The day of Trevor's release from jail finally arrived, but Caius couldn't shake the feeling of apprehension. Despite the joy of having his father back, he was worried about how Trevor would react to the choices he had made. Caius knew he had to be honest, but the thought of disappointing his father weighed heavily on him. He knew his dad didn't want him to get involved with the Panthers.
Caius waited outside the county jail, leaning against his father's motorcycle. The air was crisp, and the sun was beginning to set, casting a warm glow over the scene. He glanced at his watch, feeling a mixture of impatience and anxiety.
Finally, the doors of the jail opened, and Trevor stepped out. He looked a little weary but relieved to be free. As his eyes met Caius's, a wide smile broke across his face.
"Dad!" Caius called out, rushing forward to embrace his father.
Trevor hugged him tightly, a mix of emotions playing across his face. "It's good to see you, son. I've missed you."
"I've missed you too, Dad," Caius said, pulling back to look at his father. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Trevor replied, his voice steady. "Just glad to be out. How have you been holding up?"
Caius hesitated for a moment, wondering how to broach the subject. "It's been tough, but I'm managing. There's something I need to talk to you about."
Trevor's expression grew serious as he studied his son. "Alright. Let's get out of here first. We'll talk on the way home."
They mounted the motorcycle, and Trevor started the engine. The familiar roar filled the air as they set off, leaving the jail behind. The ride home was filled with a sense of liberation, but also an undercurrent of tension.
As they pulled into the driveway, Trevor took a deep breath, savoring the feeling of being home. "It's good to be back," he said, his voice filled with gratitude." And how unexpected you would learn how to ride a motorcycle! Learning from your pop I see."
Inside the house, they settled into the living room, where Trevor made himself comfortable on the couch. Caius sat across from him, trying to gather his thoughts.
"So, what's been going on?" Trevor asked, his expression curious.
Caius took a deep breath, deciding to be honest. "Dad, I've been spending a lot of time with the Panthers. But I've also done some things that I'm not proud of."
Trevor's eyes widened in surprise, his expression quickly shifting to concern and disappointment. "Caius, what have you done?"
"I've participated in their activities," Caius admitted, his voice heavy with guilt. "I've delivered packages, smuggled goods, and even tagged a rival gang's turf. I joined them. I got the tattoo and the jacket, I'm an official member now. I thought I was doing the right thing, but now I'm not so sure. I don't know. I don't know why I even did this."
Trevor's face hardened a mix of anger and worry evident in his eyes. "Caius, I left that life to protect you from exactly this. The Panthers are dangerous, and their world is full of risks. I never wanted you to get involved in this."
"I know, Dad," Caius said, his voice trembling.
Trevor sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I don't want you to end up in the same situation I was in. We need to find another way to deal with this."
Caius nodded, tears welling up in his eyes. "I'm sorry, Dad. I just wanted to be strong for you and for our family. But I don't want to leave. They are family. They took care of me. So I will take care of them too."
Trevor reached out, placing a hand on Caius's shoulder. "Are you sure? Do you want to continue being a Panther?"
"Yes, I'm sure. They took care of me at my weakest. I won't just leave them. I'm proud to be a Panther."
"You are exactly like me. My dad had always hated the Panthers so when I joined and became the leader he threw me out of the house."
"This isn't you throwing me out or something right?" Caius joked.
"Nope, I think I need to tell the truth."
"The truth?" Caius questioned.
"You have school tomorrow right"
"Yes"
"After school come to the Panther's Den with the other Panthers."
"Okay," Caius replied curiously as to why his dad requested something like this.