SANTIAGO'S POV

"I'll pick you up at seven for our date." I say to Hannah as I kiss her goodbye at the door.

We've been together all week but tomorrow she goes back to work and I'm going to surprise Diego at Brown so we've decided to go on the date we have been postponing later tonight.

"Do you have to go? You can get ready here." Hannah pouts.

"Mami, I've been wearing the same clothes all week. I can't wear this to our date." I reply with a laugh.

"I've been washing them and I'll do it again today, don't go." She begs giving me the best puppy eyes she can muster.

I don't want to leave her side either but I have things to take care of.

"I haven't reported to my parole officer yet, if I don't do it today, I can get into trouble and end up back in prison." I inform her.

"It's that bad?"

"Yes."

"Okay then, you can go but I expect you back here by seven." She demands.

"Yes ma'am, I promise, I won't be late." I assure her.

She finally loses the frown and pulls my head down to kiss me. I push her against the door, cupping her neck, her body trapped in place by mine. I kiss her like my life depends on it even though I'll only be apart from her for a couple of hours.

"I love you." I rasp out breathlessly pulling back.

"I love you more." She echoes.

I kiss her forehead and nose and before she can stop me I step back and walk to my car. She stands at the door until I reverse out of the driveway then gets back into the house.

I don't want to leave Hannah, not after being by her side all week but I really do need to see to my parole officer before he reports me for violating my parole guidelines. It's still early in the day so I am hoping to go to his office and still have enough time to go shopping for some new clothes. I need something date worthy to take my girl out to a fancy restaurant. She deserves to be treated like a princess even though she kept insisting that it's not necessary.

This past week has been the best including meeting Hannah's friends over the weekend and having them approve of me. The animosity I expected was nonexistent. I thought Hannah had asked them to behave once they met me but then I recall the compromising position they walked in on and I know she had no idea that they were even coming. Them being so nice and accepting of me even after walking in on me fucking their friend on the sofa was all the proof that I needed that they are good people. They didn't judge me for being a convicted criminal or my past before gangs.

All I got was a warning from Tom, who seemed the most protective of the whole group to stay out of trouble and treat Hannah right or he would unleash his wife on me. He didn't even threaten me with using his FBI connections against me if I hurt Hannah but his wife meaning Jada was as scary as I thought she was beneath that sweet exterior.

But they have nothing to worry about, as soon as I am back from Brown I will pay a visit to the gang and let them know that my days running with them are done. I expect there will be a price to be paid but as long as it's not one that will cost me my life then I will gladly do it to earn my freedom. Hannah deserves a boyfriend who's not risking his life all the time dealing drugs in the streets. She was saint enough to date me while I was in prison and that's more than enough sacrifice for me. I will clean up my act be the man that she can be proud to call hers.

When I get to my destination, I park outside and walk in identifying myself at the front desk. My parole officer is in a meeting so I am asked to wait. I knew this was a possibility since this is not a scheduled visit so I take a seat in the waiting room forcing myself to be patient.

Five minutes later someone else walks in and is asked to wait as well so they take the seat across from me. I don't pay attention to whoever it is until they speak to me first.

"You been waiting long?" He asks.

"No, few minutes or so." I reply lifting my head up to look at him.

"Good cuz I got plans ... Wait a minute, I know you." The young man exclaims excitedly.

"Me?" I ask pointing at myself.

"Yes, you're Santi Delgado, ran with La Lobo a couple of years back before you got nailed." He expresses.

Fuck.

"Yeah that's me but keep your voice down." I request him.

The kid knows my last name so there's no point denying who I am. My sleeves are also rolled up and my gang tattoo is displayed on my arm out and proud for everyone to see.

"Yeah sure. When did you get out? Man you are a legend on the streets? Is it true you cut off a man's tongue for being a snitch?" He asks practically bouncing with excitement.

I smile warily because I don't want a random kid hanging out my dirty laundry especially in the waiting room of my parole officer.

"How do you know me?" I ask him hoping to steer him away from my criminal days.

He lifts up the sleeve of the hoodie he is wearing to show me the same tattoo I have on my arm.

"I was an errand boy when you went in so you might not remember me but I sure do remember you." He explains.

"I see you've moved up the ranks." I comment knowing only sworn in members get the tattoo not mere errand boys.

"Yeah I upgraded alright." He grins looking very proud.

"Then what are you doing here?" I ask him.

"Got caught last year dealing to highschool kids but I didn't have much on me so I only went in for six months and I have to report here every two weeks." He answers.

I never saw him at FCI meaning he was at a different prison or in juvie, the kid looks barely eighteen but he has more face tattoos than a wall full of grafitti. No wonder I am unable to recognize him.

The last thing I want is for the gang to know that I am around but this kid looks like a blabber mouth. I know for a fact that as soon as he leaves here he will run to the gang and tell them that he ran into Santiago Delgado, the legend. I can't stop him as that will cause him to be suspicious so it means I have to be careful until I am ready to face them. They will not take my leaving kindly so I am going to delay my meeting with them as long as I can, at least until I get my other affairs in order.

Before either of us can say anything else my to be parole officer out of his office with a young woman. They say goodbye and she leaves before he turns to us.

"Okay, who's next?" He asks.

"Me, we had an appointment." The kid says raising his hand.

"I don't think so, you were supposed to be here yesterday, you can wait a bit longer Lorenzo."

So that's the kids name?

I remember him now, always used to run around after us nipping at our heels demanding for membership. I didn't think he had the balls for it but it looks like the others felt different. If my math is correct he is only nineteen, barely a kid yet he's already running his life and body. But it's not my place to judge, I was much younger than him when I joined.

"Oh man, I got the dates mixed up." Lorenzo denfends.

My parole officer ignores him and asks me to follow him into his office. He's a tall black man probably in his late forties or early fifties with a bald head and bushy beard.

"Welcome Mr. Delgado. I am Paul Cargill, your parole officer." He invites ushering me to a seat in front of his desk that is littered with too many papers.

"Thank you." I reply.

It takes him five minutes to fish out my file amidst the disaster that's on his desk. Once he finds it, he slams it on the only empty space on his desk and turns to me.

"One thing you need to know about me is that I am like your Catholic priest. You confess everything to me. You don't lie and I expect total transparency." He demands opening the file.

I don't want to be here but if I behave then I can make our interactions as short as possible.

"I can do that." I affirm.

"Good, let's start." He smiles at me, his lips popping out from under his beard.

"Are you living in the home address listed here?" He asks.

"Yes sir."

He ticks that off and proceeds to the next question. "Contact information, did you get phone? I need a way to communicate with you."

A phone? That was the last thing on my mind. I was too wrapped up in Hannah's presence to think of that.

"No, I haven't quite gotten to it." I answer.

"Work on it, I require you to have one during our next meeting." He insists.

"Yes sir."

"Moving on, employment? Do you have a job yet?"

I'm already supposed to have a job. I've only been out a week.

I shake my head. "Not yet."

Paul looks at me wearily probably wondering what I've been doing since I got out a week ago.

"What are your plans? Where do you start to plan on looking? There's construction work ..."

I cut him off before he can continue. "My girlfriend and I talked about it and I am going to buy and run a food truck."

After Hannah brought it up, I took time to think about it and discussed it further with her. The more we talked about it, the more appealing it sounded to me. I love cooking and it's something I can see myself doing in the long run since it's not that demanding.

"Putting your prison kitchen skills to work I see." Paul asks.

"Yes something like that." I nod.

"That's good. Wait you said girlfriend? There's no mention of that in our files." He says looking through my papers.

"That's because it's something new, her name is Hannah Johnson, she is a nurse at Westview Memorial Hospital." I inform him.

He asked for total transparency and since Hannah and I are official, I don't see the problem telling him the truth.

"You've been out a week, how did you manage to pull that so fast?" Paul inquires looking skeptical.

"It started while I was at FCI." I answer.

"Prison penpal, I like that. Is it serious?"

"Yes." I nod.

Serious enough that after a whole week together I am sure that Hannah is the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. I want her to be the mom to our kids as we raise them together in a happy stable home, better than either of us had.

"Good, you can bring her with you next time you visit." Paul requests.

I sit up straight when he mentions bringing Hannah here. "What, why?"

"It speaks for your character to have an employed girlfriend. If she can vouch for you the we can end our relationship much faster." Paul expounds.

I do not want to drag Hannah into my mess but not seeing my parole officer sounds like a sweet deal.

"She'll be here." I nod knowing that she will come if I ask her.

Hannah is the most supportive girlfriend so I know that she will do anything to make my transition to freedom easier.

"Perfect. I think we are done here, any questions for me?" Paul asks.

I nod, "Can I fly out of the state?"

"Where do you want to go?"

"Rhode Island."

Some parole officers don't allow travelling out of the state and I want to make sure that Paul is okay with it.

"You're brother goes there, Brown?" He inquires checking my file.

"Yes, he doesn't know that I got out and I want to surprise him." I answer.

He's talked to Hannah once over the week asking her if she's heard from me and I wanted to tell him right then that I was okay. But then I thought about it and a surprise at his school seems like the better idea.

"I don't normally allow it but this is your first offence and you're classified as non-violent so I will allow it." Paul agrees.

"Thank you." I appreciate him with a smile.

"But I want to see you immediately you're back. You can't stay more than a week, you need to start working on that food truck otherwise I will have to write you up for violation." He asserts.

"I'll only be gone five days." I assure him.

"I will see you in a week then." Paul says dismissively.

He walks me out of his office and ushers Lorenzo who was dozing off in. I don't even acknowledge the kid as I walk out of there glad to be done.

Now that I've already crossed Paul off my list, shopping is next so I get into my car and drive to the closest mall. Being amongst people again is strange for me. Not a lot of things have changed but I still feel overwhelmed. I make sure I have my wallet on me and walk into the first store. Maybe I should have asked Hannah to come with me, but no, I've already overwhelmed her with enough of my presence, she deserves a break.

A man going clothes shopping alone is a whole tasking activity and since I don't want to do this again anytime soon, I buy enough clothes for a whole new wardrobe including shoes. It takes a lot of time going to different stores and I do spend a small fortune but it is worth it if I don't get to do this again in the next couple of years.

By the time I get home, it's late afternoon so I carry all my bags to my apartment and unpack them putting everything away. I pick an outfit for the evening before getting into the shower. I still have time but I want to be ready in time to go pick Hannah for our date. She offered to pick the location which I'm okay with as long as I get to pay the bill.

Knowing Hannah picked a fancy restaurant as per my instructions I get dressed in a dark blue suit I picked out for our date night. I'm not a suit person but I want to look good for my girl. I pair it with a white dress shirt and white sneakers foregoing a tie.

I leave my bedroom after spraying on a cologne I picked out while shopping hoping Hannah will like it on me. What I don't expect when I walk into the living room is to find half of the La Lobo gang there watching TV led by the leader Arturo.

I knew Lorenzo wouldn't be able to keep his mouth shut as I spot him by the door looking around happily. I feel my anger flare up because Arturo is bad news but I force myself to remain calm. There is no way I am getting out of this so I brace myself for whatever is to come.

The TV switches off and a few guys complain until they notice me in the room. Arturo gets up and approaches me his usual stoic expression on his face meaning I can't read what mood he's in.

Arturo is fifty six and the one who trained me to be the man I am today. He showed me the ropes and gave me a way to save Diego and I by giving me a job. He's tatted down from the neck down on every inch of his body except for his face.

"Jefe." I greet bowing my head in respect.

His facade fades and he smiles. "Santiago my boy." He greets cheerfully holding his arms out.

I smile back and hug him knowing that is his fake smile but I can't comment on it. The man is angry and he has every right to be. I got out a week ago, which he definitely knows and didn't even bother telling him.

"You look nice. Plans?" He asks me pulling away.

I can't let him know about Hannah, she needs to stay untainted by my ugly past.

"Just a night out in the town." I reply with a shrug.

"We're going out too, how about you join us? We can make it your welcome home party. How about that boys?" Arturo suggests making the rest of his lackeys cheer in agreement

I am in so much shit. I do not want to do this tonight and not in my home but I've been pushed to a dark corner and there's only one way out.

"Jefe..."

"I'll even forgive you for not coming to see me immediately you got out. I thought you and I are tighter than that." Arturo grins trying to hide the disappointment in his tone but I catch it.

"We were."

"Were? Past tense? Are you breaking up with me? Don't break my heart kiddo." Arturo demands his face hardening.

I think he knows what's coming.

"Don't say it." He earns seeing the resolve on my face. "Once it's out there you cannot take it back."

I know what I'm asking is dangerous but the risk is higher if I stay a member. I have Hannah in my life now, I also risked Diego once and I am not doing it again.

"I want out." I declare loudly for everyone to hear.

The room goes silent in shock as Arturo's grip on my shoulder gets painful.

"Why? After everything I've done for you. You are standing here because I made you, you're able to afford this house, this suit and those straight teeth because of me. Did you find Jesus or something while at FCI?" Arturo demands getting angry.

"Or something." I say suppressing a smile as I recall Hannah's smiling face. "Jefe, you're right, I am the man I am because of you but I've given my whole life till now to La Lobo. It's time for me to move on to the next stage." I express.

"Which is what? A nine to five, white picket fence in the suburbs, a wife and five kids." Arturo scoffs.

"Something like that, I can't be part of the gang anymore." I insist.

"Stop saying that, whatever it is we can talk about it. You want more money, status?" He insists.

"I have the money and I was your vice so I can't go any higher." I remind him.

Arturo steps back and sucks in deep breath looking at me angrily.

"There's no talking you out of this?" He asks.

"No, I've already paid my debt to you but I'll accept any punishment you deem worthy of me." I say offering myself up to him.

Arturo nods and approaches me putting his hands on my shoulders.

"You are like a son to me Santi, you have never betrayed me and up until this moment I have never had a reason to question your loyalty. I won't kill you but I won't go easy on you either." Arturo asserts.

"I know." I nod at him.

"It was good while, it lasted. Good luck on whatever it is that you think you are leaving us for." He says stepping back once more.

"Thank you." I nod at him.

"Jacket off, roll up your sleeves." He demands and I do exactly that.

"Someone bring me a chair." He calls out rolling up his sleeves as well.

He unsheaths his knife and hands it off to one of the boys who takes it to the kitchen while another one brings him a chair. Arturo pushes me onto it and two men take hold of my arms holding me in place.

The first fist to my stomach knocks all the air out of me and I barely catch my breath before three more follow. Arturo rains blows onto my chest and stomach and I sit there and take it without a sound or making a move to struggle.

This is my punishment. For Hannah and the future we will build together.

"Have fun boys but don't touch his face? I want him to know that even though he is betraying us by leaving, we are merciful." Arturo demands stepping back.

The boys take turns, beating me up senseless, breaking a couple of ribs in the process and I take it all with no complaint. After about ten minutes and me coughing up blood twice Arturo commands them to stop. He snaps his fingers and his knife is brought to him only its glowing red. My brave facade falls because I know exactly what he intends to do with it.

"Say the word and we will forget any of this ever happened." Arturo offers.

"No." I shake my head defiantly eyeing the knife with fear.

I can't back down now. I am too close.

"Fine, you want out! Then goodbye." He sneers.

I can't hold in the agonizing scream as he places the knife on my arm and burns off my gang tattoo. The pain is intense, the sound of my own searing flesh echoing in the room drowned out by hoarse screaming.

Unable to handle the pain, I feel my eyes roll back to the back of my head and I pass out.

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I know, I know.. Bad, bad author... But, I have a life outside Wattpad and it caught up with me. I'm trying to find the balance between both so please bear with me and be more understanding.

There aren't that many chapters left anyway, less than 10 so hopefully I'll get down to them and complete this book for you guys within the next week or so.

Thank you all for 52k+ reads. I appreciate you all.