It had started out by mere chance. Knox had joked about Wraith taunting him every time he received a letter. At first, she’d written him so Knox could enact revenge and tease Wraith. She hadn’t planned on continuing, but for some reason she had. Over eighteen months, every other week. She’d penned a letter to her brother Knox and one to Wraith. After a while, it felt as though she was a hindrance. His friend’s little sister writing letters probably annoyed him. Especially since there wasn’t anything overly interesting about her.
So, I stopped.It had been two months since her last letter to Wraith. She kind of missed it. It was therapeutic to write to her brother, but she’d grown accustomed to writing to his friend too.
“Will you do it?”
She straightened her legs, pressing her back against the headboard and furrowing her brows.
“But he doesn’t write back. I think I might be bothering him or something.”
“Write to him, Cleo.” His tone was stern, as if he was giving an order.
She nibbled on her bottom lip then licked her cut. “Are you sure he’s okay with it?”
She could hear Knox’s heavy sigh and almost see his little smile with his response. “Yeah, he’s okay with it.”
Cleo ducked her head, smiling. She wasn’t much of a writer. Heck, she’d barely graduated, but she liked the idea of old school pen and paper. Knox had written back every month. It was short, not giving much away, but it was something. And she’d looked forward to those letters. Wraith gave her nothing, not one response.
“Do you think he’ll write back this time?”
It was all she wanted. Possibly needed. In a world of isolation, all Cleo yearned for was an outside connection. Just someone.Anyone.Cleo had never met or seen Wraith. All she knew was that he was one of Knox’s brothers in the MC. It was a good enough resume for her.
“Probably not.”
Her heart sank, and she slouched deeper in her bed.
“Will you do it anyway, Cleo?”
Of course she would. She parted her lips but gasped, gazing up at the door. The footsteps had stopped stomping around the living room, but the voices were getting louder. It was only a matter of time until they got closer to her room.
“I’ll write to Wraith, but I have to go now.”
Her door banged and bowed inward, threatening to fly open, and she cowered, fighting against her fear. Her heart beat so fast with sheer panic setting in, and her breath caught in her throat. There was no preparation.Not for this.
“Cleo!” Knox snapped, and she could hear the tension in his tone. “You okay?”
She winced at every pound against the door. Knowing what was to come was the hardest. Sometimes, the anticipation outweighed the physical blows.
She squeezed her phone in her hand and whispered, “I’m fine, Knox. But Ihaveto go.” Cleo didn’t wait for a response. She tapped the screen ending the call, tucked it under her pillow, and braced for impact.
Just make it quick, please.
****
Wraith rolled his shoulders as the piercing alarm echoed through his eardrums. His arms were folded over his chest, his back rested against the wall, and all his attention focused on the metal door. Solitary confinement was not for the weak. He’d only done seven days, but it was enough to make some men stark raving mad. For him, it was just another day.
Thankfully, this small infraction wouldn’t affect him getting out in less than a year. For some inmates, it was a setback. Not him. It was all about politics in prison. He had to play the game, and Wraith never lost. He pushed off the wall when the steel door opened. He didn’t even wait for the command to exit. He passed the guard and took the lead, heading down the hallway.
“Hopefully, this is your last visit to solitary.”
Shut the fuck up, asshole!
Wraith glanced over his shoulder, silently glaring at the prison guard who stood half a foot shorter than him. In the outside world, he’d be running from Wraith. But they weren’t on the outside, and until he was free, Wraith had to fall in line. To an extent. The MC had guards on their payroll. Most would look away from an infraction and not report it. However, this guy was new, and didn’t know the rules or who ran the prison.You’re gonna find out soon, motherfucker.
The guard arched his brow, shrugging. “I find that time alone is good to clear your head.”
This guard’s days were numbered. There was already a bet on his block on how long he’d last and how he’d exit. Wraith didn’t usually get into juvenile bullshit, but he would this time. Extra cash would go a long way once he was released.And you, motherfucker, aren’t gonna last the month.
He stopped at the end of the hall, waiting for the doors to open. When they did, he turned to the left and down the long corridor of cells. Even a week away and nothing had changed.Not the sights, the smells, or the people. Everything stayed the same.
