Page 67 of Law Maker

For now, he looked down at the dark ink.

Intricate thin lines that looked like brush strokes.

Detailing on each feather, shading a 3D effect.

To anyone looking, it seemed as if it were only feathers adorning his arms. It was only when Lawless put both forearms together that the angel wings spanned appeared to curve around him.

He tossed the 200 bucks to the guy, and then Lawless walked the hallways of the top wing back to his own cell, only officer Dreyers knew Lawless wasn’t in his cell as he was supposed to be.

Special privileges didn’t suck.

Later that day, Pastor Danny Murphy drove the six hours to the prison to visit with Lawless. People looked at their table like he was receiving last rites.

Ah, maybe he was in a way. The holy man had a way about him.

The tattoo burned that night as it settled into his skin and started the healing process.

It reminded Lawless of his mission.

Never forget was a moto many used in vain, throwaway sentiments said in the heat of the moment but soon passed.

He never did.

Eye on the fucking prize.

Only, there wasn’t any prize for him.

Not one he’d allow himself to think about anyway.

His arm outstretched on the hard bunk; he turned his head to look at the ink.

The reminder was stark and ingrained into his skin.

Forever.

EIGHTEEN

“Never turn your back on the devil…he doesn’t play fair.” – Lawless

When a man had nothing but time, it was straightforward to plan an unplannable murder.

His ducks were in a row and ready for plucking before going into the boiling pot.

“Swear to Christ, if you get caught doing anything, you keep my name out of your mouth, you got it?” Dreyers dared utter as he let Lawless out of his cell.

Lawless grinned at Bennie who had saucer wide eyes looking down at him from the top bunk. He lifted a hand and put a finger to his lips to tell the other man to be quiet while the C.O. locked Bennie in.

“Stop fretting, Dillon, go back to watching Disney plus with your buddies. I’ll be a good boy.”

Oh, what lies.

Thanks to the nervous nelly C.O. Lawless was now in receipt of a temporary prison job over in D wing, filling in for a guy who got sick.

It was no coincidence…

For three weeks, Lawless blended in to D wing. He mopped every floor like he was gonna receive blowjobs for his efforts and while he did, he got the lay of the land. It wasn’t hard to see Carmine ran rackets through the wing with the help of some crooked C.O’s.

There was only a small window of opportunity with the inmates out of their cells for yard time, before Lawless was taken back to his wing.

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