“Unchain her or I’ll have to start inquiring about your prison’s overzealous use of solitary confinement, lack of female staff, and, just for the heck of it, each and every last one of you,” he ordered and the man cursed him under his breath, but he did as he asked.
“You seem like a good lawyer. Which means I definitely can’t afford you,” I said, taking a seat in front of him. “Are you sure you have the right person?”
“Ivy O’Davoren, born July 4th, sentenced to twenty-five years for motor vehicle theft, aggravated assault, and assault with a deadly weapon? Pretty freckled nose with blue eyes, Ivy O’Davoren.”
I smiled. “You made that last part up. I’m sure that wasn’t in my file.”
“It wasn’t, but it could be. In fact, if you want to, it could say Ivy O’Davoren, released for good behavior. Or have your conviction turned completely—”
“Has anyone ever told you that you’re kinda shady?”
He nodded. “Yes. So what will it be, ma’am?”
“Ma’am now?” I laughed. “No, seriously, who are you? Is this some sick new way to punish inmates? Draw them in here and tell them, surprise, you have a new lawyer, here’s your get-out-of-jail-free card.”
“Ms. O’Davoren, my name is Avery Barrow, and believe me, I know how shitty the Illinois State Correctional Facility can be. It’s one of the things in this state that refuses to bow to change.”
“So you’ve come to be fairy prison godfather?”
He snickered. “I’ve come on behalf of the Callahan family to make sure—”
“Wh…what?” I almost choked on air. “Who sent you?”
“The Callahan family.”
I laughed. I laughed so hard my stomach ached and my throat burned. I laughed like The Joker in the asylum because I was pretty sure that was where I was going to end up.
“The Callahan Family?” I repeated. “That nest of vipers and shit! Fuck the Callahan family! I’d rather spend the rest of eternity rotting in here being groped by the whole damn force than ever accept those people’s help.”
I spat to my left. “If they all drowned in their blood it wouldn’t be justice enough! Guards! I’m done here!”
“Ms. O’Davoren—”
“I’m not sure what those people have over you but really think of your own health before you come in here trying to sell me snake oil! Guards!” I yelled again, and they came in. This time much more willingly, I outstretched my arms to them.
Callahans…if I could kill them myself I would.
THREE
“As usual, there was a story behind the story, and that is where the truth was hidden.”
~ Kenneth Eade
EVEYLN
“He’s in the dining room, ma’am,” the butler said to me as the maids took my coat off.
Once upon a time, I used to know all the butlers and maids within this home by name. However, death had taught me many lessons throughout my life. The first was to only remember those who only truly mattered. If not, you’d learn that the heart could break infinitely. And the second lesson came almost immediately after…heartbreak happened on different levels and all caused various scars, some so great they never healed. You just learned to manage the pain.
“Nana!”
Turning back, I saw nothing but a blur of dark brown hair before she was clinging to me. Smiling, I hugged her back, placing my hand on her head.
“The princess is back in the castle.”
“Finally, someone who misses me.” She laughed, pulling back, standing eye level with me. Apparently, our heel height was the same today too. Despite the smile on her face, I could see a twig of familiar sadness in her green eyes.
“How was Wyatt?”