Page 165 of Shadowman

Like going for an after-dinner stroll through a crumbling prison with your casual sex partner.

I have to appreciate such things, though I do wonder what Manuel thinks about the obvious bond forming between Byron and me…

I’m sure I’ll find out soon enough.

I read what Byron wrote about The Ivory in his book—the blowjob in his office.And that other thing, in solitary…

His relationship with Manuel Blanco is equally complicated, and it’s just another source of my ongoing jealousy where Byron Kang is concerned.

At least the Warden’s never propositionedme. Not yet, anyway. Though I wouldn’t put it past him.

I also wouldn’t put it pastmeto graciously accept, being that he’s sexy as hell, twice my age, dangerously Machiavellian, and oozing big-dick energy. In short, he’s not just Daddy as fuck, butformidableDaddy as fuck. The best kind.

All signs point to him being hung like a porn star and capable of fucking you into another dimension.

Regardless of all that toss, I’m at his mercy. Trapped on this island because he wants me here.

Might as well be the villain’s errand boy… At least this way, I’m getting something out of this otherwise miserable experience.

As if almost hearing my thoughts, Byron asks, “Aren’t you worried about being under the Warden’s thumb? About…owinghim?”

Peering at him while we walk side by side, my gaze narrows. “Trust me, there are worse people than Manuel Blanco within these walls. At least he’s upfront with what he’s about.”

“You’re talking about Dr. Love, aren’t you?” He shoots me this knowing smirk. “Man, he really messed you up, huh?”

It doesn’t sound like he’s pitying me per se, but still. Giving Dr. Love credit for any of my issues is enraging.

“I wouldn’t go that far,” I mutter.

“But he did fuck you over.” He lifts a questioning brow.

I purse my lips. “Well, yea. He left me to my own devices, then sold me out to The Ivory for his own selfish reasons.That said,if it weren’t forFelix Darcey, none of that would have happened.”

Byron peeks at me in between subtly watching the camera watch us. “I feel you. Felix Darcey is a bitch.”

I grin. “Such a bitch…”

“Right?” he commiserates. “Why is everyone so obsessed with him?? I don’t get it… Just because he’s a maniac who happens to be adorable? So what?? I’m telling you, I can’t stand theseholier than thoumurderers. They act like they’re killing for some grand purpose, but really they’re just psychotic and desperate for attention.”

The way he’s mirroring my exact sentiments warms my chest. “I couldn’t agree more.”

I’ve decided to take the long way to the east side, which goes around solitary. I think it’s part of the prison Byron’s never seen, because his face is flinging all around, part nervous, part amazed, while also visibly on high alert. As if he’s expecting a guard to burst through a door any moment and shoot us both in the face.

“This is fucking nuts,” Byron murmurs in fascination. “I can’t believe we’re just… walking around. Alone.”

“Pretty cool, isn’t it?” I smirk, only partially teasing.

He rolls his eyes, though the excitement on his face is vivid, and infectious.

“You’ve barely been here two months,” he grumbles. “Once you hityears—plural—you start to forget what it’s like to do certain things.”

Unfortunately, the melancholy in his voice is also contagious.

Just like with Alice, I want to know all about Byron’s pain. I’m not saying I want to heal him, because I’m fully aware that I’m incapable of such things. I just want to feel it alongside him. Curl around him and endure his every single ache and twinge; suffer through it as if it’s my own.

“Like what?” I ask softly, and he peeks at me. “What have you forgotten?”

He looks like he doesn’t want to answer at first. But I see the very moment when his initial defenses slip away, and it’s mesmerizing. To think that in such a short time, I’ve become the one person he can confide in… Theonlyone who gets his secret truths.