smile. “Is Street home?”
    “Yeah.” He looks back at me. “But I’m not sure for how much longer.”
    “Hey Katie,” I say and approach the two of them, hoping I can ease the tension in the room. “This is—”
    “I’m Edgar Rose,” Bastard says and extends his hand to shake Katie’s. “I’m Thomas’s parole officer.”
    “Oh.” Her eyes widen. “It’s nice to meet you.”
    Bastard’s mouth quirks, as if he’s not used to being greeted with such politeness. “Likewise. And you are?”
    “Katie,” she says simply. “I work at the bookstore with Street.” She pauses and purses her lips. “Is everything all right?”
    “I haven’t decided, to be honest.”
    “Oh…” She stammers. “Well, I was just stopping by to see if Street could cover my shift at work. He’s really a great asset to have around. He’s so willing to help with anything and everything, and he’s a fast learner.”
    Okay, she’s full of shit, but she’s covering for me, so I can’t be mad. However, she’s overselling this way too much, and it’d be a miracle if Bastard buys her cheerleader act.
    But I notice something peculiar. He pushes the small bowl he’s holding deep into the pocket of his black blazer and nods to me. “Street, can I see you outside?”
    “Yeah.” I pass Katie with my face bowed down and shut the door behind me once both Bastard and I stand in the carpeted hallway of the apartment complex.
    “My mind is telling me that you haven’t changed,” he says with conviction in his voice while his fingers dance along the cold steel of the handcuffs.
    “I swear that bowl isn’t mine. It’s my friend’s—”
    He cuts me off with a raised hand. “Let me finish. My mind is telling me one thing, but there’s another part of me, no matter how small, that’s telling me to give you another chance.”
    He’s not going to take me in, I realize. Whether it’s because of his instincts or because Katie showed up, I don’t care. Maybe he’s not such a bastard, after all. “Thank you, Edgar.”
    He squints, silently acknowledging I’d actually said his name for the first time ever. “Don’t thank me.” He reaches out and lays his palm on my shoulder. I flinch backward at the touch. “I’m giving you another chance, so don’t blow it. If you claim the bowl’s not yours, and I want to believe it’s not yours, then get whoever it belongs to out of your life. They’ll only drag you down.”
    “I know.”
    “Okay.” He nods and starts walking away, but he looks back over his shoulder one last time. “That girl believes in you. Don’t let her down.”
    I just nod my head in agreement, but wait for him to descend the stairs at the end of the hallway before heading into my apartment. I step through the door and shut it behind me. Katie’s leaning her back against the wall with her arms crossed over each other.
    “You’re welcome.”
    I purse my lips and force a smile, although I have a weird feeling things are about to go south by the look plastered across her