They’d come prepared, andwewere caught off-guard. Just watching on in helpless fury as they caused mass anarchy.
Stalking the halls, ripping inmates from their cells and dragging them around, tossing their stuff everywhere. It was instantly clear that there was no rhyme or reason to what they were doing. They were simply destroying things because that was what they’d been instructed to do.
I was momentarily afraid that Velle wasactuallygoing to murder someone. But he’s my partner, in every way imaginable, and then some. If he killed someone, I was sure he’d have a damn good reason for it. I was much less worried about having to help him hide a body than I was about calming him down enough to think and speak rationally.
It was my job to gather up our men at the meeting spot we’d set up shortly after returning from his mom’s funeral.
That’s where we are now…
Keyed up and trying hard not to stumble when that fuck just pulled the rug right out from under us.
The old armory is secluded, separate from the prison and the mansion. We’ve stocked it with supplies, and we come here weekly to report on how things are going. We train in here, come up with signals and codes to use in the event of an emergency. Certain words we can say to one another over the walkies so that the Warden can’t eavesdrop.
It obviously still needed some work.
“Mayday?? Afly in the ointment…Really??” I scoff while pacing in front of them. “You idiots drive me to drink… bleach.”
“Sorry, Jamesy, but I couldn’t remember the codes.” Linetti rubs his eyes. “They caught me off-guard.”
“You’re really going with theI folded under pressuredefense??” I snap at him. “Didn’t you do two tours in Iraq??”
He’s quiet for a second, stewing in humiliation before he mumbles, “One and a half. I got kicked out the second time after I… almost got my bunkmate killed.”
I have to stop, balking at him for a solid ten seconds. “Perfect. I feel so much better.”
Seriously, I can’t right now. Where the hell are Rook and Velle??
I’m worried.
Okay, fine. Maybe I’m scared shitless.
I really don’t want to know what The Ivory will do to us if he doesn’t feel like he needs us anymore. Because let’s be real, that’s the whole reason we’re here in the first place. He built this army, trained us to be the perfect soldiers forhim.
Velle betrayed him by going AWOL. Of course, we don’t see it that way, because we know the truth. But The Ivory has always had a delusional worldview. Call it a symptom of growing up heartless in the business of murder, money, and power.
And when it comes to hispet, he’s beyond delulu.
Taking my phone out of my pocket, I turn my back to the guys, refusing to let them see that my hands are shaking as Ipull up a text to someone who could help. Someone I purposely refused to call on until right fucking now, because Iknowinvolving him in this mess could mean danger for even more people I care about.
But I just don’t see any other way out.
We need fucking help.
Me: Dad… I need you
Barely sixty seconds pass.
Daddy: I’ll load up
I’m chewing on my bottom lip as a distinct whistle comes from outside. Rushing to the door, I open it, ushering Rook inside.
“Where’s Velle?” I ask nervously, peering behind him.
“Not with me,” Harley is pacing now, fingers sifting through his golden hair. “I think he went to talk to him… He must still be there.”
My stomach is making a climb up my esophagus.
Part of me doesn’t want to tell him what I just did, because he might be mad. Mouth hanging agape, I’m just about to say it when the same whistle on the other side of the door. Before either of us can open it, Velle smashes his way through.
