Page 24 of Ashes’ Addiction

“I’m honest. It’s not always easy and things seem to come out in bits and pieces, but I don’t lie to him and I don’t minimize anything. He gets angry if I even hint that I deserved something.” Miranda found herself smiling as she remembered how he’d defended her, to herself. “He makes me see that it wasn’t anything I did that made Kevin do everything he did to me. It was Kevin.”

“What did I tell you about not calling him by his name?”

Miranda nodded. “I know and you’re right. I try to think of him as ‘that monster’ instead of by name, but sometimes it pops out.”

“It will for a while. You’ll get used to it. Eventually you’ll think of him more as ‘that monster’ than by name. But enough about him. What are your plans for today?” Winter propped her feet up in the chair beside her as she made herself comfortable.

“Nothing, really. I should look into finding a job but I don’t know where. Besides, I don’t have ID or anything. Who will hire me?” Miranda knew she was being whiney and pathetic, but she’d been sitting here feeling sorry for herself and Winter had happened into it.

Winter stared at her, blinking rapidly, making Miranda think her brain was flipping channels quickly, trying to find the channel Miranda’s brain had changed to.

“Wait. Weren’t you going to school before? Don’t you want to go back and get your degree?”

“I was, but after ghosting the semester, I don’t know if they’ll let me go back.”

“Pfft,” Winter said with a wave of a hand. “People take time off all the time, just enroll for the spring.”

“I get that but how many of them are on financial aid. I’m afraid just disappearing the way I did totally screwed up my grants and stuff.”

“Only one way to find out.” Winter swung her feet to the floor and stood before taking Miranda’s arm and tugging her from her own chair. “Come on. We’ll get this figured out.”

“Where are we going?” Miranda asked as she let the other woman lead her from the room and down the hall to Bulldog’s office.

“You’ll see.” Winter dragged her past Bulldog’s office, stopping beside an open door that she knocked on. “Hey, Hammer? You busy?”

“Some, but what do you need, honey?” The huge man looked out of place sitting at a desk with several screens in front of him. He would look more at home wearing very little while flexing in a gym, or maybe on some TV commercial peddling protein powder.

“We could use some help.” Winter stepped into the room, towing Miranda behind her.

“What do you need?” Hammer repeated, watching the two of them for a few seconds before turning back to his wall of monitors.

“Miranda is afraid that taking time off because she was kidnapped and tortured will cost her scholarship and financial aid, meaning she can’t go back to school. What can you do for us?”

Hammer turned back to scowl at Winter. “Jeeze. Could you be a little harsher about it?” He shook his head and turned back to the computer. “And as for what I can do for you? Nothing.”

“Nothing? That doesn’t sound like the kind of hacker that warrants a command center like this?” Winter was just getting started. Miranda sat down, then tugged at Winter.

“Let him finish. Clearly, he’s not done.” Miranda waved one hand in Hammer’s direction.

“Thanks, honey.” He nodded at Miranda. “First, this was in today’s mail.” He picked up an envelope and held it in her direction.

“What’s this?” Miranda frowned, then turned it over and ripped off a chunk of the flap.

“Your driver’s license,” Hammer said, turning back to the screen.

“But? How?” She pulled the paper out and found that sure enough, a copy of her driver’s license was attached, only instead of her previous address, it gave the address here.

“Not a big deal to log in and change your address, then request a duplicate be sent. I’ve also got duplicates of all your personal papers on the way—birth certificate, social security card, passport, and student ID.”

“I don’t have a passport.”

“You do now,” he said, as if it was normal for one to just suddenly appear. “I’ve also got the system ready so all you have to do is decide what classes you want and I’ll get you into them.” He spun his chair around to face her. “Do you know what classes you need? Do you want to continue with this degree, change your major? Let me know and we can make it happen.”

She stared at him, blinking several times as it took a moment for what he’d just said to sink in. Miranda had been so overwhelmed with everything happening over the last couple of days, that she hadn’t given school much thought, or any really, other than to assume she’d lost her financial aid.

Now to be told it wasn’t affected and she could go back if she wanted. On top of all that, if she’s decided she no longer wants to be a nurse, then she could change fields. But what would she do if she did? Miranda had never wanted to be a nurse, but it was a job that made decent money. She still didn’t want to be a nurse, but it was a solid plan to be able to support herself in the future.

“Can I think about it for a couple of days?”