I am not feeling very logical right now.
And if half the fucking prison sees me go down through solitary, where there is literally nothing to their knowledge…
“Fuck,” I repeat, still clenching and unclenching my hands as I stand there completely torn.
“Ya’ll say that too much,” Theo pants as he finally catches up. “But seriously, what the fuck are you doing?”
Ethan lets out an undignified snort, taking his hand from his face. His cheekbone is already turning colors and I’d feel bad, but he knows better than to touch me. Neither of us answer the old man’s question and I know they are both waiting for me to do…something.
I can’t go back down with everyone watching.
I can’t smash through walls.
I can’t get drunk and try to relieve the fiery pain of Ana’s absence.
I cannot even fucking consider what those fucking animals are doing to her.
A hint of movement catches my attention out of the corner of my eye. Something inside me tells me to bring my head up and only to see Desmond slinking off. Snarling, I take long steps to follow the fucker. A few inmates around the edges of the yard scatter as I make my way through.
I need to let off some fucking steam.
* * *
I feel significantly better after beating the shit out of Desmond, but watching the fucker basically sobbing now is really killing that high. He’s lucky he isn’t dead, so I don’t know what he’s crying about. It took me mere minutes to find him, the other prisoners literally pointing me in his direction. Just another reminder that it’s every man for himself in here. I never liked this guy anyway.
“What now, boss?” Ethan says in a quiet tone. We’re sitting across from each other in my favorite torture cell—what the fuck else am I supposed to call it—and fucking asshole over there had to wake up. My teeth grind together in an effort not to walk across the room and slit his throat right now.
“Will you fucking stop it!” I shout and Desmond’s cries get quieter, going down to a whimper that sets me on edge in a different way. Pathetic.
Growling, I start to stand but Ethan does too, staring at me severely.
“It’s enough, Ax,” he says firmly. “You got it out of your system, now leave him alone. We need to figure out what’s next.”
“He’s in our way and needs to be taken care of,” I grit out, taking another step forward.
“Man, you know—”
“Please, don’t fucking kill me!” Desmond sobs. “I’ll tell you, just don’t fucking kill me.”
Ethan turns and frowns at him. Desmond’s eyes go wide as we both stare. Ethan takes a step forward and grabs the man by his shirt, all hint of niceness gone.
“Tell us what,” he demands before grunting and dropping the man. The sharp tang of piss reaches my nostrils and I grimace in disgust.
We stand over him, both of us now very eager to hear what he has to say. I guess beating a man unconscious before he has a chance to say anything works as a good motivator for uncovering secrets. Going to have to remember that for the next time I need to do an interrogation.
“Tell us everything you know, and maybe we won’t fucking kill you.”
* * *
We step out of the cell, locking the door behind us. I kept my promise and he’s still alive, for now. Sometime during the enlightening tell-all, I sent Ethan to grab the other family heads. Including that fucker John.
I grin as I make my way towards the meeting, glad to see Emilio, Luis, Theo and John are all present. No one is speaking and looks of confusion and nervousness are evident on everyone’s faces.
Everyone’s eyes are on me as I enter, and I don’t doubt I look like the devil himself. If the devil wore blood spattered prison clothes anyways. Ethan catches my eye, giving me a curt nod. His woman’s out there too and he’s with me.
“John,” I start, and the man goes a shade paler. I have to fight to keep the manic grin off my face. “Ethan tells me you saw Ana give herself up. What did you see?”
His eyes dart over to Ethan before me, but he doesn’t quite meet my gaze. Watching him further ignites the fire inside me but I keep it contained. The promise of what I know is coming stills the demons inside.