Page 89 of Babalon

Swiping a radio, I put it in my holster and slide the ear piece into my ear, attaching the clip to my vest, giving me easier access to the mic. Geared up, and ready to start my shift now, I exit the office and traverse the hallways. Rounding the corner I run into an inmate, both of us stumbling back.

For fuck’s sake, they need to put mirrors at the end of each corridor.

“Watch where the fuck… oh God, it’s you.”

Lucien stares down at me, expressionless outside of the tick in his jaw. He sets me on edge and not in the way I want to be. I refuse to shy away from him however, holding awkward eye contact while my hands rest at my duty belt. Right pointer finger tapping on it, itching to grab my baton.

“Don’t think about it, Officer Pierce.”

“Get out of my fucking way, Lucien, and I won’t.”

“You have a foul mouth on you, do you know that?”

“You sound like my father, you fuck with me the way he did, and you’ll end up the same predicament.” I threaten.

“Yeah, and what is that?”

“On his way into a six-foot-deep hole, now move, I need to get to my post.”

“Did you admit to committing a crime, Nadia? Color me impressed.”

“Did that do it for you? Heard you were dropped here for pleading not-guilty at your trial. You seem very guilty to me.”

Lucien steps closer then, hand reaching to hook under my chin and tilt my head back more than it already was from how it cranes to look up at him. He hooks the very tip of his pointer and thumb fingers into the soft tissue under my jaw, almost like he was trying to hold me like a fish.

“If only you knew what was happening around you, Nadia. You’d be a little nicer and wouldn’t run your mouth about things you cannot understand.”

“Why don’t you enlighten me, not like you can be charged again. Double jeopardy and all that.”

I swallow, the pain from his fingers probably one of the most uncomfortable things I have experienced here. Then with a slight pull, it was like he digs them in further and drew my jaw near his. Leaning in, he runs his mouth by my ear, speaking softly near the canal.

“I’d have to kill you if I told you and you’re so pretty to look at, I think the entire inmate population would come for my head.”

“Get your fucking hands off her.”

I nearly whip my head to the left, to see who was approaching us but I already know. His voice, the one that whispers the filthiest commands during last night's dream.

Kace!

“Who do you think you’re speaking to, friend?” Lucien snarls.

“You, now let Officer Pierce go before I make your problem my problem.”

“Interesting.” Lucien comments, finally unhooking his fingers from my jaw and stepping back. His hands shove into the front of his jumper while Kace steps up to my side. Though he doesn’t touch me, I know he is aching to by the way his eyes flick over the parts of my face Lucien touched. A look of concern filling his gaze warms my insides.

We both turn to gaze at Lucien and the strange fucker has a grin on his face, lower lip rolled in slightly where his top teeth pinch it. If he were a shark, the flesh would be shredded with how hard he is biting it. When he lets it go, his tongue wets the skin and he chuckles.

“Interesting indeed. I had an inkling but now that I have seen it with my own eyes… I’ll see you two around.”

We don’t say shit as he walks off, Kace’s hand sliding into mine. His fingers lacing with my own and giving a slight squeeze for comfort. When Lucien is out of sight, Kace turns back to me and nods his head.

“Let me escort you to your post. Don’t need that fucker bothering you again.”

“I’m fine, thank you though.”

“No need to thank me, baby girl, now come on.”

Sarcastic fuck.

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