Defined By Deceit

Oh god. They’re gonna kill me.

“Believe it, handsome. You gotta choose, man. I won’t keep helping you and you won’t claim my set.”

Llew’s voice cracked when he finally spoke. “You sent B-big Waldo?”

Ace didn’t respond. He knew the guy had enormous power but, Jesus Christ. If he did go with Ace’s crew, what in the hell would he have to do for them? He wouldn’t jeopardize his good time for anyone, not even for the kind of protection he knew Ace could offer. Or was it something else Ace wanted from Llew? Something he wasn’t giving anyone in here.

“Easy, handsome. I’m already taken. I don’t need that, and neither does anyone in my crew. I’m not gonna pimp you out, man. But I believe you can help me. I believe we can help each other.” Ace bent down and pressed his forehead to Llew’s. “We can help each other.”

Ace stood up, smiling down at him; a warm inviting smile. “Think about it.”

“What’s going on Ace? Captain Jessup said you needed me.”

“Yes. I think Gardner would like to talk to you. He had a panic attack in his cell.”

“Really,” Doc said, his thick gray and black eyebrows raised in curiosity. He pulled the thin chart off the end of Llew’s bed.

“I’m not in the mood to talk,” Llew said grudgingly. He was starting to feel his life was no longer his own.

“In my set everyone sees the Doc. Twice a week individually and we have weekly group sessions. It’s not debatable,” Ace said with finality. Llew narrowed his eyes, but Ace simply winked at him before pulling out a small cell phone. “Hey Tank. Yeah, I’m ready to go. Make sure everything’s set up.”

He couldn’t believe Ace had a cell phone, but he couldn’t believe all the other shit the man did either.

“I got a surprise for you when you get back to your cell, Gardner. I’ll come check you out when you get back on the unit. I’ll also be expecting your final decision. For now, just rest up.” The two men who walked in looked like they belonged in the extreme fighting hexagon with their bulging arms, and necks as thick as fucking car rims. Ace gave Llew one final look before he left with his own personal guards.

“I heard some of what happened. Do you want to tell me your version?” Doc said, breaking into Llew’s musings. The older gentleman pulled up a chair, smoothing his hand over his checkered sweater. “You think I leave pot roast night at home for just anyone, Llewellyn?”

For some reason that made Llew smile. He thought of his brother’s pot roast.

“What’s funny?”

“Pot roast,” Llew croaked. “It’s my favorite. Leslie makes it just like my mom used to.” That was the most Llew had said to the Doc in ten months. But over the years, he would say so much more. Without the Doc, Llew was sure he wouldn’t have survived.

Chapter Eight

Llew walked through the unit, noticing that a couple guys were walking behind him. They kept their distance, but were definitely following him. He’d had two whole days in the infirmary with the nicest nurse in the world, and he hated when she said he had to go. It was unbelievable that a nurse with the best bedside manner in the world worked in a place like this. She belonged in the pediatric oncology ward at Cedars Sinai.

Llew hoped those men behind him weren’t his cellmate’s friends or Damon’s guys. He couldn’t deal with them right now. One session with Doc wasn’t gonna cure him. Llew got to his cell and gasped at the changes. He had a television, a radio, tons of books; ranging from Modern Architecture to mystery novels. He thought for minute that maybe he’d been moved to another unit, but he saw his pictures still hanging on the wall by his bunk. His immaculately made-up bunk. He had commissary items, too. Noodles, drinks, soups, and peanut butter and jelly, he had a whole damn pantry. Oh my god a coffee pot. Like the ones in hotels.

“You like it?”

Llew spun around. Ace stood there in jeans and a starched white t-shirt. His blond hair was styled with product and his blond beard was streaked with black. Damn, he was spectacular, standing in Llew’s cell, backed by ten men, two of which were the men who had been following him.

“Ace. What is all this? I can’t pay you for this.” Llew flopped down on his bed. Is this thing softer?

“You know that we would’ve negotiated that first if it was intended to be a loan.”

“Well, then I can’t accept your gifts. My cellmate is going to take it all anyway.”

“Your cellmate’s been reassigned. You don’t have a cellmate any longer.” Ace’s clear, take no shit glare told Llew that it wasn’t a coincidence.