The Fall Guy (Eastward Prison Story)

12. Kaden

CHAPTER 12

KADEN

After Rio questioned how much I can trust the cyclones, I’m a little more suspicious of everyone, except him. He’s already proven we can go a few rounds without killing each other.

After my morning shower, I make my way to the phone area so I can call my old roommate. Brad answers after the fourth ring, and I can hear loud music in the background.

“Clearly missing me,” I say jokingly. Life has moved on without me. I get it and I don’t feel bitter about it.

“I was wondering when you’d next call. How are you doing, man?” He excuses himself and moves away from the music.

“I’m living the dream.” Although I’m unnerved by my conversation with Rio I need this playfulness with Brad.

He chuckles. “Listen, I have some news on Rio Target or maybe it’s just a funny story. Get this for a profession: he’s an expensive hitman.” He laughs but it seems strained. “The guy is one of the best so be careful.” He’s trying to play this off as misinformation in case our call is recorded. I’m thankful for the information but he’s rubbish at talking in code.

“It’s okay. We’re friends of sorts, and I’d already figured out some of what he does and that he attracts trouble when it comes calling. I doubt he’s as bad as the stories people tell.” Okay so I’m not very good at talking in code either. Rio’s a Hitman. That’s a bold job title, but now he’s said it, it’s obvious. It’s less private investigator and more heavy lifting, although he must be good at it or he’d have more scars.

“Good, just watch your back with him and you won’t become a miscommunicated story.”

Loyalty from Brad is what I need when I’m struggling to trust anyone around me. “Thanks.”

“Anytime.”

“What do you know about Ernie and his crew on the inside? Do you think I can rely on them?” Brad has always been cool with me, so I hope he’ll keep it straight. Ernie might be part of the Cyclones but it’s a different world in here.

“Ernie. He’s as tough as old boots. The story in the newspaper said he took a bullet for his old man and went down for killing his wife. Apparently, she was sleeping with his best friend. Don’t double-cross him, and you’ll be fine.”

“Noted.” Even if I have to watch my back with the Cyclone gang, I already knew not to compromise my loyalty to them. Brad just confirmed it doesn’t matter what Rio’s said, I don’t want to get on the wrong side of the gang.

“Listen, I saw your brother’s bitch hanging around the other day. She said she was picking some things up for you, but I told her to get out.”

“Sonia?” I’m not sure why I needed that clarity. My brother only has one woman.

“Yes. She’s been looking for something. I’m just not sure what it was.”

Since I was sent down, not one member of my family has come to visit me or written back to me. Not even my own mother, and I’ve sent her a couple of notes. Fuck them. But why is Sonia snooping in my things? “Thanks for the heads up. I’ll call you soon.”

“Okay, man. See you.”

We hang up. A bitter taste is left in my mouth as reality kicks in. Brad is my closest friend and other than him I don’t have many others. My family seems to have turned their back on me and Rio is the only person I have in here. Knowing he kills people for a living doesn’t exactly put my mind at ease.

Large hands wrap around my neck, pulling me backwards, and I struggle against them. Whoever has me is seriously strong. My airways are blocking up and the guy’s grip is tight. I elbow him in the chest with all my might and manage to get away long enough to see my attacker. Felix’s fist connects with my face before I can get too far.

“What is your problem?” I manage to grind out, but he’s back on me, trying to squeeze the life out of me.

He’s too powerful, and it’s obvious I can’t take on his muscular size without improvising. Using the wall, I try to force him off me by trying to push him off balance. It’s no use; I just can’t shake him. The light feels like it’s fading from my eyes just as I see another shadow appear.

Rio grabs the cord from one of the phone boxes, pulling it out of its socket. He’s behind Felix and me but I start to feel Felix’s grip loosen. I bend over, trying to get some air in my lungs while darks spots cloud my vision. When I turn to see what’s happening, Rio has the wire around the big guy’s neck. Unlike when he did this to me with the pillow, Felix has no chance of escaping. All I can do is watch as the scene unfolds.

Someone sounds the alarm, and the room fills with guards. I’m hiked up onto my tiptoes before I can protest. I’m still recovering from the attack and not ready to be thrown back in a cell.

“Don’t say anything,” Rio shouts at me as we’re all pulled in different directions.

My head still feels light, and I’m aware he probably just saved my life. He truly is the one I can trust in a time of need. I’m put into an isolated cell and left to catch my breath. I lay on the cold, hard floor waiting for my body to return back to normal.

Felix was the person I needed to be wary of. I was so busy looking at the people closest to me I hadn’t considered him as a threat. It’s my cellmate he’s been harassing, not me. I’d never even spoken to the guy. He’s either a complete psycho, jealous of my connection with Rio, or I’m missing some vital information.

Once I’m no longer lightheaded I get to my feet, dusting off my knees. There’s a mirror above a small sink in the corner of the room, and I walk over to it. I look like hell. My skin is clammy, my eyes are bloodshot, and dark handprints are embedded onto my neck. I’m not going to be able to hide what happened. They’re going to be visible for days. The reality is branded on me: if Rio hadn’t been there, I’d be dead.

The governor pulls me into her office to ask what happened, and even though she points out my bruising, I keep tight-lipped. After getting frustrated, she dismisses me, and I’m allowed back into my cell. I’ve never felt so relieved to be back inside these four walls.

Here I’m safe and able to reassess what just happened. After Rio’s warning about talking to the guards it’s obvious they can’t help with my Felix situation. I’m going to have to figure this out on my own unless I want to be unprepared for further attacks. I’ll have to risk keeping the weapon I have closer in future.

It’s another half hour before Rio enters with two guards. They push him to the floor before slamming the door on their departure. The vibrations echo against the walls followed by a faux sense of silence. The prison is on lockdown, and as expected, not everyone is happy about it.

“I was beginning to wonder if we’d be separated,” I say after a beat.

“They know Felix attacked you without you provoking him. They caught the whole thing on the camera above the phone booths.” His facial expression is unreadable as he gets to his feet.

“Do they listen into our phone calls often?” I ask with a frown. My conversation with Brad was private although not incriminating. We tried to be discrete but neither of us were very good at talking in code. It would be better if the guards didn’t know I was trying to find out information on my fellow inmates.

“There’s supposed to be a prison guard in that area at all times. It’s a high-risk area for suicide due to the phone cords, so the prison will get investigated if they don’t keep an eye on it. The duty guard will have sounded the alarm once he pulled his finger out of his ass. They should be thanking me, I probably saved him his job by rescuing you. You’re welcome, by the way.” There’s bitterness in his voice and his tone is snappy.

“Are you angry with me?” My lack of vocal gratitude shouldn’t have made him this worked up and I doubt he’s in that much trouble for breaking the phone when it was to help get Felix off me.

“You’re weak, and people are going to start noticing.” He sighs heavily letting his thoughts linger.

“That’s ridiculous, I’m not weak. He grabbed me from behind, and I was caught off guard. I wasn’t expecting his attack, I’ve hardly ever spoken to the guy.” I let my arms fly wide, unimpressed with his accusation.

“What, so you were expecting him to explain what he was doing like they do in movies? Newsflash, real villains attack first and don’t give you the heads up.” He rolls his eyes.

I climb down from my bunk, anger boiling up under my skin. “What’s your problem?”

“You’re my problem. I can’t be looking after you in here.” He bangs his fist against the wall adjacent to the bed.

“I never said you had to help.” Granted if he hadn’t come to my rescue, I’d probably be dead right now so I’m glad he did, but I don’t like being called weak. I’ve handled myself for years without his help.

“So I should have left you to be Felix’s fish food?” Some of his anger dissipates.

“I’m thankful you saved me. I’ll be watching Felix from now on, so he won’t be able to jump me again.” My words are the truth, and I hope he accepts them as genuine.

“Why would someone put a hit out on you?” He screws his face up like it pains him to ask me this.

I don’t have any enemies in here. I’ve kept my head down, and other than being associated with the Cyclones, I haven’t really spoken to anyone other than the priest. “They wouldn’t.”

He scratches his head thinking for a second. “Are you certain about that?”

I frown suddenly feeling unsure of myself. He’s talked about trusting people before, and I thought I was safe until the Felix incident. I haven’t thrown my weight around or pissed anyone off.

I wonder what Ernie and Max will think of the assault. Do they see me as weak, like Rio? If I wasn’t locked in here, I could investigate, figure out what the consequences of today’s attack are.

“No one wants me dead. Except perhaps my sister-in-law,” I say jokingly, but the words feel weird in my mouth. I went down for my brother; she doesn’t need to get rid of me. I’m literally trapped in this hell with no way out unless the truth comes out.

“What quarrel do you have with your sister-in-law?”

I shake off any of the doubt that rippled through my gut. “It’s nothing.”

He steps into my space, taking both my wrists. “You need to figure out who would cough up money to have you put in an early grave.”

Woah. Who said anything about there being a price on my head? Brad said Rio is a hitman. Is the reason he initially tried to strangle me because someone paid him to take my life? I’ve been trying to ignore the mobile phone he has hidden inside his bed, but now a red flag is waving vigorously in front of my face. He wasn’t flirting with me that first night; he was thinking about murdering me.

“Why didn’t you kill me that night with the pillowcase? You’ve shown me today you were more than capable of using brutal force. Why haven’t you already completed the job and cashed in the money?”

“You know why,” he says with a certainty I don’t feel.

I swallow before glancing down at his grey cotton trousers. His erection is standing out proudly. His lust is the reason he didn’t kill me. It’s the tension that sparks between us. I’d be lying if I said it was one sided. The connection goes both ways even if I’ve struggled to admit it. My mouth feels dry, and I look away.

I can’t decide whether giving in to temptation would be a good or bad idea.

Then it hits me. The lines between right and wrong were blurred when my twin brother injured that boy. It’s no longer clear what length Kai or his family will go to when it comes to protecting their happiness. I’ve just figured out why Sonia might snoop through my things and even put a hit out on me. She thinks I might change my mind about being inside and destroy her world.