Defined By Deceit

“Fuckin’ fucker,” Freeman snapped, going for Llew’s throat.

“Freeman! Gardner! Against the wall!” A guard shouted, turning into their cell; accompanied by three more, all with clubs drawn. “Get your asses over there!”

Llew quickly went to the wall; not wanting to be slammed against it, but Freeman needed a little convincing. One of the lieutenants put his baton against the back of his cellmate’s neck and slammed him against the unforgiving concrete wall, yanking one of his thick arms behind his back. Freeman yelled out when his wrist was pulled upward. Llew winced, turning his head away from the scene. What the fuck was going on? There’s no reason for them to be here. If Llew lost his good behavior or got a write-up, his good time would be reduced. Although he’d told Leslie he wasn’t going to make it, he was trying.

Llew heard Big Waldo’s smooth, confident voice, but refused to turn and look at him. “What’s going on, gentlemen?”

Gentlemen. Is he serious? Llew hadn’t had the unfortunate pleasure of meeting Big Waldo, and from what he’d heard, he didn’t want to. Him being in your cell meant shit was fucked.

Waldo came over, close to his side, to face him. His eyes were dark and full of warning; but while the other guards were grilling his cellmate, and their cell was completely tossed, Llew got a slight smirk and a wink from Captain Jessup before one of his lieutenants called him.

“We got a shank.”

“It ain’t mine,” Freeman growled.

Llew leaned his head against the rough brick. Why is this happening? Why can’t everyone just leave me the fuck alone to do my time? His fingers dug uselessly at the brick, desperately wanting to reach over and slap the dog shit out of his cellie. Motherfucker.

“Is it yours, Gardner?”

“Tell the truth or you’re a dead man walking,” his cellmate yelled.

“Shut up!” Waldo snapped, his cool resolve slipping for only a second before it was back again. “Gardner is this yours?”

Llew didn’t speak. He hated that fear had consumed him. Was he really about to take the fall for his punk cellmate, who only moments before the guards came was going to turn him over to the devil himself? He was going to lose some of his good time. Fuck. Llew watched Captain Jessup. Big Waldo’s eyes moved to Llew’s hands; still spread against the wall, and noticed their shaking. No matter how much he tried to calm himself, he couldn’t. Fuck, now he couldn’t breathe. Llew turned his head, gasping for air, and coughing hard. He wanted to crouch down to clutch the pain in his stomach, but he wouldn’t move in front of Big Waldo, didn’t want to disobey orders. His vision blurred around the edges and he felt the strongest arms in the world catch his body before he hit the concrete. Boots clattered and hard, sharp commands were made, but Llew couldn’t make out what they were saying. He thought he was dying, he wasn’t taking in oxygen, and he couldn’t see anyone. Maybe this was for the best. He stopped fighting it and closed his eyes.

Chapter Seven

Llew rolled over on the soft bedding, the sound of elevator music reaching his ears. For a minute, he thought he might be in heaven. It felt like he was floating, like all was right with the world. It felt so damn good. He blinked a couple times before his eyes adjusted to the dim lighting. Although he was in a partitioned area, it wasn’t long before reality hit him, and he realized he was indeed still in prison. He closed his eyes, mildly disappointed that he was still alive. Why couldn’t the good lord just put an end to all this? He’d only done ten months, and it felt like ten years already.

“How is he, honey?” Llew heard a male voice asking next to him. Who is that? He didn’t know, and he kind of didn’t want to know.

“He’s gonna be fine, Ace. It was a panic attack,” a woman answered. “I gave him a mild sedative and—”

Ace. What the hell is he doing here?

“Thanks Anne. Let me talk to him alone, please.”

“Of course.”

Llew heard footsteps and the scraping of a chair, but he still hadn’t opened his eyes. He didn’t plan to, not until he was asked.

“Open your eyes, Gardner. I know you’re awake.”

Llew opened his eyes, stunned by how close Ace was to him. Leaning over him, his mouth only inches from his own. When the gorgeous blond man spoke again, his minty breath fanned across Llew’s chin. “You’re in the infirmary right now. I’m not gonna keep helping you, Gardner. Are you listening to me?”

Llew didn’t speak, but his brow furrowed. How did he help me?

Ace caressed the side of his face, and Llew’s first reaction was to jerk away, leery of trusting anyone. One minute it’d be a caress and the next he’d be strangled. But it’d been too long since he’d felt any contact. “Your eyes will give you away every time, Llew. I’m surprised you’re even in prison. But anyway. You’ve been blacklisted, Gardner.”