“God, I’ve missed you, Lyla, but you can’t come back here. I’ll see you on the outside, baby.”

She pulled back with a frown.

“Just trust me. Do you trust me?”

She nodded.

“Good. As much as I loved seeing you today, I need you to stay away from Fulton. Promise me you’ll stay away.”

Her eyes moved across my face, sadness seeping in and transforming her expression. “I promise.”

“Okay, everyone, visitation is over,” Reeves’ voice echoed throughout the room.

I wasn’t ready to let her go, but I couldn’t keep her there. I couldn’t leave with her either. It was goodbye until things were smoothed over… until my case was taken care of and I was a free man. It was going to be hell without her, but I knew it was for the best.

She smiled as we prepared to say our goodbyes, but instead of saying bye and turning to leave, she threw herself into my arms, not caring who was watching.

“Stay safe in here, X. Come home to me.”

Her words soothed every scar on my body, every broken part of me, and I couldn’t resist. I lost my hands in the hair at the side of her face and looked into her eyes.

“I love you, Lyla,” I whispered for only her.

Her eyes filled with tears and she opened her mouth to speak, but before she could respond, I was being pulled away from her and lined up with the rest of the criminals.

From across the room, she smiled sadly back at me. Then she mouthed the words that would make the remainder of my stay at Fulton bearable.

I love you too.

CHAPTER 24

x

“COME ON, X, get your shit together, man. It’s time for work detail, and you need to work. You’re starting to look a little flabby.”

“Fuck you.”

“No thanks, big boy, your tits aren’t big enough for me. Not yet anyway. You keep this lazy shit up, and they might be soon.”

I hadn’t come out and said how badly I missed Lyla, but Scoop wasn’t stupid. He could tell I was more miserable than usual. It had been a week, and I was feigning for her like a crack addict needing another hit. I dreamed about her at night and woke up to my nightmare every morning. It was pure hell.

The walls of Fulton felt closer, more depressing, and I couldn’t shake the depression no matter how bad I tried. Things were going downhill fast around me, and even the COs had taken to treating me like shit ever since Lyla had showed up for visitation. Scoop was the only good left in Fulton, and I hated to think about leaving him behind when I was hopefully released.

I was obsessed with the thoughts of leaving Fulton and being with Lyla forever. There were no other words to describe the deep ache that had planted itself in my center. It was obsession—dark and deep—and it felt good.

As usual, Scoop was right. Working helped me focus and clear my head. Heaps of dirty linens, pillowcases, and uniforms lined the room in their respective bins. Having over five hundred inmates in all the blocks made for long days of washing, drying, and folding. Thankfully, we had some hardworking guys in the laundry. It wasn’t the manliest job, but it was strenuous work.

The day stretched on, and we worked fast and hard, hoping to earn ourselves a little more time in the yard by finishing early. My back was to the door, and I was folding blankets when I was jerked away from my table by a pair of strong hands. Spinning, I came face to face with Jose. His face twisted into an evil grin.

Three of his largest guys had caught me off guard, and because of that, they had a tight hold on me. Conveniently, the room had been cleared, but behind Jose stood Scoop, who was also being held by one of the Mexican Mafia boys.

With a paper blade to his throat, Scoop’s face paled.

“You’re making a big mistake, motherfucker,” I growled at Jose.

He put his fingers to his lips, daring me to speak again.

“I lost out on a lot of money because of you, Pendejo. If it wasn’t for you, our little redhead wouldn’t have flown the coop.” He sucked at his teeth and shook his head. “I’m tired of waiting and watching. I know your weaknesses.”

My mouth dried and my teeth grinded together so hard my jaw ached. My biggest weakness was Lyla, and I’d kill him before he even had the chance to try to hurt her again. It didn’t matter if my case was under review or I was being close to be released. All that mattered was keeping her safe, and if I had to kill to do that, then so be it. I’d lived in prison for the last ten years of my life. I’d do it again until the day I died for Lyla.

I lunged at him, his men holding me back and digging their fingers into my flesh. I lunged again, and this time, one kicked me in the back of my knee, making me bend to them. A towel came around my neck like a leash, tightly choking me into submission.