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“She bought coffee with change,” he growled.
“Don’t worry, I slipped a twenty into her bag to make sure she can get a few things for the week.” I reached for my seat belt.
“Well, she’s going to know something’s up because I dropped a twenty into her bag when I bugged her too.” He put the car in drive as we both silently smiled.
sixteen
Millie
Scampering into the prison, I didn’t want Draven to think I stood him up now that we planned our meeting for the week. My father didn’t like the idea of his little girl visiting the most ruthless convict in the prison, but my words from the coffee shop rang true when I mentioned he called me for help when his volunteers quit. If their leave bothered him the same way my assistance did, he should’ve never called me for help.
Yes, I had to keep telling myself that in front of my mirror because I secretly hated upsetting him, and the ladies from book club got into my head. So, I came here in hopes to remind myself why Draven felt redeemable to me. Every time we talked, I felt like the world melted away. Time should still until it jumped to the end and made me realize I lost track of it the whole time.
The same thing happened with Tony while we enjoyed our coffee together. It felt so easy to slip into this new comfortableness with both. I couldn’t quite explain it, but my heart beat with an extra level of excitement, reminding me I was alive. Even now, I had to shake out my fingers while going through security because the jitters found their way there.
Smiling at Tommy, he took my bag and placed it on the belt to go through the scanner. The man placed my bag on it, but he never checked the screen to see what might be inside. Sometimes, I wondered if everyone saw me as such a sweet and innocent girl. If they judged me off the pages in my books, they’d cuff me and pat me down for the criminal verbiage used.
“How’s it going, Miss Millie?” Tommy leaned onto the edge of the scanner.
“Oh, fine. How about yourself?” I walked through the larger screening that would detect metal on me. Waiting to be cleared, Joseph waved me through from his spot to watch the people. Again, like Tommy, he didn’t even wait for the scanner to turn green or red. He just sent me through. It didn’t help I had been coming here for years, and these two had been here for the last three of them.
“Can’t complain. Jessa does, but I get why.” When he laughed, I almost forgot his wife was nearly due with their child.
“I can’t even imagine the pain her body is going through to carry that baby.” Shaking my head, I gathered my things. “Give her my best, and I can’t wait to see pictures of the baby when she’s ready to share them!”
“I will. Have a nice visit tonight, Millie.”
“You too.” The second it left my mouth, I felt like a buffoon. The classic response to have a nice day, and I said it out of habit. When I turned around to correct it, I found him chuckling and waving me on. He understood I had long days.
My eyes tracked to find Ralph, the guard who often led me to a room in the evenings, but I only found a new man before me. Completely still, I didn’t know if he had been planted to scare other people away. My eyes tracked the heavy scar alone the edge of his face, but they quickly fell to not make him feel bad for having it. No one wanted to be what others pitied them for.
Joseph stepped up beside me when I neared the new guy. I turned to him in confusion. “Where’s Ralph?”
“He quit at the end of last week. This is Constantine, and he’ll take you to a room. He’ll also be the guard most evenings when you come.” Leaning into my ear, he didn’t want the newbie to hear him. “Good worker, but he doesn’t talk much.” Nodding my head, I found my way to him just as Joseph told him the details of my visits. He turned my direction and dipped his chin before having me follow him out the door. Our walk didn’t last long as he placed me inside the room before going to fetch the man I came to see.
Waiting for Draven in the room, I knew the hardened guard would bring him in. Something felt familiar about the new employee, but I couldn't place him, and his accent would've been a dead giveaway. The baritone voice he had nearly gave me shivers, and I would've kept that memory. Yet, there was just this air between us like I knew him.
Jarring me back into the visit, I heard the door opening with Draven coming back in. His white teeth dazzled me against his tan complexion. "Sunshine," he breathed my nickname like it eased his conscience to see me like mine settled at the sight of him. Though, he had some bruising I didn't like.
"Did someone hurt you?" I panicked.
Being locked to the table, he waved my worry away. "He came out worse than my few scratches."
"Did he attack you?"
"In a way. He provoked me, and he learned his lesson." Shrugging, he cleared his throat.
I turned my direction to the guard at the door because they should be punishing the man who laid hands on Draven. "Has there been something done about this?"
"The prisoner at fault died the other day, so there is nothing for us to do. No need to worry, ma'am." Dipping his chin to me, he tried to not hold eye contact with me more than his words had lasted.
"Dead?" I gasped before my wide eyes found Draven.
His hands lifted from the table as far as the chain allowed. "Not my doing. Somehow, the nurse gave him the wrong medication because it had been mislabeled."
Sighing, I didn't like that someone died so carelessly, but it made me happy to know Draven hadn't been the monster behind the slaughtering. Draven studied me as I came to terms with what he said.
"You know, for someone who hates violence, the prison shouldn't be your first choice to help in." He tried not to laugh.
