Page 5

Chapter three

Kace

Present Day

“ H ey there, Patton,” Nathan, the resident skinhead recruiter grinned at me. ‘Nate the Ape’ is what I prefer to call the snaggle-toothed fucker— he never stops, always pushing to get me to join their stupid ranks. What good would it do for me to join the Brotherhood? Daily pump sessions in the yard? A shitty swastika tattoo that may or may not give me hepatitis?

One would believe that Nate would give it a break, but no, not when you’re white with blond hair and blue eyes like me.

Wasn’t Hitler dark headed and dark eyed? Whatever.

Ignoring him, I glared down at the rest of my breakfast; I have better shit to do than listen to his spiel. My bunkmate came back after Nadia left me secured to the bed. After he got his laughs out, he pulled apart the EXIT sign a few cell doors down and found enough wire to pick my cuffs free. Now we were here, eating— well, I’m trying to.

Quickly, I try to shovel the last few bites into my mouth, worried that my meal itself would be stolen, when Nate dropped down in the seat across from me, and what do you know… he slapped my tray away. The clattering of the metal echoing through the cafeteria, causing other inmates to look in our general direction.

Sighing, I grabbed my napkin and wiped my mouth before slapping it on the table and scowled at him. My blue eyes meeting his amber-colored ones. For someone who was so concerned with genetic appearances, he sure didn’t fit the theme with his tan skin and dark hair.

Hypocrite.

“What do you want, Nate?”

“Just dropping by to see if you’ve changed your mind yet. We have some new guys that need to be initiated, and you’re such a good sport when it comes to getting your ass beat.”

“Damn, as delightful as that sounds… Wait, don’t you rape your way into the ranks— either way I’m going to have to tell you to get bent.”

I stood to excuse myself from the table, but before I could wrap my mind around what was happening, Nate grabbed the neck of my jumper and yanked me back. I let out a pained grunt when my shoulder blades crashed into the top of the table. Holding my breath as I took Nate’s fist to the face, my arms lifting to shield myself from additional blows. I knew it was coming, but that didn’t make it any less jarring. It just made me second guess being such a smart ass sometimes.

The sound of other inmates hooting and hollering as Nate kept swinging, nailing me with his scarred and battered knuckles. It was painful, but I couldn’t help smirking. I always the one looking for entertainment before coming to prison, and now look at me, being made a fool of in front of the whole institute. How ironic is that?

“Worthless piece of shit!” Nate yelled.

Punch.

“I’m going beat your ass on the fucking daily for that!”

Punch.

“Thomas is going to love hearing you denied us again— little bitch.”

Punch.

“Split up!” A guard yelled from the distance. Officer who-the-fuck-ever sounded far away as more of Nate’s hits landed on the back of my forearms and my ribs. Tunnel vision began to settle in the longer I was pinned under him, only able to get a few elbow shots at him before he peppered me with more jabs.

This shit always hurts; usually took me a few days to get the ache to go away, but today, things feel more tender. Maybe he broke something this time and I could get a cast put on that I could use as a bludgeoning device. Give me a weapon, Doc, anything to fight back.

“SPLIT THE FUCK UP!” shouted a more feminine voice.

Goddamn it.

Officer Pierce.

Not only was I getting my ass handed to me, now I was going to have the vicious little thing on my ass for not being locked down in my bunk.

A few more punches and then I felt the cold air of the cafeteria return thanks to the guards yanking Nate off me. My collar being snatched once more, I rolled with the force of the pull until my body toppled over the side of the table. Hitting the floor with a grunt, I instantly felt the warm weight of Officer Pierce pressing against my back, her knee shoved against my spine as she quickly cuffed my wrists.

I’m going to have permanent marks from the tight metal before I finally die here. She liked to make sure they bite, marking my skin.

“Another day, another ass whooping. Should have stayed in your cell,” Nadia crooned closer to my ear.

She was such a bitch sometimes, flaunting her little smidgen of power around the prison while simultaneously keeping secrets that would have ended her career as soon as it started. If they found out a fraction of the things she did to me, she’d be gone. I wouldn’t be surprised if she ended up in her own cell over at Bluitt.

I grunted a reply, lifting my head back just enough to spit onto the floor— needing to check for blood in my mouth. Since I was so high on adrenaline right now, I couldn’t taste a fucking thing. Seeing the bubbly white blob absent of crimson, I turned my head to the right and watched as the other officers frisked and restrained Nate.

He’d be in SEG for a week… again.

Asshole.

I had to wait there until the guards got everything under control and the cafeteria was emptied; everyone’s breakfast was cut short all thanks to Nate and his drama this morning.

There was always something going down. When you cage killers, rapists, and psychopaths in a building for the rest of their lives, shit was bound to happen.

It did.

Every day.

Once the commotion was over, I felt Nadia's gloved hands dig under my right arm and help yank me up to my feet. She kept her harsh hold as she hauled me out of the room, almost dragging me. For a sassy thing, barely able to combat my six-foot-two height, she sure was strong, the thought making me chuckle inwardly.

Rounding a corner, she brought me to a halt and glared. Her perfectly little manicured brows dipped in the center as a grin adorned her mouth. I bet those lush lips would look so good wrapped around something. Like the barrel of a gun or sucking the chrome off a trailer hitch.

“That’s going to cost you, you know,” she stated.

“Yeah, I’m sure it is. What are you going to do this time? Field work? Move my funds around? Spank me?” Half the time I goaded her; the other half I just kept my fucking mouth shut. She’ll toss me into SEG next door to Nate if I’m not careful.

“I’ll think of something. I’m sure your mom and sister are signed up to visit you tomorrow. I’m positive there are other things to do with your time.”

“Oh, come on, Nadia…”

“Aht, aht. Don’t forget your place, inmate.”

“My apologizes, Officer Pierce. I haven’t been able to see my mom for six months. Give me a break.”

“I give you breaks every day, do I not?” she asked sharply, placing her hand over her chest, attempting to feign shock. I couldn’t help the mocking laugh that escaped me. She really was funny sometimes. Seeing a woman in here was one thing, but one that could hold her own was a whole different game.

“No, Officer Pierce, you don’t and I’m not sure why.”

Mean ass snake huffed and smirked. Fuck, I hate her sometimes, but I leered anyway.

“That’s a matter for another day. Let’s get you to the medical ward so we can see if Nate damaged that brain of yours, then I’ll be escorting you to your job assignment and class afterwards.”

“Unnecessary, Officer. I’m a big boy. I can handle things myself.”

I’d be a liar if I told you a little bit of surprise hit me when her pupils dilated. There’s been some sort of animosity between us since I first encountered her. It’s like the sociopath got off on knowing there is nothing I can do. That I can’t hold my own defenses against other inmates here, that I am shunned from most groups and refused to join others.

That I am alone. Maybe she likes being alone as much as I do.

Awe, Nadia, do we have something in common?

“Yeah, you proved that by letting Nate beat you down during breakfast. Now turn and walk, inmate. Don’t make me force you.”

Avoiding another argument with the she-devil, I did as I was told.

A few turns and one long ass corridor later, we arrived at the med-ward where she unceremonious shoved me onto a chair, and an older nurse waddled up to us.

Nurse Cindy.

She’s so nice with gentle hands, too— she’s patched me up several times over the past few years. Then, of course, Nadia has escorted me to Nurse Cindy more times than I can count. It’s like she enjoys watching my downfall only to see if I can heal from trauma.

“Oh no, Kace, again?” Nurse Cindy asked with a disappointed look.

“Yes ma’am. I am afraid so,” I replied.

Uncomfortably, I turned to give her access to my arms and let her inspect my ribs for real injuries, once again hoping he broke something so I could have a cast. I hissed with a bit of pain at first. Even though she was so soft-handed, it still sent a twinge through me that made me grit my teeth. Eventually, my expression morphed into one of gratitude and a bit of joy. Unable to stop myself, I smiled and flirted my way through another interaction with the older woman; a little trait I picked up from good-ol-dad.

Nurse Cindy liked to share her out-of-work experiences every time I came in, giving me a slight taste of vicarious freedom. It was like getting the next episode of my favorite TV show, such as Friends or Supernatural— those are my favorite.

“You’re a spitfire,” I teased, making her blush.

“Oh, you hush. It was just a Def Leppard concert, and I shouldn’t have drank so much.”

“Still, it sounds like you had an amazing time and your husband was likely enjoying your… skills. If I were in his shoes, I’d be head over heels in love with my wife.”

“Change of topic. You’re not allowed to discuss shit like that, inmate,” Nadia rudely added.

I looked over at her as she stood with her arms crossed, a grumpy ass look on her face, as usual. It’s like, happiness and the joys of life were forbidden in her little world. What I would give to provide her one hell of an attitude adjustment.

“Jealous, Officer Pierce? That Nurse Cindy has a thrilling life while you stand over there with that shitty look on your face?”

“Kace, don’t give Officer Pierce a hard time. She’s just doing her job, as I am doing mine,” Cindy replied. Her hand grew a bit rougher causing me to groan in pain.

“Your injuries look good, Kace. Do I need to reset my ‘days without incident’? See how long it takes for you to end back up in my ward?” Cindy asked playfully.

“No ma’am. I will do my best to keep out of trouble. Even if it finds me first.”

A little bit later, Nadia was depositing me at my job. I was part of the small privileged group of inmates who were allowed to assist with repairs and renovations in other parts of the facility. Mostly because of good behavior, though I ended up in my fair share of fights here and there.

Stopping to grab the equipment I needed to paint the corridor we were in, Nadia was finally gracious enough to uncuff me. When she released me, I started to rub my wrists then turned to look at her— the angry skin puffy and aching, but it wasn’t anything I couldn’t handle.

“Took you long enough. For a second there, I thought we were going to be more than friends,” I said with a smirk.

“Awe, you think I want to be friends with you? That’s so cute, inmate. Now grab your paint brush and get to work. You have two hours to make up for.”

“Wait, why?”

“Because we were preoccupied, bestie.”

The look on her face was priceless, somewhere between elation and goading me. My brows pinched together as I scowled, ready to throttle her.

Fucking bitch.

I kid you not, a few minutes later, the antagonizing twat started whistling that damn dwarfs’ song. You know the one from Snow White? Whistle while you work?

Before I was incarcerated, I worked my fair share of jobs. Your typical, no skills needed kind until I landed one at a car dealership. When people say salesmen are evil, they are. I may have hated that job, but it allowed for me to spend a lot of time behind the wheel of some amazing cars. Not to mention, I got to meet a lot of absolutely stunning women. Typically, they were on the arms of men who didn’t know how to please one or were so close to death and wanted to leave their small fortune to someone other than their ungrateful kids. Hence their bombshell girlfriends.

I got a hold of one of those model-esque girls a time or two. Tall, thin, blonde, your general societal beauty standards. All of which I quickly forgot about when I discovered my pesky shadow, Nadia.

Furthermore, money wasn’t necessarily tight but it was hoarded. Thankfully my mom had a job that paid enough to maintain our lifestyle, my little sister was able to finish school, and I ran the roads with coworkers. A few too many times I found myself trying to skirt by police rather than looking them in the face with a respectable nod. The nights at the clubs and bars were the best. I went out, ate, drank, and came back to pussy.

I am but a simple man.

Being a car salesman was a low paying job, but I did get to experience luxuries that others were not privy to. I can’t begin to explain the way expensive leather felt under my hands, so buttery and warm. Can’t forget the performance, winding around corners, zipping down the highways with new buyers either. Hell, what I would give to be out of this prison and back at that low-paying job. Anything was better than this.

“What are you thinking about, inmate?” Nadia’s voice crept into my thoughts. I could feel her behind me. I was always aware of where she was, whether I wanted to or not. Her body orbiting mine like a satellite that hovered at the perfect distance and never strayed too far.

I stilled for a moment, blinking, starring at the cinder block wall just inches ahead. Noticing how there was paint missing when I swore I have been stroking this brush back and forth for several minutes now.

Busted.

“Nothing.”

“You sure were still and silent for it to be nothing.”

Curiously, I turned and look over my shoulder, my eyes meeting hers. She was too close to me. For a hateful wench, she sure was pretty— sad that was all she had going for her.

I’m lying, she’s funny too.

“What are you my fucking therapist?”

“You don’t make enough to pay me. What were you thinking though? I lost you there for a few moments. Was like you were in a whole different world. Maybe… you want to talk...”

“No.”

End of discussion.

I knew what she was asking and I wasn’t telling her shit. There was no need for her to dig around in my head. I was just reminiscing like every other fucker in here, and that didn’t require her butting into my business.

This place was beyond manipulative, guards are no different from the inmates they observed— taking any bit of information they could get their hands on and using it against someone. I refused the brotherhood and I’ll refuse my juice card too. I am happy being on my own and just serving my sentence without their influence, without being some officer’s lackey.

“If you would excuse me, I have a wall to paint.”

Her devious little grin, which I have noticed more and more over the past few months, lit up her face. It contrasted the grumpy facade she held onto with a death grip, maybe she isn’t so surly after all.

Catching myself staring at her, I pulled my gaze away from the demon with a sigh of exasperation. Internally I chastise myself, wondering what it would be like to see any sort of expression on her other than distaste and deviancy. In the past, I have witnessed little bits of hope, soft smiles, but that all seemed to be missing now that she has worked here for a few years. I hate that for her, I was never the type of man who cared about the feelings of others, at least in the past, but it bothered me that she was so jaded.

I bet there was a normal person under that blacked out guard uniform of hers.

Humor, curves, soft skin that would look so damn good covered in…. NOPE.

Paint, mother fucker. Paint the damn wall.