by C. P. Smith
A fucking SEAL on his block. A fucking highly trained, extremely smart, kill-a-man-as-easily-as-most-men-breathed, SEAL. On his fucking block. And to top it all off, he was in for murder. That automatically elevated him to a contender for Fat Bastard’s position as the Godfather of cellblock C.
He’d waited for Kingston to make his move, to recruit his men, but the SEAL never made a noise. He’d actually tipped his head in respect to old Leroy to let him know he wasn’t interested in his position and Leroy had been shocked. He didn’t like many men, but he respected the SEAL for not interfering, which made the hit that had been taken out on Kingston a bitter pill to swallow. A job was a job to Leroy, but in this case, he’d hesitated when he’d gotten the word from Drum that his services would be needed.
It didn’t take old Leroy long to figure out that if someone had a guard in their pocket they were powerful. And if they wanted Kingston dead, it was because they feared the man. That made old Leroy wonder. Kingston had maintained his innocence during his trial, said there were three other men involved. Leroy and everyone else in cellblock C had just brushed it off; everyone is innocent, even when they’re caught in the act. But this hit on Kingston made Leroy look a little closer at the SEAL. It was then it occurred to him that just maybe Kingston was innocent, and those responsible were trying to silence him.
And don’t that just beat all.
It was like fucking Shawshank Redemption at Renault.
That being said, Fat Bastard still had a reputation to protect and word would spread quickly if he hesitated. It only bothered him for about a minute before he’d put the hit out on Kingston, a hit that he was having difficulties completing. Which, of course, also posed a problem to his reputation.
Needing an edge where Kingston was concerned, he’d asked around about the man. He’d heard through the grapevine that Kingston’s friends had shown up this week vowing to get him out. Hearing that, it didn’t take a genius to figure out the reason his nameless benefactor had wanted Kingston dead. He was afraid of what they would uncover.
Unfortunately, that information didn’t help Leroy though. He needed Kingston neutralized if he wanted his reputation intact, so he puzzled over his problem. How do you kill a man that can’t be killed? That had been the million-dollar question Fat Bastard had been toying with while Kingston recovered in the infirmary.
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find, the Bible tells us. Leroy’s momma had preached that to him his whole life, so Leroy asked God to show him the way. And he did in the form of Hightower . . .
Renault Correctional Officer Ian Drum, a man who applied as a correctional officer to keep an eye on Kingston, approached Fat Bastard as he took his nightly meal. Standing next to the Godfather, he placed his hand on the table and leaned in, trying to intimidate the man.
“Our mutual friend wants to know what’s taking so fucking long,” Drum asked.
“You think it’s a cake walk taking out a trained killer? If so, do the fuckin’ job yourself,” Leroy growled.
“I’m not being paid to take him out.”
“No, you’re just being paid to turn off the cameras and hand over the keys.”
Drum narrowed his eyes at Fat Bastard then made a move to grab his baton as a show of force.
Drum was a decent sized man, but he didn’t have enough bulk for him to think he was intimidating. He had beady eyes, a nose that had been broken more than once, no doubt due to his arrogant belief he was a force to be reckoned with like Kingston.
Fat Bastard scanned his face and could see he was bluffing.
“Put your hand on that baton and the next supply of meth you receive for your personal use will be laced with rat poison,” Leroy vowed. Drum hesitated for a moment, then pulled his hand back as Leroy grinned sarcastically at the man.
“Tell our mutual friend if he wants to neutralize Kingston in order to stop his friends from looking for the killer, he only needs to throw his weight back at the man. I’d say in the form of a threat against someone he cares about.”
Drum jerked back, surprised that Leroy figured out why their nameless friend wanted Kingston dead.
“You think we haven’t already thought of that? If Kingston’s family is touched, it might put a spotlight on the murder.”
“I figured as much. However, if you threatened his woman . . . “
“He doesn’t have a woman. And even if he did, she would have been off limits as well.”
“Also true. But if he became involved while he was in prison that would be a different story . . . What if I told you he has recently become involved with someone?”
“While in prison?” Drum scoffed.
“Under the watchful eye of Renault’s finest.”
“Who?”
“The pretty dog trainer.”
Drum’s eyes searched the cafeteria for Kingston and found him with his dog at a table with Cooter Hays.
“He’s only been to one class with the woman.”
“That may be, but my source tells me she visited him in the infirmary yesterday, and they got hot and heavy.”
“Bullshit. No way they’d let her in there,” Drum growled.
“My source told me she came in with the shrink and he was detained talking with the doctor.”
Drum chewed on this information for a moment. It might work if it was solid information.
“All right, I’ll watch them in class on Monday. If it appears your information is solid, then I’ll pass it along.”
“It’s solid. No way in hell that crackhead lied to me if he wants his fix,” Leroy explained. “Now you have what you need to shut him down without lifting a hand against him, so move along, Officer Drum. I don’t want the stench of a corrupt guard lingering while I eat my one-star meal,” Leroy ordered, turning back to his food.
Drum moved on slowly, grumbling low under his breath, but Leroy could still feel eyes on him, so he raised his head and looked around the room. They came to rest on Kingston, who was staring back at him with blank eyes that put the fear of God in him. It had been a long time since Leroy had felt fear like that, but seeing those blank orbs of Kingston’s bearing down on him did it. He broke out into a cold sweat.
Fuck, but I don’t need that man coming after me.
Raising his glass of water, he toasted the SEAL and smiled. Kingston didn’t seem impressed by his show of contrition if the narrowed brow and taut line of his jaw were anything to go by.
Leaning towards his second in command, Leroy muttered, “Call off the hit on Kingston,” as he continued to smile at the big SEAL.
“Why?”
“Cause I’ve decided to be a magnanimous motherfucker. The man served in the military; he deserves a pass.”
“What about—“
“Call off the fuckin’ hit or I’ll direct it at you,” he hissed.
“You got it, boss,” the other man muttered, lowering his eyes from Fat Bastard.
“Can’t a man change his mind without every-fuckin’-one questioning him?”
“Yes, boss.”
“That’s right. I’m the boss. You do as I fuckin’ say. I’m a benevolent motherfucker who can take you out or spare your life with a snap of my finger. I say Kingston deserves a pass, so he gets a fuckin’ pass. You dig me?”
“Crystal clear, boss.”
“Good, now hand over your extra roll and I’ll consider being a benevolent motherfucker towards you.”
Seven
“Are you looking down my shirt?”
“Yep.”
“You’re supposed to be paying attention,” Harley mumbled as she stood from adjusting Buck’s collar. A collar that didn’t need adjusting but it gave her an excuse to spend more time with Kade. They stood off to the side while the other inmates practiced, hoping not to draw attention to themselves. They both knew if they were found out, she’d be pulled from IDTP. Neither wanted to lose what time they had together while they waited for Prez and D to clear his name. However, Kade
hadn’t seen Harley since Friday in the infirmary and his last memory of her was stroking her velvet skin as he cupped her breast. Having her bend over wearing a V-neck tee was guaranteed to catch his attention. Or any man’s for that matter, so he figured they were safe. The guards would be more suspicious if he didn’t look.
“I can assure you I paid attention to every detail. From the curve of your sweet ass to the way your nose tips up slightly on the end.”
She tried to guard her reaction, but the slight twitch of her lips told him she liked what he said.
“How about you pay attention to walking Buck in a circle so I can—“
“—Check out my ass?” Kade grinned.
He watched with interest as her eyes brightened and she bit her lip to keep from laughing. When she ducked her head, he knew she’d lost the battle.
“Exactly, Mr. Kingston,” she choked out.
“Kade.”
“In here it’s Mr. Kingston, remember. Now take Buck in a circle so I can watch.”
Kade reached out his hand for Buck’s lead. When she placed it in his hand, he ran his finger across her palm and grinned when she jumped.
“You’re relentless,” she grumbled as she took a step back.
“Where you’re concerned, always,” Kade chuckled before taking a lap around the room.
Harley watched as he took Buck through sit, down, and stay. When he told Buck to hold the stay and backed away until there was twenty feet between them, she raised a brow. He looked at her and winked, then gave the command for break and Buck took off at a run, jumping into his arms.
As both of them were unaware they were being watched closely, Drum kept his eyes on the dog trainer as she kept her eyes on Kingston. A casual observer might have missed the exchange, but he didn’t. There was definitely something going on between the two.
For the next hour, she tried to keep her distance from Kingston, but he’d kept count and she’d approached the SEAL three times more often than the other inmates. That might not have been anything if he hadn’t noted that the dog Kingston was training had already passed the other dogs in obedience. By all accounts, Kingston could have taught the class with how well his dog was responding to him, so there was no need for her constant instruction—or the smile that pulled across her mouth whenever Kingston spoke.
“You’ve all come a long way this past week. On Wednesday, we’ll work further on staying your dogs and walking with them off-lead. Any questions?”
“I’d like a word after class if you have time. I’m concerned about Buck’s sleeping habits.”
“I can answer your questions,” Michelle Reed, one of Harley’s co-volunteers, blurted out. Michelle, Harley noticed for the first time, was a curvy brunette with big boobs, shiny hair, and a spring in her step as she approached Kade.
“I’ve got this,” Harley returned, moving towards Kade. He tried to keep from grinning as both women moved in his direction. When Harley reached him first, then turned back and glared at the other woman, Kade held in a chuckle.
“Subtle, baby,” Kade whispered when she turned back to him. Harley’s breath hitched when he called her baby and her eyes melted a little, softening around the edges. He took a step closer automatically, wanting more than anything to take her in his arms and turn those eyes from melted chocolate to lazy with lust.
“What’s wrong with Buck’s sleeping habits?”
“He doesn’t sleep well when he’s in bed with me.”
“Why is that?”
“Because I toss and turn all night.”
“Why do you toss and turn all night?”
“Because a sexy dog trainer invades my dreams.”
“Maybe you should put him in his crate at night if you’re going to be dreaming about women,” she husked out.
“Not women, just one. The same one who’s visited me on and off since I was seventeen.”
Harley looked back over her shoulder and saw Ian Drum watching them, so she bent at the knees and began petting Buck.
“Was the dream the same each time?” she whispered.
“Yeah.”
“What happened?”
“We end up naked in my bed and I make love to every inch of her,” Kade admitted in a raw voice.
Harley ducked her head to cover the blush rising up her cheeks, then rushed out, “Lucky woman,” so quickly that Kade would have missed it if he hadn’t been so intent on her reaction.
“When I get out, I’m gonna make that dream a reality,” Kade replied as he bent at the waist and retrieved Buck’s lead. “Hard and fast the first time since I’ll have no control after all these years of wanting, then slowly until we can’t move . . . See you Wednesday, dream weaver,” he whispered before he headed for Drum and cellblock C. When he turned back and looked at her one last time, she was still kneeling on the ground, staring after him with a dazzled look on her face.
“You get your questions answered?” Drum asked.
“Yeah.”
“I’ll bet,” he mumbled to himself, then led Kingston back towards the cellblock.
Time for a phone call, Drum thought, as he escorted Kingston back to his block. When they entered, he caught Fat Bastard’s eye and jerked his chin up to let the man know that he agreed the SEAL and dog trainer were involved and would be passing along his information. The sooner Kingston’s friends were contained and out of the picture, the sooner he could get the hell out of the prison. Ever since he and Raff had been hired by Jared White to keep an eye on Sutton, he’d been living this nightmare. He’d washed out of the Army, but he’d gained enough skills to be useful as a mercenary. Now he was a soldier for hire, one who was hired to watch a man, not kill him. But just like the rest of his life, that had gone south the minute White pulled out a knife and plunged it deep into Sutton’s chest.
They’d trailed him for two days when White called and asked where he was. When White arrived, he told Drum to go through the front door and flush him out to the back while he and Raff waited. Sutton, being paranoid, had made their tail the first day. He knew what they looked like and White was correct that he would bolt if Drum went inside the bar. Sutton ran right out the back into Raff and White’s waiting hands when he saw Drum open the door of the bar. Drum made it around back just as Kingston came running down the alley shouting for them to stop. Drum kept a baseball bat in his car for intimidation purposes and had thankfully grabbed it on his way to the alley. When White plunged his knife into Sutton, a move Drum hadn’t seen coming, he’d gone into survival mode. He took out Kingston quickly with a blow to the back of the head before he’d been seen by him. They’d been lucky no one had been around and Sutton and Kingston’s bodies were lying in the shadows at the opposite end where no one would find them unless they walked right up on them.
After checking the area for witnesses, they’d clocked the security camera on the retirement home and White had sent them in search of the video before he left. They’d gotten lucky again and slipped in the back door when a janitor came out to empty the trash as they were heading for the front. They’d slipped in unnoticed and he and Raff had found the surveillance room and erased the footage that showed them in the alley about the time the cops arrived. They’d left out the side door and headed down the street before doubling back for Drum’s car and leaving. Since he’d parked on the street and not in the bar parking lot, they looked like they had just come from another restaurant on the street and the cops didn’t even look in their direction.
He and Raff thought they could lie low until the smoke cleared, but Raff got jumpy and threatened White with exposure. Now Raff was at the bottom of the ocean and Drum was at White’s disposal if he wanted to stay alive or out of prison.
Drum walked into the break room, pulled out his cell, and called White. “We need to meet,” he mumbled when White answered. “I’ll be there in two hours.”
***
“Tell me you have good news,” Williams asked when White entered his office.
“Kin
gston is still alive.”
“Are you telling me Fat Bastard is incapable of taking care of one man?”
“Kingston has proven why he was a SEAL,” White answered. “I met with Drum and he said Kingston’s team is in town.”
“That explains why we had a breach this weekend,” Williams sighed.
“Did they find what they were looking for?”
“Our failsafe’s held.”
White took a deep breath, then sat down and crossed his legs. Williams could tell the man was contemplating something.
“What?”
“Only an arrogant man would hide the evidence of his crimes on a computer. Do you honestly think that you can steer clear of wrongdoing when you keep two sets of books?”
“Don’t tell me how to do my job. Our computer system is state of the art.”
“Nothing is impenetrable. Sutton taught you that.”
“Sutton didn’t break into the computer, he overheard the driver saying where he was headed and why. Thankfully, he expressed his concerns to Fredrick’s instead of the EPA, but you know all this. That’s not the matter at hand,” he growled, “We have to find a way to eliminate Kingston.”
“Then I guess today is your lucky day. Drum informed me yesterday after he got off shift that Kingston is involved with a female at the prison. They met while training dogs and completely off radar.”
“Interesting. What are you thinking?”
“A few photographs of her coming and going, maybe a shot of her through her window getting undressed and a cryptic note that says ‘drop the witch hunt and do the time or she’s next.’”
Williams intwined his fingers as he mulled this new plan over.
“Do you think he’s in deep enough with the woman that it would be enough of an incentive?”