“Hey there, you remember me?”
He turned, a cocky smile spreading across his face as he recognized me. “Didn’t think I’d see you outside of the prison,” he said, his gaze raking over me shamelessly.
“Yeah, well, it's a small town. How about we go somewhere a little quieter?” I leaned closer, allowing my voice to drop to a sultry whisper.
The lights shining in the bar danced over his features, and I could see the flicker of lust in his eyes, greedy and eager. “Sure, lead the way.”
And as I nodded for the guys to follow, I felt power surge through me. This was my world now—a dance on the edge of the dark, with the thrill of impending chaos stirring like a storm in my chest.
Once we were outside, I turned, leading him toward a quiet alley where the sounds of the bar faded into the background. My heart raced not just from the anticipation, but from the intoxicating rush of knowing what was about to unfold.
“Right here looks good,” I said, stepping into the shadows and letting him follow.
When he was close enough, I turned toward him, my lips curling into a predatory smile, and in that moment, I gestured for the guys to step out of the dark behind me.
“What the hell—” he started to say, but I interrupted him, leaning in for a kiss that swiftly turned into something far more dangerous as I plunged my blade into the middle of his back, feeling excited as he fell to the ground hollering in pain.
Just as surprise flickered across his face, Hunter and Michael were on him, taking turns slicing and stabbing him, and I grinned as I watched the fear replace the cockiness, knowing I was no longer just a girl from the prison but the mastermind of something much darker.
And I intended to enjoy every moment of it.
21
The Escape
Gerald
Iheard my name being called from outside my cell, and a wave of anticipation surged within me. My daughter was here, and this would be our last visit inside these walls. I'd finally get to live outside of them. Just as I had imagined, she skillfully crossed off all the names on my list, leaving a trail of incapacitated guards in her wake. The lack of watchful eyes on my block was unprecedented. I was well aware of the prison's staffing shortages, and I planned to exploit that. They didn’t have the manpower to monitor every block and every inmate; I knew they would be hiring anyone just to fill the gaps, making it easy for the inmates to manipulate them.
As I rose, my heart raced in nervous anticipation, waiting to be cuffed and shackled. The new correctional officer took the lead, guiding me to the visitor room, where I spotted Scarlett sitting alone, her demeanor tinged with anxiety. Seeing her resemblance to both me and her mother stirred a pang of sadness in my chest, and for a fleeting moment, I felt a twinge of remorse for what lay ahead. But such feelings were ephemeral; they never lingered long.
With a smile, I entered the room and took a seat across from my daughter. The correctional officer, neglecting to cuff me to the table, unwittingly compounded his mistake, but I remained silent. I studied Scarlett, noting the fading bruises and healing cuts on her exposed skin, and confusion washed over me.
“What happened? Who did this to you, sweetie?” I asked, reaching across the table to grasp her hand.
She shot me a piercing glare, her long lashes casting shadows over her dark, formidable eyes. Pulling her hand away, she tucked both in her lap. Leaning back, her shoulders slumped, and I recognized the wall she was erecting—but I was determined to breach it.
“Remember Jack? The CO who was here the last time?” she asked, and a cold knot formed in my stomach as I wondered if she knew about the hit I had put out on him.
“I do. I noticed he’s no longer here,” I replied slyly, a grin spreading across my face, only intensifying her ire.
“I know you can see the marks on my body,” she hissed, her brows knitting together. “He said they were payback for the hit you put out on him. He was getting revenge by nearly killing me.”
“Scarlett, that was never the plan. If I’d known you were in any danger, I wouldn’t have done it.” I reached for her hand again, tapping my own foot to draw her attention.
“Either way, that’s what happened. He’s dead now because of what he did to me,” she declared, almost with a sense of pride.
“That’s my girl.” I smiled at her, but my gesture was met with an icy glare.
“Just stop. When do you plan on getting out of here?” she asked, shifting the topic.
“Tonight. Just make sure the truck is parked where I told you and have a burner phone ready so I can call you.” I glanced toward the door and noticed the CO was nowhere to be found.
I leaned forward, lowering my voice, urgency creeping into my tone. "This is almost over, Scarlett. Just hold on for a little while longer. I need you to stay strong."
Her expression softened momentarily before hardening again. “You think it’s that simple? You think I’m just some pawn in your game?” She glared at me, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and fear. “I’m not. I won’t play that role anymore.”
I met her gaze, the fire in her eyes echoing the resilience I admired. “I never wanted you to be a pawn, Scarlett. You’re my daughter, my everything. I’m doing this for us. You have to trust me.”
