Page 57 of Debt of My Soul

Reaching for it, I pause on a folded shirt next to it. The soft cotton fabric slides through my hands as I pinch a portion, rubbing it between my fingers.

I grab for it, spreading the V-neck shirt in front of me. The gray shirt is an extra-large, and I bring a hand to my belly, relieved to have something to wear again, even if it’ll hang down past my knees.

Dropping the blanket I’ve cocooned myself in, I pull the shirt over my head. Cedar and charcoal envelop me, and I purposely pull the corner of the V up to my nose, inhaling the scent. It’s warm and clean—the only two things that matter to me right now. The intoxicating scent is a happy accident.

Faster than the last time, I down the water in two gulps and close my eyes, relishing it. The anxiety of whether I should be rationing it blooms in my gut. What if I don’t get more until tomorrow? I downed the whole thing. Would it have been better to take small sips throughout the day?

I tell myself the next cup to show up in my cell will be different.

As the day moves on, I determine I can, in fact, tell when night falls. Despite being in a windowless cell, the slightest dimming takes place. Similar to dark clouds blocking out the sun on a clear blue-sky day. The growling in my stomach also indicates the end of another day with limited water and zero food. I’d like to know how long they are giving Adam. Does he even know?

As the already backlit cell morphs into further dusk, another clicking sound from the hallway’s door sounds, and I glance down at the empty cup. It’s rare for me to have two cups a day. Unease prickles back up my spine again, my shoulders sore from the constant tension held between them.

I sense him before I see him. Each heavy footfall echoes between long strides where the boot meets the floor. Liam peers at me through the bars, his eyes catching on the shirt I’m wearing. His nostrils flare in the briefest of moments. Still staring at me, he backs up until his back hits the empty cell across from mine, and he sinks to the floor.

His legs are pulled up and bent, allowing his arms to drape over each kneecap. Both of his hands come together to twist the rings tugged over his fingers. I stare at him, and he meets my gaze with a faintly amused smirk on his face.

For the first time in this exceptionally quiet cell, loud thumping music sounds directly above me. And as if on cue, Liam purses his lips and raises his chin, leaning his head back so it smacks between two of the cell bars behind him. He closes his eyes, the rapid movement of his chest slowing with each breath.

I squint, eyes darting back and forth between him and the hallway that disappears out of my line of sight.

What the heck is he doing?

Chapter 23

Liam

Ican feel her eyes on me.

The look on her face as she watches me sit on the floor outside her cell would be almost comical if it weren’t for her messed up situation.

Damn it, Adam.

This is the last thing I need to be dealing with right now. With Darrin being out of pocket for a while, I’ve been afforded a significant opportunity, but leave it to Blitz to get in my way. Took it upon himself to open the clubhouse for a Friday night party, and without Darrin here, I don’t trust it not to devolve—a whole new level of debauchery.

Many of our dealers are on the compound for the weekend, picking up Jackpot and the levels of alcohol mixing with it concerns me. While my first thought should be on the job I need to do, I found my thoughts drifting to Fleur and the last time I had to make an appearance down here. Blitz can’t keep it in his pants. He has to have the newest shiny thing. The fact he mentioned killing the girl is unhinged. Darrin isn’t one to support this, but his trip for an undetermined amount of time has me on edge. Leaving Blitz in charge is a mistake we’ll pay for.

Fleur doesn’t deserve this. The crew has always had it out for Adam after Darrin allowed him off from his previous debt, even though I’m paying the price. I’m afraid Fleur will be next, and I’m not sure what to do.

I peek out of one eye to find her still standing, arms crossed over her chest and eyes trained on my hands clasped together between my legs. I severely underestimated the decision to give her one of my shirts. The fabric hangs low, the V coming between her breasts because of how large it is on her. Better than the lace bra she was left with after Blitz attacked her. I wanted to gouge his eyes out for even looking at her. She is pure light, and the thought any of us looking at her might taint her soul scares me.

“What are you doing?” Fleur’s soft feminine voice soothes some of the turmoil rolling around in the pit of my stomach, and I crack my other eye open.

“They never play the music I like.” I keep my voice low, cold even. While the camera’s red light is off, I know for sure it still works. I’ve watched her, curious how she’s doing. I watch her toss and turn, never truly getting adequate sleep. Whenever the guys ask me what I’m doing, I make excuses about ensuring she doesn’t escape—like she actually could.

I could never understand why people watch others sleep … until her. The urge to draw her assaulted me until I could no longer watch the live footage. It’s creepy and wrong. She’s interested in my brother, and I’ve effectively aided in capturing her.

“So you came down here to pout?” Her hissing tone nearly breaks my frown, but I grunt. I didn’t expect this feisty disposition from her. Perhaps the glimpse of brokenness reflected in her eyes was wrong.

When I don’t answer, she snorts, moving to sit on her cot, which doesn’t look any more comfortable than the floor my ass is planted on.

“Any news on Adam?” she asks once she has pulled the blanket up and over her shoulders. It’s not cold in here, but I’ve seen her wrap herself often enough to know she does it for comfort. I narrow my eyes as she fiddles with something at her wrist, but I can’t quite make it out. A myriad of emotions works across her face as anger mutes her concern and worry. I decide to put her out of her misery.

“He’s fine.”

Her eyes widen, and she stiffens, sitting taller. “Really? Because he was unconscious and badly beaten when you took me.”

I grind the back of my teeth as she lumps me in with the rest of them. As if I didn’t break a direct order to risk coming out there, knowing it was going to be bad.

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