by Beast
Raheem studied Xavier’s face for a moment, searching for any hint of foul play. The guard was hard to read. Raheem stood up. He looked over at Shawn, waiting for some type of response. He had no choice but to go but he wanted to make sure his cellmate would be fine.
“Go,” Shawn said. His eyes shifted to Xavier. “I’m going out to the yard where more than a hundred pair of eyes will be on me. I’ll be fine.”
Xavier shook his head and said, “Come on, Jones.”
Tension built between the guard and inmate all the way from the cell, down the stairs and to the Plexi glass door separating the unit from the rest of the prison. Raheem wanted answers and so did Xavier. The energy between the men was palpable.
As soon as they were in the hall, Raheem asked, “Why did you have Gustavo try to kill Shawn?”
“Because he’s trouble,” he answered, not even denying the fact. “You don’t see it but that little nigga is playing you. While ya’ll was on lock down I went through June Bug and Twist’s phone records down in the vault. They know a lot of people that know Shawn’s family.”
“Nigga, Atlanta aint that fucking big. That don’t mean shit.”
“It probably wouldn’t mean shit if Shawn’s mom didn’t get a new car right before he got in a cell with you. The woman has been on welfare since he was a baby and been riding the bus and Marta for years. Now she has a whip. A nice one too.”
“When did you start playing detective and shit,” Raheem asked. His condescending tone wasn’t lost on Xavier. “You trying to find trails of money and conspiracy. We a bunch of niggas in jail. You really think that June Bug and Twist got Shawn in the cell to kill me and paid him off by giving his mom a car? You sound stupid as fuck right now.”
“When that dude stabs you in the back don’t tell me I didn’t warn you.” Xavier stopped in front of the lieutenant’s office. A stoic look settled on his face. “You know a lot of about the underhanded shit that goes on in here. Maybe they want you dead or maybe they want him close enough to squeeze out information. I don’t know. But I do know that man is dangerous.”
Raheem shook his head. “Naw. You the dangerous one, shawty. Abdul is dead because of you. So is Gustavo, Javier, Flip, Brady and now June Bug. You the one that deserves to be in these oranges. Not me.”
Raheem knocked on the door before Xavier could say anything. The old officer called him in. Xavier stood there, stuck, and watched the inmate he maybe loved walk away like he was dead to him. The line had been drawn and Xavier and Raheem were not on the same side.
“What’s going on between you and Officer Brown,” Patterson asked, getting straight to the point. The man pulled no punches. “And don’t sit here and play games with me, son. This is important.”
“When you moved me to J Unit he came to my cell during count. I was jacking off. When he came in I didn’t stop. He stood there and watched. Things just escalated from there.”
“Thank you for being honest. He said about as much when I confronted him. Then he said that you told him all about the gun. You’ve been sharing our dirty little secrets.”
Raheem’s jaw clenched shut. He knew he’d regret dropping the dime on the lieutenant. He hoped the man didn’t screw him on his parole for it. Raheem’s jaw clenched. He tried to think of a way out but he was stuck. He had been caught and it was all Xavier’s fault. Telling the truth was the only option.
“I didn’t want to,” Raheem said, apologetically. “If I didn’t tell him, Brady and Flip would have killed me. He had this bogus plan to pin that gun on Officer Marco. I figured he was trying to help you.”
“I already know you two put the gun on Officer Marco. I know about the money, too. Relax, I’m not mad. I’m just worried. I don’t trust him and neither should you.”
“I been exposed since the riot. You know that. Shit kept coming at me left and right. He was the only one I could lean on. I just want to do my time and get the fuck out of here. Can’t do that with these dudes coming at me demanding weight.”
“I know. But that’s not what he wants. I have dead inmates and guards caught up in fake ass charges. That blonde guard, Carter, the one you’ve been fucking, is on leave pending an investigation. She was caught with June Bug having sex. Now he’s dead. Funny how all that comes up right after June Bug slipped a note to one of my officers about Xavier having sex with an inmate.”
Raheem frowned. June Bug had tried to get Xavier caught up. “Did the note mention me?” The lieutenant shook his head ‘no’. “The Triple Deuces been trying to get Xavier since the shit with Javier and the shake down. They not going to let it go.”
“I know. But the shit is getting out of control. Officer Brown is a liability and I need you to deal with him.”
“I’m not about to kill a guard, lieutenant. I can’t have a murder hovering over my head.”
“I didn’t say kill him. I just want him gone.”
“You run this prison. Why can’t you find some way to get him fired? You can’t keep putting this shit on me.”
“Sooner or later he’s going to get sloppy and get caught. But not before he takes you and me down with him. A little more than a week ago he came to my office. He wanted me to nix your parole hearing.”
“Why would he do that?” Raheem stared back at the man, disbelief written all over his face. “You didn’t kill my hearing, did you?”
“Of course not. A man deserves his freedom once he does his time. You’ve been a lot of help and you deserve a chance to get out of here. But that will never happen with Officer Brown on your ass.”
“Why are you telling me all this,” Raheem asked, suspiciously. “What do you get from getting rid of Xavier?
“I get my prison back running how I want it run. I can’t have officers thinking they can do what they want and having folks killed. Officer Brown has us on the brink of chaos and collapse. I won’t stand by and watch him destroy my legacy.”
“Bullshit. I don’t believe you. Something else is going on. You wouldn’t ask me for help with something you could deal with on your own. It wouldn’t be hard for you to find some paperwork shit to hem him up.”
“You’re right. I’m not going to sit here and lie. I’m under investigation. And something tells me that Officer Brown is behind it. I can’t prove it but I know it’s him. I can feel it in my gut.”
“Under investigation for what?”
“That doesn’t matter. All that matters is that we both need to get rid of his ass.”
“And I’m the one that actually has to do it. Fuck that. I’m tired of you motherfuckers trying to use me. If you want that nigga gone, you take care of it. I can’t be your pawn anymore.”
“Who the fuck do you think you’re talking to,” Patterson asked, more surprised than angry. “You really want to jeopardize that parole hearing over a small request?”
“You fuck with my hearing and all the shit you got going on will magically come to light. Don’t play with me. I’m not a ruthless dude but ya’ll keep pushing a nigga. I won’t get knocked over the edge. I’ll jump and drag you right along with me.”
Patterson’s lip quivered in restraint. “Get out of my office, Jones. Deal with Xavier on your own. I’m just looking forward to seeing the shit when it hits the fan.”
Raheem left the office, liberated but anxious. Having Patterson as an enemy was the last thing he wanted but he couldn’t risk getting caught up in another man’s vendetta. The Muslims, Twist, Shawn and now Patterson all wanted Xavier gone. If it was going to happen, Raheem wanted no part of it.
“That was quick,” Xavier said as soon as the lieutenant’s office door closed. “You look like something is wrong. What he say to you?”
“Why? You worried?” Raheem shot Xavier a steely stare. “Got something you want to tell me?”
Xavier shook his head as if he were the most innocent man on the earth. “Nope. Nothing comes to mind. But I am wondering what your boy, Shawn, is scheming. The way he looked at me…”
“He wants you dead
for trying to have him killed. Can you blame him?”
“I didn’t try to have him killed,” Xavier lied. “Gustavo was a loose cannon. Your boy was lucky one of Gustavo’s men turned on him. Funny how things work out.”
“Yea, it is.”
Raheem walked next to Xavier, wondering what the man was plotting. He wasn’t going to let Shawn or anyone else hit him first. That wasn’t how he operated. In the few months Raheem had known the man, he’d never seen Xavier wait for someone else to act first.
“I still want you, Raheem,” Xavier said, standing in front of the locked Plexi glass door. “This past week has been torture. I need to be with you. I need to feel you.”
Raheem didn’t know what you to say. Part of him couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He’d struggled with deciding whether or not to ruin the man’s life. Everyone wanted to get rid of Xavier. But something inside of Raheem still craved the connection they had. The perverse and unconventional bond they had somehow gnawed at his heart. Mixed emotions flooded the inmate’s body. Confusion didn’t begin to describe what he felt. Raheem had to be honest with himself. He wasn’t ready to throw Xavier to dogs.
“You know things are fucked up right now,” he finally said. “Now is not the time.”
The door buzzed before Xavier could respond. They shared a look filled with want, need and too many questions. Uncertainty charged the air between them. One thing was certain; something was going to happen. Someone would be removed from the equation.
Raheem left Xavier’s side, glancing back at the guard over his shoulder as he made his way to the yard. He needed to find Shawn. His cellmate definitely would have been making moves to deal with Xavier. Raheem knew the man wouldn’t wait for him to do what he felt needed to be done.
“You looking for you boyfriend?” Dee Dee asked. He fluttered his eyes and grinned. “He went back to his cell about fifteen minutes ago.”
Raheem nodded. “You saved that boy’s life. Gustavo tried to kill him before the lock down.”
“That guard is the one that brought that thug back to the unit. You sure he wasn’t doing what he was told? It looked kind of fucked up when he came back. Especially since your guard buddy knew you had a beef with the man.”
“Honestly, I don’t know. I feel like I’m being played for a fool, I just don’t know by who.”
“I can’t tell you what to do. All I can say is a lot of folks are talking about Officer Brown. And aint none of it good, baby. You might want to stay away from him for a while.”
Raheem nodded. “You right. But there aint nothing I can do if he calls on me. I’m still just another fucking prisoner.”
“You right, boo. You right. Just don’t go and get yourself killed. I kind of like having you around. Be a shame to lose such a beautiful man.”
“Alright, Dee Dee,” Raheem said, smiling. “Let me go see what’s going on with my boy.”
Raheem sprinted up to his cell. When he stepped inside, Shawn wasn’t the only one there. Twist was flanked by Karif and two other Muslims. The same ones that had tried to jump him before. They hovered over Shawn. He obviously didn’t have choice but to sit on the bottom bunk.
“Where did you and that guard go,” Twist asked. “You two are way too fucking friendly.”
Raheem eyed Twist and his gaze shifted to Shawn. His eye was swollen. “He took me to the lieutenant. They’re still investigating Gustavo and June Bug’s murder.”
“Shouldn’t take them long to figure out Officer Brown was behind it,” Karif said. “Unless you’re telling the lieutenant bullshit stories to cover for you man.”
“I’m not doing shit. And I’m not a snitch. Told that nigga everything I know. Nothing.”
Twist shook his head and said, “Naw. You know everything, little nigga. I know all about the shit with Javier and Gustavo. How you planned that drug shakedown. You and that fucking guard. And I know that you didn’t kill Abdul. Officer Brown killed that man.”
Raheem eyed Shawn. He racked him brain, recounting what he had told the boy. “Why you niggas up in my cell like I’m the one that did the shit? If ya’ll so bent on taking out the guard, do that shit. I’m not going to stop you. I don’t give a fuck about that nigga.”
“But you do,” Karif countered. “We spent a little time with you homosexual friend. He didn’t say much except that the three of you were in the storage room sinning before Allah. You’re an infidel just like that thing you were cellmates with.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Raheem lied. “The only guard I was fucking was that blonde bitch before she got sloppy and got caught.”
“Naw, nigga,” Twist barked. “June Bug told me that he got you to hook him up with the bitch. You probably ran and told that fucking guard to get him caught up. I been known ya’ll was fucking. I knew that shit from when you risked your life to save him during the riot. There are too many eyes and fiends up in this bitch to keep a fucking secret.”
Raheem shook his head. He had no more lies to tell. It was over. “What do you want?”
“You know what we want,” Twist answered. “I want that guard bleeding to death on the ground. Simple.”
“I’m not killing a guard. Ya’ll going to have to take me out now. I’m not a murderer and I’m not one of your Triple Deuces. I aint bout to do whatever you say regardless of the risk.”
“You’re going to do exactly what I say,” Twist said. His fist clenched and Shawn flinched. “If you don’t, your little butt buddy won’t see the sun rise tomorrow.”
Raheem steeled under the intensity of Twist’s gaze. The man hadn’t just made a threat. It was a promise. His head hung low. Again, he was being backed into a corner, forced to do something that he wanted no part of. Slowly, he looked up and let his eyes latch onto Shawn’s. The boy was scared shitless.
“What do you want me to do, Twist?”
“Do what you been doing. Get him back to the storage room and we’ll take care of the rest. Do that and we’ll leave you and your little faggot friend alone. Ya’ll can fuck until ya’ll walk out of the bitch for all I care.”
“How are you going to kill the man when you can’t leave the block? You just got back.”
“You not the only one with connections, bitch. You really think a nigga like me can do the shit I do without greasing some palms? I saw the lieutenant yesterday. We had a nice, long conversation. He had this whole little plan to get you away from Shawn so we could find out what we needed. Now, there’s a guard on duty that will give us access. You just get that nigga there.”
“How do I know you won’t do anything to Shawn?” Raheem asked. “I can’t trust you.”
“The Muslims will be watching him. You and I both know they won’t hurt him. He hasn’t done anything to them. Is that okay with you?”
Raheem let out a deep breath. He knew he had little choice but to do exactly what Twist demanded. He would lure Xavier back to the storage room and commit the man to a horrible death. And he’d have to rely on the guards insatiable desire to be intimate with him. Every way he looked at the scenario, it was fucked up.
None more words were shared. Raheem left the cell and headed for the command station where Xavier was busy typing up something. Raheem didn’t think. If he did he would become so sick that he might throw up. He was condemning a man to death. Maybe Xavier deserved it. Maybe he didn’t. But Raheem felt like he had no place to determine that.
“I need to get transferred to another unit,” Raheem said. He eyed Xavier. “My life has been threatened and I would like to be placed in protective custody.”
Xavier stood up. “I’ll have to take you to the investigative unit so you can give a statement.”
Raheem nodded. Xavier radioed for a guard to come cover for him. He escorted Raheem from the unit. Silence strangled the two of them. They didn’t say a word until they were sure no one was around. Xavier was the first to speak.
“What the Hell is going on?”
“Nothing. I
found out Shawn was feeding June Bug information. I can’t stay with him in that cell. Little motherfucker might try to kill me in my sleep.”
“You need to come up with a story before you talk to the commander. If they take you into protective custody then I won’t be able to see you. You’ll pretty much be spending the year you have left in solitary.”
Raheem flinched. He hadn’t told Xavier or anyone else that he was getting out before his sentence was over. Sure, Patterson could have told the man that Raheem was going to be up for parole soon but it wasn’t like the old man to divulge any information unless it helped him.
“I got a plan,” Raheem reassured. “How about we fuck around before I’m out for a few days.”
Xavier’s nostrils flared. His heart raced but suspicion lingered in his spirit. He wanted the prison thug so badly that it hurt. But he wasn’t totally convinced the object of his infatuation was being completely honest with him. It could be a trick.
“Cool, we can get in one of the solitary cells.”
“The storage room is right down the corridor,” Raheem offered. “We need to hurry up. I need to bust this nutt and bad. You going to fuck me?”
Xavier stared at the boy. He took in his smooth black skin, thick eyebrows and unkempt dreads. His mind could think of nothing but the chiseled, tatted body that lie underneath the man’s oranges. Images of Raheem riding him, his dick slapping against his stomach, exploded in his mind.
“Let’s go,” Xavier said.
The pair collided in a lip lock the moment they were in the back of the storage room. Raheem thrust his tongue in and out of Xavier’s wanting mouth, leaving the man almost breathless. Clothes were ripped from their bodies and flung to the ground without concern. Their burning flesh melted into one another. They moved as one.
Xavier reached up and clenched a handful of Raheem’s dreads in his fist. He yanked Raheem’s head back and pressed his lips against the inmate’s neck. Xavier suck and kissed at the boy’s flesh like there was no tomorrow. His tongue darted out, tracing the lines of Raheem’s neck tattoos.
Raheem moaned in pure ecstasy. He felt high with arousal. His body shuddered under Xavier’s rough touch, shaking but refusing to pull away. He drew in a long, slow breath. Lust sullied the air. The pungent odor filled Raheem’s lungs and flowed threw his blood. The scent was intoxicating.