Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 102833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
But as I assess him—his knee bouncing, making his body tremble, him refusing to make eye contact; his hands shaking slightly—something in my gut tells me not to trust him. And I always trust my gut because it has yet to steer me wrong.
After he’s done, I ask the guard I have in my pocket to get a message to my brother for me—I need my phone and a pair of earbuds ASAP—and then I head back out to the main area.
Most of the day is spent either in the gym or the recreation yard. The inmates serving long-term will also rotate between doing chores in the kitchen or the laundry room or doing maintenance to earn some money.
Wanting to see who I’m in here with, I head out to the recreation yard first. Generally, there’s a schedule, but since we have several of the guards on payroll, I can come and go as I wish.
Since we’re in county, the guys in here aren’t serving for hard shit, and many of them are men I’ve encountered over the years.
“Fuck!” a masculine voice barks.
I turn my head because no matter where you are, you gotta be aware of your surroundings. It’s Survival 101.
The first thing I notice is that a few of the inmates are surrounding another guy off to the side, and since it isn’t my business, I’m about to continue on my way, until I get a look at the guy they’re cornering—Lorenzo.
What the fuck is he doing in here? And why the hell didn’t Michael mention it?
Before I can make it over to them, the four guys jump Lorenzo, each kicking and punching the hell out of him. Based on the way the guards aren’t moving, they’ve been bribed to let it happen.
I grab the first guy by the back of his shirt and punch him in the face, knocking him on his ass. And then I grab the next guy, pulling him off Lorenzo. By the time I get to the last two guys, one sees who’s coming after him and immediately backs off, but the last guy swings at me.
He’s similar in size and build, but he doesn’t have the fighting background I have. Too easily, I bring him to the ground, pushing my forearm against his throat to cut off his air supply. I’m not going to kill him. I wouldn’t risk life in prison over this guy. But I do it just enough to get his attention and make my threat clear.
“I don’t know who paid you to fuck with Lorenzo Russo, but if anybody touches him again, I’m adding you to my hit list. Got it?”
The guy under me nods emphatically, and I let him go, then look around at the other men watching.
“You guys heard me? Lorenzo is off-fucking-limits.”
They all nod.
I stand and walk over to Lorenzo, extending my hand and helping him to his feet. He’s got a bloody lip and a black eye forming, and I’m sure his ribs are screaming in pain, but he’s okay.
“Why the hell are you in here?” I ask low enough so nobody else can hear.
“It’s a damn mess,” he says, running his fingers through his hair.
We walk over to the picnic table, and I glare at a couple of guys, who get up to give us space.
Lorenzo chuckles and shakes his head. “I guess if I have to be in jail without bail, it’s good to have you with me. Speaking of which, why are you in here?”
“Money laundering.” I scoff. “Shit’s never going to stick. You?”
“Bribing a public official. They’re saying I bribed one of the councilmen to get the waterfront expansion approved.”
“And Michael couldn’t get you out on bail?”
“Nope.” He sighs. “And of course, as I was being arrested, my sister and her husband showed up. She had texted me last night, asking to meet early so I could show her around the office. She was beside herself, freaking out, but he almost seemed smug about it. I know she cares about him, but something feels off about him.”
“Fuck, Russo. You didn’t see my text?” I scrub my hands over my face. “Henry Thomas is a dead man … literally. And the man your sister married had stolen his identity.”
“What the fuck?!” He reaches into his pocket and then curses again. “I forgot … the officers confiscated my phone. Does she know? Did you tell her?”
“How the hell would I tell her? I don’t even have her number. I texted you, but then I was arrested, and I’m guessing you didn’t get it because you were being arrested at the same time. It’s almost as if …” Holy shit.
“What?” Lorenzo prompts.
“It’s almost as if someone wanted both of us behind bars. It can’t be a coincidence. Your sister comes home, bringing some guy we don’t know, using a fake identity, and we’re both arrested on the same day?”