Defined By Deceit

“Child rapist.” Shane frowned.

“Moss was seventeen – a minor according to the Commonwealth of Virginia – a child according to the prison system.”

Shane growled a little, but Llew kept going. The more he told him about what they did to him; the more he wanted to find this Moss and start a campaign to expose him for the fucked up piece of shit coward that he was.

“I finally joined up with Ace. Otherwise, I’d probably be dead. He and his crew; along with Big Waldo, protected me.”

Shane barked a laugh. “Who the hell is that? His enforcer?”

Llew grinned mischievously at him. “Sort of. Big Waldo is the nickname for the warden or the guards’ captain.”

“Ahh. Got it.”

“Actually, no you don’t. Ace and Captain Jessup are a couple.”

“Like couple, couple; as in me and you?”

Llew’s hand was back on his leg again, and it took a lot of effort for Shane to concentrate on the road and keep up with Llew’s story. “Exactly, but me and you to the one hundredth power. More in love than I’ve ever seen any two people before. Like they were talkin’ marriage when I left.”

“Holy shit.”

“Yeah. No one knew how Ace had so much power. Most likely never will. He had any and everything in his cell, from a DVD player to a cell phone and everything in between. If he wanted it for himself or a member of his crew, he got it. Jessup would ask me what books I wanted and he’d bring them within the week. I got to eat all kinds of take-out in his office, while everyone else was working. I worked out when I wanted, worked in whatever department I wanted. No one ever fucked with me again, because if they did; they ended up in the hole, that’s solitary, or worse; they were transferred. After a while, best part was I got to visit with my brother in Jessup’s office. Somehow, Ace knew that I needed him to see that I was truly alright. Les needed me to be able to hug him. I needed a fuckin’ hug from him just as bad. In the regular visitation room, there was no physical contact allowed, so no hugging. For a while, I didn’t want him coming there; seeing my bruised face, and busted lips, me looking depressed as hell. It tore both of us up. So it was a whole year before Ace called him to come back to visit me. The next thing I knew, I’m walking into Big Waldo’s office, and there my brother was; waiting for me with two large pizzas and a Transformers DVD.”

“Wow.”

Llew chuckled. “Yeah, I was wowed too. Jessup was the meanest SOB walkin’ in that place, but behind closed doors, he was a lovesick puppy and he’d do anything Ace asked… and vice versa.”

“You got very lucky I guess.”

“Heck yeah, I did. Ace’s crew didn’t do bad stuff. Ya know what I mean? Most crews were about violence and dominating the entire inside. Ace did mentoring and counseling. I helped with tutoring for the GED classes, and I ran the carpentry workshop department with two of Ace’s other guards. Hell, that’s what kept me sane, still being able to design and build.”

“Why’d Ace even let you in his crew if everyone hated sex offenders as much as you say?” Shane deliberately didn’t say rapist. He’d never say that word.

“I wondered that at first. It’s why I turned Ace down a few times; I thought he might be setting me up. I had no clue how he was so damn influential in there. It scared the shit out of me, seeing the power he had. But he said I reminded him of someone. He never said who; just someone he lost years ago. Something about I had the same eyes as that person.”

“Oh my god, well yeah, that’ll do it. I’m still caught up on your eyes. Never met someone else whose eyes tell it all.” Shane put his hand on top of Llew’s where it still rested on his thigh. The slight blush on Llew’s cheeks was heart-warming. “So where’s Ace now?”

Llew dropped his head, sighing sadly. “Still in there.”

“How long does he have?”

“I don’t know. I write but… well. He’s supposed to be up for parole soon. I don’t know when. It’s kind of a thing not to talk about release dates in there. Might get you popped in the mouth by a big fist if you ask a man how much longer he has.”

“Man, there’s a shitload of rules to remember.”

“Yep, and you gotta follow them, cause your life depends on it.”

“I’m glad you made it out of there, Llewell. I’m really glad you made it to Henderson.”

Shane pulled on to Ms. Pat’s street, feeling like he really knew Llewell. Knew him better than anyone except maybe his brother. He’d gained the trust of the giant, hard man. That had to be the only reason Llew would tell him about the most traumatic experience in his life.