Page 28 of Imprisoned

“Marcus’s getting cocky,” Rico mutters, picking at his mystery meat. “His new guys are strutting around like they own the yard.”

“Let them strut.” I lean back, surveying my kingdom of steel and concrete. “Pride comes before the fall.”

Tommy, our baby-faced hacker, fidgets with his plastic fork. “But what if they?—”

“You worried, kid?” Snake cuts in with his trademark smirk. “Thought you said prison was just like your video games.”

“Fuck off, Snake.” Tommy’s ears turn red. “I’m just saying?—”

“You’re just saying nothing.” I fix him with a look that makes him shrink. “Marcus’s shipment is coming through laundry next week. We’ll hit it hard, remind everyone who runs this place.”

Dante cracks his massive knuckles. “About time. Getting bored watching those punks flex.”

The cafeteria buzzes with tension, inmates clustering in their usual groups. The whispers in my skull grow louder.

Kill them all.

Not yet. Timing is everything.

“Speaking of entertainment,” Snake leans in, “heard you got that hot new doctor all twisted up, boss.”

My fingers tighten around my fork. “Watch your mouth.”

“Just saying what everyone’s thinking. Even Marcus’s been?—”

I slam my hand on the table, making our trays rattle. “If Marcus so much as looks at her, I’ll carve out his eyes.”

Silence falls over our table. Rico clears his throat. “We got your back, boss. Always.”

“Good.” I push the rage down where it belongs. “Because tomorrow, things start changing around here.”

Imagining my session tomorrow, the bloodlust gives way to something more carnal. Little Willow won’t expect me to be free. Free to touch her, to watch her squirm, to make her mine.

“You seem happy, boss.” Rico pushes his tray away.

“Just thinking about our good friend Dr. Matthews.”

Snake perks up. “So, what’s your plan for the hot blonde doctor? I bet she?—”

My fork stabs into the table between his fingers. The cafeteria noise drowns out his yelp. “Choose your next words carefully.”

“Sorry, boss.” He pulls his hand back. “Didn’t mean nothing by it.”

Tommy fidgets with his glasses. “But how’re you gonna get past the restraints? They always chain us up tight for sessions.”

I smile, remembering the crisp hundreds in Martinez’s pocket. “Let’s just say I have an understanding with certain parties.”

“The guards?” Dante grunts. “Risky.”

“Everything worth having is risky.” I lean back, imagining Willow’s face when she realizes I’m loose. Will she run? Scream? Or will she stay, trapped by her own longing? “Besides, what’s life without a little danger?”

Rico picks up his apple and tosses it between his hands.

“You hear about Jensen in Block C?” Snake asks, trying to return to my good graces.

“Got himself shanked in the showers,” Dante rumbles. “Guess he forgot to pay his protection money.”

I pick at my food. “Shame. Jensen was a decent card player.”

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