Jackson (MC Sinners #7)

2 – Serenity

“ W hat’s your name, kid?”

An older woman with beautiful dark skin and kind brown eyes comes up to me as I do my shift in the laundry, folding the same pants and shirts that we all wear. I’m thankful when I get into the laundry because it means I’m away from the prying eyes of other inmates and the death stares and threats from Hound’s little woman friend.

She watches every move I make, a sly smile on her face.

He’ll make a move, but he’s ensuring that I’m on edge before he does.

The worst part is thinking he can’t get to me, but knowing he’ll find a way. He probably has guards on his side. Hell, he probably runs this place.

“Serenity,” I answer the lady, placing a folded pair of pants down before picking up another.

“You’re new here,” she murmurs, studying me as she takes a shirt. “What are you in for?”

“I got set up, though I’m not sure anyone believes me.”

“I do,” she says casually, as if we’ve been friends forever and she knows me. “I can see it in your eyes, innocent as they come.”

Maybe not innocent as they come, but definitely not a murderer.

“I wouldn’t go that far,” I say softly. “What’s your name?”

“My name is Cissy, but everyone in here calls me Mama. Tell me, are you bein’ picked on in here?”

I stare at her, there is a kindness and warmth in her eyes that makes me feel immediately drawn to her. The fullness of her perfect lips and the thick curls in her hair even though it’s tied up makes her a rare beauty. She’s maybe in her mid-forties, but her skin is flawless.

“I’m not exactly a fan favorite,” I tell her. “But there is someone who doesn’t like me, and he’s going to make sure I don’t leave this place unscathed.”

“Tell me his name,” she orders, her voice still soft but firm.

“Hound,” I answer, swallowing the lump in my throat.

Her eyes darken. “Oh, I know him. He’s a dangerous man. How did you get tangled up with him?”

I glance down at my hands. “He was part of my father’s club.”

She jerks back and stares at me, shock washing over her face. “You’re Hogan’s daughter?”

I nod, scared of what might come out of her mouth next.

“Oh, child,” she sighs. “You really haven’t had a good run.”

Her kindness makes my heart swell, and, just for a moment, I don’t feel so afraid.

“He’s gone now, but ... well, I guess Hound still wants revenge. I won’t lie to you and tell you I wasn’t part of taking my father down.”

“For that, I can’t blame you, but being worried about Hound is smart. He’s dangerous, and he is king around here. We might be housed in different wings, but he has an in with everyone. Stick with me, I’ll do my best to protect you, but if I can give you a word of advice, straighten that spine, push that chin out, and show everyone in here the backbone that lies deep. I know it’s there; no child of Hogan’s would be without one. Don’t let anyone push you around. You hear me?”

I nod.

“I mean it. If they see weakness, they’ll jump on you. Stand up for yourself, and I’ll do my best to keep you safe.”

“Why?” I ask, meeting her eyes. “You don’t know me.”

She smiles and pats my hand. “They don’t call me Mama for nothing. I protect those who are innocent.”

I have a feeling that when Mama fires up, she does it with an intensity that would scare most.

She’s right about one thing, though.

I have to get tougher, because if I don’t, I won’t survive in here, and the only way I’m going to get out is to still be alive.

Hound terrifies me, but I can’t escape him.

My only option is to face him and do my best to stay alive.

I hope Jackson comes up with a plan to end this.

I’m not sure how long I can be strong for.

BLOOD SPLATTERS FROM my lip as my head swings to the side. The chaos erupting around me is deafening as guards come running in our direction. I don’t lose the chance to take one more swing at the woman who decided to make it her mission to pick on me. I took Mama’s advice, and I fought back. I fought with everything I have, and I know it caught her off guard.

She’s older than me, but she’s smaller, and that gave me an even chance to fight her.

When she decided to shove me in the food line, I took my tray and slammed it over her head. That caused a fight that I’m now being dragged away from, blood trickling from my lip as she screams and curses at the guard pulling her away. The guard behind me takes my arms and jerks them behind my back before swiftly removing me from the dining room.

Panting, blood continues to trickle down my chin as he takes me toward the medical center. It’s protocol that I get looked at when blood is involved. As soon as we reach the center, he orders me to sit on the bed and wait for the nurse. It’s then I really take him in, realizing he’s fairly young. Hell, he probably just hit thirty.

He has soft brown eyes and dark messy hair. He’s lean but muscled, and when he talks, I can see a dimple in his right cheek. He looks kind, there is a softness in his eyes that makes me wonder what he’s doing working in a place like this. Most of the guards around here are harsh and judgmental. It’s rare to find a nice one.

“What are you doing causing trouble like that?” he asks, taking gauze and handing it to me to stop the bleeding.

I shrug. “It’s either that or they’ll eat me alive.”

He frowns, his brows furrowing as he crosses his arms. “What’s your name?”

“Serenity, and yours?”

“Xander.”

Unique. I like it.

“Tell me, Xander,” I say, replacing the gauze when it fills with blood. “Why are you working in this hell hole?”

He smiles, lopsided and rather cute. “Why not?”

“You actually want to spend your days with criminals?”

“Not all of them are bad,” he tells me, leaning against the bed and studying me. “We all have a past, and sometimes that past creeps up on us and we can’t escape it. Don’t you agree?”

He sounds like he’s talking from experience.

I snort. “I suppose. Some of them are outright monsters, though.”

“Oh, I know. But there are so many innocent people, too. The least I can do is help them out.”

I purse my lips. “You’re better than me, Xander.”

“I find that hard to believe. Something tells me you’re one of the innocent ones.”

“Well, that really depends on who you talk to,” I smile, weak, but there.

He keeps his smile. Damnit, he’s a nice one. I like him.

“Why are you in here?”

I huff. “Would you believe me if I told you it was a set up?”

He tilts his head to the side, his eyes narrowing. “Yeah, I would.”

“Well, that’s what it was. Now I’m stuck here, and I’m not exactly popular.”

“Want to tell me why? I might be able to help.”

I exhale, letting my shoulders drop. “I’m certain you know Hound ...”

His eyes widen. “Everyone knows Hound. My question is, how do you?”

“I’m the daughter of the man who ran the club he is from.”

He jerks a little. Xander knows more about all of this than I first thought, I can see it in his expression. “You’re Hogan’s daughter?”

“I was. He’s dead.”

“Yeah,” Xander murmurs. “But Hound isn’t.”

“No, unfortunately. That means he wants my blood, and he’s going to make my life hell in here.”

Xander ponders this for a minute. “I wish I could tell you that he couldn’t get to you in here, but the fact is, Hound has a lot of guards on his side. The man is evil and he is high up in here. I’ll do my best to ensure your paths never cross.”

I frown. “Why would you help me?”

“Because I don’t care for people like Hound.”

Interesting.

We chat some more, and I tell him about Jackson and the club. He is familiar with all of it, and I can see he’s surprised that my back story is so deep. I assume he thought the same as everyone else; I’m just an innocent girl in the wrong place, but now he’s coming to realize that I understand darkness better than most.

By the time the nurse comes in, the bleeding has stopped and Xander has to go back to work.

I thank him, and as I watch him go, I know it’ll be him that helps me get out of here.

He’ll be the one to set me free.

I’ll make sure of it.