Then the third inmate entered, and my lungs deflated as all the air rushed from my body.

It was X again.

What was it about him? And why did my body respond to him every time he was near me?

He gazed around the room as if he was searching for something, and then his eyes landed on me. My day had just taken a turn for the worse, and I wasn’t so sure I was unhappy about it.

CHAPTER 6

LYLA

HE WALKED IN like he owned the place. Lord knew he was there enough to own it. I stood still, expecting his dark expression to soften the way it had before, but it didn’t change. His royal blue eyes skimmed my face, his dark brows pulling down in aggravation.

Why did he always look so annoyed with me? What had I done to him?

His gaze was sharp, and it cut right through me. He moved across the room, his eyes never leaving me, and sat down and did as the officers asked.

Grabbing the clipboard, I went to the first two, hoping Dr. Giles could take care of X this time, but I wasn’t that lucky. Coming to my side, Giles took the clipboard from me and motioned me to X.

Grabbing another clipboard from the counter, I went to X’s side, avoiding his accusing glare. Nervously, I scribbled a few notes on the paper about the time and date. My face flushed, and I knew it was because he was watching my every move. I schooled my face since showing any kind of emotion was forbidden, and then I looked at him.

“Hi again, X,” I began.

I didn’t expect a response since he never talked. He stared back at me, unblinking, with hate thick in his expression.

“Look, I know you’re not one for small talk, but this could go a lot faster if you’d just answer a few questions for me,” I pressed.

His thick lips shifted, and his voice broke through. It was rough and unused, but so deep I was sure it vibrated his muscled chest.

“Has anyone ever told you you’re fucking annoying?” he asked, his voice cold and sinister.

I was shocked by his words, but instead of showing him, I looked down at the paper on my clipboard and took a breath.

My pen lingered over the place where I’d enter the inmate’s name, but entering the name X didn’t seem appropriate. Dr. Giles had told me his real name once before, but I couldn’t remember it.

Ignoring his rude question, I began asking my own. “What’s your name?”

I tapped the pen against the clipboard, prepared to write. My face ached with a smile I didn’t feel as I waited for some kind of response.

“Leave,” he simply stated.

I blinked. “Excuse me?”

“I said… leave. You don’t belong here, and you know it.”

His voice was becoming menacing, as if he was issuing a warning. I swallowed hard, my next words becoming lodged in my throat.

“I’m sorry.” I attempted to smile. “I can’t do that. This is my job.”

“You’re going to be eaten alive here. You know it, too. I can tell by the fear in your eyes and the way your hands tremble.”

His scowl deepened, his knowing eyes digging into me and learning all my secrets.

“Stop it,” I hissed.

“Stop what? Stop telling the truth?”

I stepped away from him, the fear of the truth consuming me. If he knew how weak I was, that meant the rest of the inmates knew it, too.

“What’s your name?” I tried to gain the upper hand and move past his scary words.

The side of his mouth lifted in a knowing smirk. He’d rattled me and he knew it.

“Fine, ignore my warning, but if you want to make me feel better, Miss Nurse, all you have to do is give my cock a nice, long kiss.”

His crude words rolled around in my stomach, but instead of letting them bother me, I pressed on.

“Name?” I said forcefully, my teeth locked together, making my jaw ache.

He chuckled. “You’re fucking delicious when you’re angry. You know what they say—red on the head equals fire in the hole. I love a hard, angry fuck.” He reached up with cuffed hands and ran a finger over his mouth seductively. “I suppose you should know what to call out when I’m making you come. My name’s X.”

Again, I swallowed my nerves, my eyes scanning the room for the nearest officer. He was being so crude and disgusting, yet somehow, it was completely different from when the men on the block did it. I couldn’t explain how it was different. It just was.

“No. What’s your real name?” I asked.

“I said… my name is X,” he answered through gritted teeth.

My eyes followed his features from his dark eyes to his throbbing jaw. He was obviously not enjoying my question.