When I closed the door behind me, I leaned against it to catch the breath I’d been holding. I hadn’t stayed behind to eavesdrop, but suddenly, I could hear him talking on the other side of the door. My blood ran cold when his words reached my ears.

“Hey, it’s me. We have a problem. Ms. Evans, the new nurse in the infirmary, paid me a little visit.”

The room went quiet as he listened to the person on the other line speak. And then my worst fears came to light.

“It doesn’t matter. She knows too much. Take care of it.”

CHAPTER 15

x

MY VACATION FROM Fulton was too short. I was just starting to get comfortable with not having to look over my shoulder. Starting to enjoy the fact that I didn’t have to worry about who was coming through my door and which gang was going to try to take me out.

As I sat back on my bed, staring at the grimy, white walls around me, I realized just how terrible being in prison was. It was the place where souls went to rot, and the smell, which I’d obvious gotten accustomed to over the years, was a product of those souls rotting… decaying and mixing with the smell of unwashed ass.

The nice, quiet hospital room was heaven compared to the moans and yelling that now blasted through my head. I closed my eyes tightly as they shut my cell door, wishing I could be back in the hospital again. I prayed that some asshole would jump me and kick my ass so badly I’d have to be returned.

After a moment of adjustment to the chaos, I realized Scoop had been calling my name from the cell next to mine.

“X!” he shouted in a whispered rush.

“I’m here,” I replied, not moving from the bed. My head still hurt slightly, and I really didn’t want to get up.

“I’ve heard some news. There’s been a breakthrough in your case. Some evidence came out that you might be innocent.”

“What?” I sat up, ignoring the pain that shot through my head. Walking to the bars, I leaned against the wall as I listened.

“Apparently, your little girlfriend did some digging and came up with some stuff. Did she come see you in the hospital?”

“Yeah.” I stopped asking him a long time ago how he knew things. He was a Houdini. He was everywhere and nowhere at the same time.

“And?” He was prying. I knew I could trust Scoop with my feelings for her, but giving him that kind of power over me wasn’t what I wanted.

“And nothing. She told me I didn’t do it, and you know what?”

“What?” His voice grew soft and curious.

“I think I’m beginning to believe her.”

He grew silent. After a few minutes, I realized he had gone back to his bed. I retreated to mine and sat staring at the wall, the Xs burning into my retinas. The first two ran along the top of the wall and weren’t as deep as the newer, fresher ones, but they hurt the worst. I was just a scrawny, scared kid when I first etched them in, tears streaming down my face. I sat for weeks staring at them, repeating their names over and over again.

I pictured Moira and Anthony, Mr. and Mrs. Rizzuto, Sarah’s parents, as they shook my hand and welcomed me into their lavish home the first time I’d met them. They were such pleasant people. It was a shame they’d lost their daughter so tragically.

They loved each other so deeply, and I envied that. I could see it in their eyes every time they looked at each other, and I remember hoping that one day Sarah and I would be the same.

Soon after, Mr. Rizzuto hired me to be his errand boy and to do some yard work. I was hard up for money. With me trying to help my mom out and maybe save for college, I needed to save every penny I made. He treated me like a son, even though I’d only been dating Sarah for a few months. He even offered to help with my college tuition.

They were good people. At least, I’d thought they were. It wasn’t until later that I found out what kind of people they really were. The drugs. The lies. They had a rap sheet a mile long, and Sarah had known the entire time. Still, the guilt of taking her away from them was thick and deadly.

Lying back, I closed my eyes and pushed away the memories. It was getting close to lights out, and I knew if I kept up that way of thinking, I’d wake up drenched and gasping from nightmares. Instead, I thought of Lyla and smiled. Drifting off, I dreamt of her sweet kisses and soft sighs. I couldn’t wait to see her again.

“It’s my first time,” Sarah said, her lips open in pleasure.

“Mine, too.”

I moved my body into hers, the feeling so extreme I could barely hold back the raw, lustful noises that spilled from my lips.