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Chapter twenty-three

Kace

I t has been nine days, fourteen hours, and forty-seven minutes since I asked Nadia to let me love her. From that conversation, I gathered that she was more concerned with her job and not surrendering to charges that would likely end with her in a position that mimics mine. I don’t blame her for that notion, but for someone who is always so guarded, I’m shocked to see that she didn’t respond in fear from the prospect of being loved by someone.

Perhaps she thinks I can’t do anything of the sort, that I can’t love her. That loving her isn’t possible. Maybe I’m just overthinking things, hoping she doesn’t lock herself away from me.

Either way, she hasn’t put distance between us, but the conversation has yet to come back up, even in our brief encounters. I don’t know if I should be grateful that she’s not opening up again or if there is a need to be concerned. All I know is, I’ve been obsessing over it since the moment the words fell out of my stupid mouth.

I can’t let her go, I won’t.

On top of that issue, I’ve been seeing things shift, and I’m not liking it. There is something going on amongst the inmates, and the last time there was a shift of this magnitude, people got hurt. I guess that is to be expected in prison, but the danger fell upon those who typically didn’t participate in prison drama.

Then there is that creepy fuck, Lucien. The moment he spoke about Nadia, I saw red. One, he don’t know… okay, maybe he did see, but he doesn’t know what the hell is going on between us. From an outsider's perspective it probably looked like I was overpowering her and making her do something she doesn’t want to do. I do like overpowering her, but it’s consensual. I am not about to sit down and explain to him. I refuse to explain anything to anyone.

Two, it’s not his fucking business what I do with her. We may not be anything of substance but that woman is mine. I’ve never had a protective bone in my body, but if he so much as tries anything with her, I will rip him limb from limb. Going to seg and receiving mental torment, even if it was only for a week, was enough to awaken the darker side of me.

He fucks around, he will be the first person I tear down, believe that.

Nonetheless, if there is anything going down in the prison, I know either Matias or Ronald knows what is happening. Ronald is out on another one of his medical visits, so I guess I am left with bothering Matias. I have yet to find all that is needed to help him with his case, so I hope he doesn’t hold that above my head. We have been friends long enough that it shouldn’t, but I have learned a lot of shit being locked up, and one big one is that you don’t trust anyone wholeheartedly.

The kinfolk like to set up shop at the gym equipment in the rec yard, the AB in the showers—weird if you ask me—the Asians in the kitchen, and the homies in the common room in gen pop. Same shit, different day. I don’t know how people do this bullshit day in and day out. It’s so goddamn repetitive and is getting old. It’s no wonder people go crazy in here, kill others, or commit suicide.

I was made for more, Nadia was too.

Following the hallways from the library to gen pop, I immediately find Matias and motion for him to follow me.

Not suspicious at all, Kace, you dumb shit.

Thankfully, he doesn’t second guess a damn thing and follows me into a vacant cell. Reaching both of our hands out, we do one of those bro handshakes then pass off a one-armed hug.

“What’s up, amigo?”

“Not a whole lot, I want to say thanks for the heads up the other evening. I know I can count on your discretion, but I still wanted to give my thanks.”

“No problem, man. I told you I got your back, that isn’t going to stop any time soon.”

“I appreciate it, she does too.”

“I knew you had a thing for her, even if you two bicker and fuck with each other all the time. Cute little enemy thing you have going on. She also gives you more attention than anyone else here, usually a dead giveaway.”

“You mean to tell me you knew she had heart eye emotes as she threw me on the ground?”

Fuck, his laugh is always soothing. His head tilting back before he half way leans over to catch his breath, hands pushing on the top of his knees to hold himself upright.

“Amigo, you not fighting back is what set off my senses. What do you mean?”

“Hah.”

Asshole, he would point that out.

I reach both hands up, running them through my hair and leaving them at the back of my head. Watching him still trying to catch his breath after having one hell of a good laugh.

How do people do that? Laugh and exist in such a way, when they are literally confined from the rest of the world?

“You’re a funny guy,” he adds, wiping his eyes.

“I haven’t heard that in a while. I’m happy to see that I still got it.”

“What’s up, man? I can sense there is something else on your mind other than me keeping my mouth shut about you and Mrs. Officer .”

“I know there is something going down and I want to know what it is. If it is anything that can harm Nadia then I want to be able to forewarn her so she’s not here when shit hits the fan.”

He stands there, a cold and calculated expression passing over his features this time. Long gone is the Matias I know, this is business now.

The tension is palpable between us. I can’t tell what is going through his head or if it is anything I actually want to know. Either way, I need to man the fuck up and keep Nadia safe—she has gone out of her way to do the same thing for me for three years now. It’s time I return the favor.

“That’s snitching, Kace. You realize that, right?”

“In some circumstances, I could see why you think of it that way. I won’t be warning her because she is an officer, I’d do it so she isn’t on property that day. I can’t afford to let her get hurt, you don’t get it.”

“I do though, you love her, don’t you.”

That was a statement, not a question, one that I not ready to answer to anyone except her. Therefore, I remain silent, letting him think whatever the hell he wants.

When he let out an exasperated breath, I know our friendship was winning over. The entire prison population would see it as snitching, no doubt, but I have no intention of telling her exactly what was happening. Just the days to call off.

“There is a lot you don’t know, and don’t see, Kace. Remember a long while ago when I told you the AB was trying to buy you? It’s not just details about you outside of here, it’s you in general.”

“What the fuck do you mean, and what does that have to do with the power shift I can feel?”

“The girl you killed, Governor Barclay’s daughter; he’s still pulling strings outside. I don’t know who it is, whoever has showed up to Darkwater, but they’re moving people around. The AB wants you in their faction and the Governor is paying large sums of money to get an eye-for-an-eye.”

“Go on—” I need to know everything, even if it’s not easy to hear. That fucking mistake is going to haunt me to the end of time, this I know. But since Michigan doesn’t have the death penalty, he wants to take matters into his own hands.

“The homies keep the AB busy, but somewhere along the way, the AB finished making contact with their connections outside of the Darkwater. They’re making moves to kill you, especially now that they know you’re distracted.”

My entire body tenses at that last bit, was he saying what I think he was saying? Surely not, I know I haven’t necessarily been safe when partaking in my extracurricular activities with Nadia, but there’s no way they fucking know.

“Distracted?” I ask, even though I have a gut feeling I know.

“They know you’re fucking Nadia. They want you dead, and they want her, too. She’s a prize and you’re the job.”

Fuck!

“What are the homies doing about it?”

“We’re on page with the kinfolk. This is going to turn into an all-out race war if things aren’t handled correctly, amigo. Which is dangerous for more than just you and the girl. I suggest you two watch your backs because there is only so much we can do.”

“What about externally, is there something I can do to get outside help?”

“Actually, yeah, here.”

Reaching into the front pocket of his jumper, he retrieves the coveted burner and hands it to me. I don’t hesitate taking it, quickly shoving it into my own jumper.

“Be careful who you share it with. There is a contact saved in there as a Macaroon shop in the next town over. Call it and ask to talk to Xavier.”

“Got it, will do.”

“Kace, be careful. Xavier is going to ask for something for a show of good faith, which could get you killed. Make sure that phone call is worth it before you make it.”

“Thanks, Matias.”

“Don’t mention it, you owe me one.”

“I owe you more than that, and I promise to pay up.”

“And the new shot-callers?” I ask.

His dark eyes zeroed in on me when I inquire. Surely, he doesn’t think that I’m that stupid, I know there were leaders in here, despite not being aware of who.

“The AB is about to transition in a new one. Whoever’s been leading the past few years has terminal cancer and is passing on the torch. Who is vying for it, I don’t know.”

“Not that weird Lucien fucker, right?”

“Who?”

“I guess not. When he makes himself known, he’s hard to miss. Sneaky fucker. About yay tall, dark hair, looks like he hasn’t bathe through his entire childhood.”

I held my hand up just a few inches above my own head while giving Matias more details. Not because I feel that Lucien is a true threat, not yet anyway, but if Matias don’t know him yet then he needs to.

“I’ll keep my ear to the ground about him and get back to you if you’re wanting information.”

“I’m not, I just want him to stay the hell away from me. He’s already been talking about Nadia, and I’m no longer above slitting someone’s throat.”

Matias chuckles then, reaching out to slap his hand on my shoulder.

Does he not believe me?

“We will see about that, make a real killer out of you yet. Take it easy, amigo. I’ll be in touch.” With a smirk, he takes a few steps and exits the cell. A few minutes later I follow.

Back out in gen pop, I now have a shit ton of stuff to think about. This is one of the most fucked up situations of my life—outside of killing that girl. I need to find Nadia and let her know what is going on. She needs to take time off or something, even though I loathe the idea of her being that far away from me. It seems like the smarter option than letting her stay on the grounds with the possibility of either one of us getting hurt.

Stalking the hallways, I find the hellion coming out of the medical bay—which I haven’t been to in a while, miraculously.

Fuck me, she’s beautiful.

“Woof, woof, baby girl.”

Her face contorts to contain a laugh; I can tell by the way she rolls her lips in between her teeth before speaking.

“Where the fuck did that come from, inmate?”

“Ahh, I’m inmate today? Say, I need to talk to you. Can we?” I nod my head in the opposite direction.

“After you, head down towards the pit.”

“Yes ma’am.”

I remember the way like I have been there a million times before. I would confess and say that I snuck in here during one of the stints where she wasn’t speaking to me, but she doesn’t need to know that. It was a way I could be close to her, as strange as that sounds.

Opening the door just wide enough where the two of us could squeeze through, one at a time, I turn back and watch her as she closes and locks it behind us.

Raising my brows, she makes a beeline for me, her arms wrapping over my shoulders and dragging me down where she crush's her lips to mine.

Holy hell, fuck me, don’t stop.

Reaching down, I grab her ass with both hands, yanking her so hard against myself that it causes me have to take a step back in order to regain my balance. One hand sliding from the cheek it squeezes down further between her legs and presses— feeling the heat of her burn my fingers.

Her little whimper that floods my mouth during the kiss is enough to send me over the edge. I need her so goddamn bad. If we were outside of these walls, I’d have her on her back all day, every fucking day.

Keeping her close to me, I take a few steps back until I feel the left-over desk meet the rear of my thighs. Using it for stability as I retract my hand, only to slide it back down, but inside her pants this time.

The memory of her reddened ass, from when I spanked her, fuels the erection that now throbbing against her stomach. Bypassing her taut backside, my fingers feels the slick arousal that coats her cunt.

Breaking the kiss, I look into her bewildered silver eyes and sink two fingers inside of her. Watching as her eyes flutter, and she instantly starts milking the digits.

“Such a needy thing you are, soaking my hand from a simple kiss.”

“Y—yes.” she pants as I slide my fingers in and out of her, taking my damn time this go around.

I keep telling myself that but she makes me desperate for her. All I want to do is rush. Get my cock inside of her, pump her full of everything I know I can give.

“Yes, what, Nadia?” I ask, leaning in to drag my nose and mouth along her jawline.

“I—I’m needy for you.”

“That’s my girl. I’m going to give you what you want, then we’re going to have a really important conversation afterwards.”

“Oh—okay.” She nods quickly, leaning into me while she pushes her ass back into my hand. I wouldn’t be surprised if the demon was trying to get me to go deeper, which we don’t have time for. This is going to be superficial, but I want her, and if having her scent on my fingers is all that I can have until next time, then so be it.

Withdrawing my hand, I undo her duty belt and pull her shirt out of the waistband of her BDUs, before dragging the zipper down, and spinning her to face away from me. I need both hands on my girl, as well as my mouth, while I bring her to the edge.

Drawing her flush against the front of my body, I push my hand down the front of her pants and feel her legs buckle when my fingers pass over her swollen clit.

Why did I have to meet her in prison? I would give anything to go back and find her before I got locked up.

“Oh fuck… Kace.”

Reaching my free hand around the front of Nadia, I curled it around her throat and used my fingers to apply pressure on the sides just like I know she likes. Fluttering the grip occasionally when my fingers sink back into her soaked pussy.

“Shhhh. You’re going to be so good for me and stay quiet as I touch this sweet cunt of yours. Other people are finding out that we are together thanks to your sexy sounds.”

“W—what?”

“Shhh, just feel it. We can talk about it in a little bit.”

Tilting my head to the right side of hers, I kiss and nibble at the exposed skin of her neck. Sucking just hard enough to make the flesh turn pink without drawing blood to the surface.

I wish I could mark her, leave my bites all over her delicious body, but if anyone sees them outside of here, they would know for sure.

Keeping myself in check, I use my thumb to press and rub her clit while it throbs against the digit. Her muscles pulse around my first and second finger, while I fuck her with them.

“You’re so damn good for me, baby, I want to feel you cum all over my fucking hand. You think you could do that for me?”

“Mhmmmm.” She nods, the pressure I have on her neck pushing her into that beautiful state of fogginess where I know she would lose all thought control.

Dragging my nose and lips up the side of her neck, I latch on to her earlobe and bite down, her pussy clamping around me, my thumb increasing its own pace.

She wiggles and thrashes against my groin— I’m harder than steel at this point. Precum leaking from the tip of my cock though I keep myself tucked away. This is for her, we have come far away from a place of tension and fighting, to a place where she craves me and the emotional support I can provide.

“K—Kace, please,” Nadia whimpers, the fluttering of her cunt losing its rhythm and becoming more sporadic and uncontrolled.

She’s right where I want her.

“Come for me, baby, give me all you got,” I encourage, keeping my pace despite my hand and forearm burning from the continued effort.

Releasing her throat, I slap my hand over her mouth when she started to moan too loud. As fucking hot as she sounds, we can’t take that risk anymore. Her body grows tense and locks up, just as her pussy squeezes like a vice around my fingers. My thumb insistent on massaging her clit until she loses her ever-loving mind.

Once she came down and I redress her, I pepper kisses to her mouth and all over her face until she can’t do much of anything but smile. This has got to be happiness, at least for her, which she deserves. I’m a lucky mother fucker getting to be the one that put this sort of expression on her lovely face.

“You good?”

“Yeah, I’m okay,” she replies.

“I didn’t ask if you were okay, Nadia. I asked if you were good. Tell me the truth.”

“I’m good, Kace, I promise.”

“Atta girl. Now, we need to have our talk, and then get out of here. You were very distracting and we lost time.”

“I was distracting?!”

“Yes ma’am. That pussy of yours is going to unman me, but that’s for a different day. We need to start being more careful. The inmates are beginning to find out about us, and I don’t want them to use that information to their advantage and hurt you. They could go about that several different ways,” I explain.

With a nod, she looks up at me, her arms circling my waist as she listens and gives me her undivided attention. What a long fucking way we have come since the beginning. Every time I’m with her, in a romantic sort of way, her whole demeanor alters—at least towards me. I’ve still witnessed her being a damn terrorist to other inmates, which makes me fucking grin.

My perfect snitch.

“Apparently, there is some sort of hit out on me. The AB is making moves to not only take me out, but to transition a new shot-caller into power. Now, I’m not telling you this so you can run off and tell the IA, I’m letting you know so you can take time off. I—I need you to stay away until it has calmed down.”

“No can do, and you know that. I have to work to survive, Kace.”

“I know, snitch, I know. I just can’t take that risk right now. Even if it’s only for a week, I can try to escalate things.”

“What about you?” she asks, her brows furrowing as her body grows rigid. If I know anything about her, I have no doubt she’s going to try to fight me on this.

“I have Matias, the homies, and the kinfolk looking out for me.”

“So, you’re a race traitor. That’s going to go over like a fucking lead balloon, Kace.”

“You think I don’t know that? I just need to stay the fuck alive.”

“You can’t do this forever! You’re talking about staying on the down low or getting sent to PC for months! I ca—no. We’re not doing that.”

“We don’t have a choice.”

Nadia shoves herself away from me and puts her hands on her hips, like a rampaging mother who has just caught her children getting into something she told them to stay the fuck out of.

“The fuck we don’t!”

“Nadia, please, stop fucking yelling.”

“No, fuck you. This isn’t happening. I’ll be back to work my shift as normal, and there’s nothing you can do about that.”

“You sure?” I challenge, pushing away from the desk.

“Oh, I’m sure.”

Closing the distance, I snatch her in by the waist and press the hardest kiss to her lush lips that I could muster. She physically protests at first, but eventually stops before I wrench myself away.

“Come on, let’s go.”

She nods, though fuming, and follows me to the door where we can slip out seamlessly and head back down the hallway. I wanted to stay longer; to debate my side of things and to make her understand but I know her. It was going to take much more than a heated conversation to get her to listen.

When we make it to the opening leading into gen pop, I came to a stop while she steps up beside me, and I sigh. Without looking my way, she puts one more foot down and I made my move. Wrapping my right arm around the front of her throat, I yank her back to me, using the left one to apply pressure to the back of her neck, too. I squeeze at the sides of her neck while she thrashes and kicks.

“Inmate!” one of the guards yell, then the next thing I know she is going limp in my arms but I hold on longer.

Boots rush me, an alarm starts pouring out from the speakers just before I’m yanked away from the girl I have come to ache for. Slammed to the ground, a knee at the back of my neck, I feel cuffs wrap around my wrists as other inmates look on, and the love of my fucking life lays there unconscious.