Page 157 of The Tempted

“I got one of my guys working on coercing one of the C.O.’s to copy the visitor’s log. You have any idea who can be locked up over there?”

I racked my brain trying to think of who it could be but came up short. If it was one of our associates I think, I would’ve remembered but to be fair, before I went away there was a lot of shit going on with Victor trying to avenge Val’s death. At the time, I stayed under Victor’s radar, as things with Adrianna and me were serious. A few of the guys were pinched for bullshit crimes, nothing that would have put them away for this long.

“It’s a maximum-security prison, no jerk off resort type penitentiary,” Jack added.

“My guy gets us the log, we go pay whoever it is a fucking visit and do what we got to do to get the goods on Jimmy.”

“Wait a minute, you’re getting ahead of yourself man. I know how badly you want this, I do, but he could be visiting a fucking uncle or someone who went away for robbing a grocery store. You want to drive all the way up there to have a sit down with some guy we don’t fucking know and get him to spill the beans on Jimmy.”

“You remember you told me you had a gut feeling? I didn’t fucking question you brother. I stood by your side and let this shit play out until the answers started to unfold for you. You still have that gut feeling, you still believe it’s him?”

I looked at him for a moment before letting out a heavy sigh. “Yeah.”

“Well, I’m telling you my gut is screaming at me that this is something. This guy, whoever he is, is the key to what we’re trying to do. You going to stand by my side and let this unfold for me or you going to give me lip?”

He was right, Jack wanted it to be Victor this whole time, but because of my hunch he started to get on board with the Jimmy lead. He never once doubted me or caused me to doubt myself.

“Give me ten minutes,” I said.

“Is that all it takes?” Adrianna spoke up from the doorway. She wore a pair of my sweats and one of my T-shirts as she leaned against the doorjamb. She crossed her arms against her chest and stared viciously at me.

“Jack, Adrianna. Adrianna, Jack,” I introduced as I reached around and cupped the back of my neck. She was going to fucking kill me.

“Nice to meet you. Are you one of my father’s goons too?” She asked sarcastically.

“Do I look like one?” He questioned her, glancing at me out of the corner of his eyes.

She bit her lip, giving Jack a once over with her eyes. “No, I guess you don’t. Too much leather and not enough Teflon,” she declared, shrugging her shoulders and looking at me. “I’ll just grab my things and get out of here.”

“Wait a minute,” I urged.

“No, I’m not in the mood to do this, Anthony.” I knew that tone of voice all too well. She was teetering on the edge of damning me to hell. This time I’m sure she’d be the one lighting the match, happily too.

“I’m sure you’re a nice guy Jack and it’s real nice to meet you but you have horrible timing,” she said, patting him on his shoulder as she brushed past him to retrieve her things from the bathroom.

“Fucking great,” I mumbled.

“She’s a catch man,” Jack said then clapped his hands. “So, ten minutes?”

I liked Jack, wanted to help him, but right then I wanted to punch him in the nose.

---