The fact that the guards and inmates overlook this place just never stops confounding me. This is the one place in the entire jail where an inmate and a captor can come together and be with each other in an unsupervised fashion.
As I make my way toward the main promenade I wonder what the original purpose of the Alcove as we call it was. It couldn’t have been designed for secret conjugal visits like Kerri and I are using it for. What was it before? A meeting area? A resting spot?
My thoughts are interrupted with the clanking of the cell-block gates above me as I step into D-Block.
Faces look up at me as I pass by. The cages are open for the four hours today for us to wander. But there’s only ever so far we can go. Until recently, I never really had much use to go anywhere. Now I do. Now I have someone.
It makes me probably the wealthiest man in the entirety of D-Block.
Fuck, it probably makes me the wealthiest inmate in the whole goddamn jail.
I smile at the thought. No need to measure wealth in cigarettes and Ramen noodles now. I’m on a whole different playing field. The rare good mood buoys me in as I walk into my cell and collapse on my bunk.
I barely notice Spider until he gets on his feet and walks to the cell door. He looks around to see that no one is coming and then turns to me.
Even that doesn’t spoil my mood. When he continues to stare at me, I shrug it off. Let him do his own goddamn thing. I just nutted over the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my fucking life. It doesn't get much better than that.
But Spider keeps staring at me. At first I don't care that much, but come on, what would you do after two whole minutes?
I give up trying to ignore him, and look at him. “What, Spider?” I ask, impatiently, eager to go back to daydreams about that fine ass of Kerri’s.
“You just got some, didn’t you? Spider asks with a grin. “I can tell it by the way you’re walking, man. By the way you smell.”
Did Kerri’s perfume come over with me?
But no, this is exactly what that motherfucker wants.
“Just shut the fuck up, Spider,” I say with a sigh. “If you know what’s fucking good for you.”
Normally that’s enough to convince Spider to shut up, but today he’s apparently not that afraid of me.
His face takes on a serious mien all of a sudden. “Listen to me, man,” he says taking a step closer and hushing his voice. “I talked to Grinder and he’s set for helping you break out of St. Smith’s, but he’s going to want medical transfers for him and three of his boys too.”
Holy fucking Christ. What was Spider getting me into?
Without thinking I jump off the bed and grab Spider by the scruff of his jumpsuit and pull his feet off the floor. With a sudden jerk of strength, I shove him against the wall.
“What the fuck are you talking about?” I ask him, my voice gravelly and dark.
But Spider isn’t unfazed all of a sudden. He looks me straight in the eyes. “It’s exactly what I said, man. Grinder is down with your plan,” he says steadily and evenly. “With your connections and his, you guys will be outta St. Simon’s in no time. But to help you, he’s gonna want to tag along. That’s the price.”
“I never said I was going to do it!” I hiss at him and push him against the wall in again. “I don’t know if I can convince her.”
Spider only shrugs. “Not my problem, broheim,” he says casually. “By the way, you’re taking me too in whatever little adventure you and Grinder are going on. Let’s call that my price for getting you the people you need to finish your plan.”
No way am I risking Kerri’s life over this. Not when she’s been amazing to me. Not when I’m falling in…
“I’m not going to fucking do it,” I say to him strongly. “You can go back and tell Grinder that you’re a dumbass who doesn’t know what the fuck he’s talking about.”
I let go of Spider and his feet fall to the floor as I turn away. I’m not getting involved in this. Not now. Not after what I’ve built with her.
But Spider isn’t done either.
“Grinder thought you might end up saying that, bro,” Spider says to my turned back. “So, he told me that it’s in your best interests if you follow through on your end of the bargain.”
A bargain I never struck. I’m not bailing Spider out of this one. He can just go fuck himself for placing Kerri in danger like this.
I take one step toward my bunk but apparently Spider isn’t done. “Or else, they’ll make your life Hell, but they’ll make sure to do it by ending hers, amigo.”