Page 1 of Shattered Pieces

CHAPTER ONE

RORY

“Donovan? This is you,” the blonde guard with the name Jarvis on her badge said, giving me an impatient look that told me she was repeating herself and I’d zoned out again. I was exhausted, barely getting any sleep at the police station after speaking with the lawyer.

As expected, the judge I was put in front of this morning refused to release me on bail, deciding my connections and access to money made me a flight risk, so I found myself being put on a bus to Fairview Prison to wait out my day in court for sentencing.

The guards had invaded my privacy with the strip search on the way in, removing all my piercings in the process. They’d definitely start closing over without anything in them.

I glanced around the small space, finding a common area with a small TV and couch in the middle and a coffee station in the back, with eight doors leading into each person’s room all around.

I held onto my belongings, which consisted of bedding and a change of prison uniform. I felt exposed without my knife or gun, but I had to try and push the anxiety off my face. They’d eat me alive if I showed any fear.

Until they found out I was Skeeter’s girl, I’d have zero protection.

“That room is yours,” she said in a bored tone as she led me inside the small space, the bed looking uncomfortable as fuck and the toilet was questionable, but at least I had a door for privacy.

An inmate appeared in the doorway with a bright smile, suspicion filling me instantly. She didn’t look much older than me, and she studied me with dark brown eyes like I was her latest plaything.

Her light brown hair was tied up in a messy bun, some of the front pieces falling over her face.

“Morning, Miss Jarvis.”

“Ah, Mendez, there you are. This is Aurora Donovan. I’d like to hope you’ll take good care of her,” Miss Jarvis said with a flat tone. “Donovan, this is Jamie Mendez.”

“Of course. I’ll give her the tour,” Jamie said with a shrug, eyeing me again. “Go on, put your stuff on the bed so we can go.”

I placed it down with a frown, not really understanding what we were doing. It was a prison, it wasn’t like we could explore a lot.

Miss Jarvis gave us a nod and left us alone, and I had no idea whether to be an asshole to show I wasn’t scared, or be soft spoken to show I wasn’t a threat.

Jamie chuckled, rolling her eyes at me. “You can chill out, I’m not testing you or nothing.”

“You got stuck with the newbie mentor shit?” I asked, and she grinned, motioning for me to follow her back out of the common area.

“I don’t mind. Means I get to be a snoop and inspect all the fresh meat. I’m in the room beside yours, and Kat Mila is next to me. Don’t piss her off,” she warned, pointing to a door as we passed it. “That’s the way to the shower block. I’ll go with you when you need to use it, just for now. Newbies cause a stir in here.”

“If someone comes at me, I can defend myself, right?” I asked dryly.

“It’s good if you can, but you can get charges added to your sentencing if it’s witnessed by the guards. Holding your own is the only way to survive in here, especially until you get a crew. That can take some time. We’re on friendly terms, but I won’t wade in to save you when shit goes down, understood?”

“I can respect that. How many women are in our block?”

“In our particular space? You’re number six. There’s five areas like ours in each cell block called pods. We’re block C, pod three. Keep your head down and you’ll be fine. Our group is the top of the food chain in our block, so you shouldn’t have trouble in the room unless you cause it. I’d highly recommend doing as you’re told and don’t ask questions. If you see something, no you didn’t. Loyalty and tight lips goes far.”

“I read somewhere not to ask people what they’re in for,” I mumbled, a bark of laughter leaving her.

“Where did you read that? Prison for Dummies? Look, some girls don’t give a shit, while others don’t like people being nosey. Personally, I’m a lifer. Killed my piece of shit boyfriend and his two friends when I was nineteen when I found out they’d been touching the neighbor’s seven-year-old daughter. I’m four years in. How about you?”

“They’re saying I killed my piece of shit dad for selling me multiple times and abusing me my whole life. Allegedly,” I added, and I hadn’t realized her guard had been up until she relaxed, seeming to realize I wasn’t a problem as she snickered.

“Men, eh?” She pointed out the cafeteria before leading me outside to a fenced area, pulling a cigarette out and offering me one. “You smoke?”

“What do I owe you if I accept it?” I asked suspiciously, earning a nod of approval.

“Smart girl. Nothing this time. I know how hard it is on the first day.”

I took it and she got one out for herself, motioning to the cigarette lighter hole that was in the wall so no one could use it as a weapon, and some of the tension left me once we were sitting at a picnic style table smoking.