“Whoa, player. It’s not that serious. It’s just me,” Dante, an African American with dreads, pleaded, holding up his palms. Immediately, I released my hands as he hung his towel, ready to shower.
“You never know. You know how it is, Dante.”
“I sure do. I’m not wrangling with you, though. That’s for sure,” he claimed, giving me the once-over.
“How you holding up?” I asked him as I brushed my teeth.
“Man. I’m all right. Got my fill here. A day in jail is longer than anybody should be in here. I have six days to go, and then I’m out. I have to get a new hustle,” Dante responded in frustration.
“You and me both. I got six months of torture to go,” I replied.
“Okay. Good. No offense, but I hope I never see you again.” Like me, Dante took a quick shower and towel-dried fast.
I laughed. “Agreed. See you later, man,” I said and waited for the guard to return so I could head back to the cell.
Raymond gave me a look over as he returned, as promised, twenty minutes later.
“Okay. Time to go see your mistress.” Raymond sneered. “I tell you what, I wouldn’t mind knocking her down. She has a nice rack, huh?”
I felt every part of my body tense with the urge to crack this guy’s skull open. I wrangled with myself to keep my face neutral. “I guess if that’s what you like.”
I walked in front and towards the daylight of the prison meeting rooms.
Raymond replied, “Oh, what, do you like men? Do you like some of these boys in here? I can line you up with one if you like.” His hot, rancid breath hit the side of my neck. Again, I didn’t fold.
“Nope. I only like women.” I waited at the locked door for him to open it.
“Good to hear, prisoner. I wouldn’t want you to become a prison bitch,” he threatened.
He clicked the alarm code to exit the prison and step into the meeting room. Through the window, I could see Amber looking around aimlessly. My body wanted to fly in the room and get as far away from Raymond as possible. I made a mental note to ask Frank if somebody could take him out as well.
Amber looked like an angel. Her face was soft, with pretty pale lip gloss and a smile. Just what I needed to brighten my existence. Her unruly, thick blond hair made me want to run my hands through it. Her worried expression made me nervous, however.
Raymond opened the door and waved to Amber with a grin. Amber apparently caught on, as well. She gave him a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
“One hour only,” he warned. I didn’t reply.
“Hi, Amber.” I smiled at her, grateful the slimy man had left us alone.
She returned the smile. “Hi, Colt. Nice to see you again. Please, take a seat.” She gestured to the chair.
“Thanks. You’re back sooner than I expected. Please tell me that there’s nothing wrong with my daughter,” I begged.
Her face soothed me as her frown flattened. “No, not at all.”
She licked her beautiful lips, and I shifted my erection. She was a massive turn-on. I wanted her so badly. “Okay. What is it, then?”
“I—I have a problem. It’s connected to my little brother. I need some help.” She lowered her voice and looked to the back of the guard’s head outside the door.
“All right.” I leaned in and matched her lowered tone. “Go ahead. I’ll see what I can do to help.”
“Hector’s a good kid. He really is. He’s twenty-five, and he got mixed up in the wrong situation with a motorcycle gang called Las Balas. I thought since you have—or did have—dealings with the Outlaw Souls, you might be able to help?” Her soulful caramel eyes made me want to hold her.
“Still have dealings with. They are my brothers. Las Balas are a nasty bunch of fuckheads. What’s the problem? I’m sure I can help. Tell me.”
“Hector has a hit out on him. He’s on the run and said he would call me in a couple of days. The amount is more than I can handle. It’s a two hundred thousand dollar debt from an armed robbery gone wrong. The police department seized the stolen funds. I don’t know what to do,” she confessed, her hands going to her temples as she brushed back the thickness of her hair.
I took her hands as if it was the most natural thing in the world and slid my thumb across her skin to calm her. I saw the tears welling in her eyes as she spoke.
“Don’t worry. I’m pretty sure I can help with this. I have connections here that will be able to let me know what’s what. Good thing he’s out of town. The last time Las Balas put a hit out, they shot the guy within forty-eight hours,” I said matter-of-factly. I watched as her face twisted in horror. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I just think it’s good that he left town until it’s cleared up. Are you okay? Do they know about you?”
I watched the cadence of her breath rise and fall. I could tell the situation had her panicked.
“I mean, I don’t know. I don’t think so. What can you do? What would you do?” she pleaded.
“Well, first off, I have my connections, as I said. I can’t reveal my sources, but I can talk to them and see if they can work out a game plan. How the hell did he become involved with Las Balas?”
“I don’t know. Just, you know, being a stupid, reckless kid. He didn’t know the guy he robbed was a gang member with connections, I guess. He would never tell me the full story, so I’m just guessing.” She spoke fast, and her words tumbled out. I eyed her with concern as she tucked stray tendrils of her golden hair behind her ear. She lit up the whole room, including me. I didn’t like seeing her upset.
“I’m sorry you’re going through that. Can’t be easy,” I sympathized.
“Please. You’re going through the death of your girlfriend and being in prison for five years. I saw from your file that you covered for someone. That’s what the case looks like.” She narrowed her eyes at me.
“I mean. I ain’t no snitch. Are you always so selfless?” I changed the subject.
She gazed at her hands for a moment. “Part of my job, I guess.”
“Who takes care of you?” I asked softly, meeting her eyes with mine.
“I guess I take care of myself. I’m good.”
“Are you?” I challenged her.
She lifted her head backward, so her swan-like neck was exposed. I wanted to run my fingers along with my tongue down it. I wanted to make her moan and feel good, but this was neither the time nor the place.
“I’ll be okay, Colt. If you could, please do what you can and let me know as soon as possible. Do you have my card?” she asked.
“Yep. I have it. I will organize to call you as soon as I work out a plan. We’ll get your brother out of it. Anything to get rid of those bastards,” I replied angrily.
“Thank you.”
It seemed like I wouldn’t need an excuse to see the pretty social worker. Now I had a wide-open link to her.
Six
Amber
I left the prison with a sliver of hope. Just a little light at the end of the tunnel. First, Colt had to get to his people and see what they could do. Maybe, and only maybe, would I be able to help Hector.