Chapter 5 - Echoes in the Cell
Later that afternoon, Bennett visited the county facility where Jax was being held for questioning regarding his minor involvement with the local network. Sitting behind the glass partition, Jax looked older than his forty-eight years. His long dark hair was tied back, his bearded face etched with deep lines of regret.
When Bennett placed the photograph against the glass, Jax averted his eyes.
"Why bring that here?" Jax grunted, his voice raspy. "That life is dead, Bennett."
"That life has a son," Bennett replied calmly. "Toby is waiting outside."
Jax’s shoulders visibly dropped. The tough facade he had maintained for decades cracked in an instant. His hands, rough and covered in faded tattoos, began to tremble slightly as he looked back at the image of his younger self holding a newborn.
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"I wasn't good enough to be a father," Jax whispered, his eyes filling with unbidden tears. "I ran away so I wouldn't ruin his life like I ruined my own."
"Running away didn't protect him," Bennett said firmly yet compassionately. "It just left him with questions. He doesn't need a perfect man, Jax. He needs a father who is willing to stay and fix his mistakes."
