Page 14 of The Fall Guy

Max enters a cubicle, and Kaden eventually finds his own. His tattoos aren’t confined to his arms and neck; they’re everywhere. I shouldn’t be getting obsessive tendencies when it comes to him, but he’s pretty fine to look at.

Jono grabs his towel and heads to the sink, where he brushes his teeth. Bloody hell, I shouldn’t be getting distracted by other men. Jono’s my target. It’s his body I should be studying every inch of.

When I came to prison, it was obvious the curls had to go. They helped create my innocent looking exterior, but didn’t make me go unnoticed. Add in the fact it’s impossible to get fully clean in these shite showers. The decision was easy, they had to go.

Using the soap, I wash down my body before combing it through my hair. Grabbing my towel, I move over to the sinks to brush my teeth.

For obvious reasons, I take the basin next to Jono, trying to make our close proximity seem natural. Under the radar and part of a usual routine is the best way to get away with a crime. He meets my eye, and I raise my eyebrow in greeting.

I’m about to follow him to the toilet area when Felix enters. His boss, the leader of the Nickle gang, has had me marked since I first arrived. Unfortunately, they know more than I’d like about me and are interested in recruiting me.Fuck that.The problem is pissing them off won’t help me stay invisible.

He grabs my ass, but I ignore him. If I go into the toilet area now, it’s likely he’ll follow me.

CHAPTER 7

KADEN

Max hada point about wanking off; I can’t last a month without knocking one out, but I can’t even get it hard with all these men around me. Other than at the shower pipe, I can’t look anywhere else. There are literally naked men everywhere. Old, young, hairy, bold, modest, flamboyant—anything goes in this bathroom.

Last night with Rio was a glitch. He’s a good-looking man but I don’t fancy men. I’ve never dated one or had more than fleeting thoughts about one. It’s probably because he tried to kill me, and it made my brain short circuit—that must be it.

I might be having a dry spell with women—or I guess now I’m in prison, it’s a drought—but that doesn’t mean I’m interested in just any warm body. I think back to the night we were in the sports centre; his blonde curly hair and virgin skin were alluring. I shake my head, hoping the thoughts will vanish. I’m already going mad in Eastward, and I’ve only been inside for a few days.

Once I’m clean, I go to get dressed before joining Max at the sink. The toothpaste is a cheap home brand that tastes as good as it looks.

“Where’s Ernie?” I ask after spitting into the sink.

“Our senior members get shown a little more dignity than us. He got to shower before the riff-raff.” He grins like he’s happy we’re the undesirable people.

“Good for him. There’s got to be some perks to getting old.” Ernie is important in Eastward, so his age probably isn’t the only reason he gets special treatment.

“I guess so.” Max nods, seeming to agree with my answer.

I finish brushing my teeth before returning to my room.

Placing my toothbrush on the sink, I sit on Rio’s bed so I can put my hands over my head.

Sonia was right; my brother wouldn’t have lasted in here, but I’m unsure I’m doing much better. I wish I had a user guide. Some way of knowing how to quicken the days without wasting my life away.

I need to find out how to make money for phone calls, tobacco, and shampoo. Even some decent toilet roll wouldn’t go amiss. Rio doesn’t seem to have any luxury items, but I’ve seen others with them.

One of the male guards enters the room. I get to my feet, not sure what I’m supposed to do, but he doesn’t seem to notice what I’m doing.

“The governor wants to see you,” he says, looking at something written on a scrap of paper.

I nod, moving towards the door so I can follow him.

We navigate the prison, slipping through locked gates and onto the top floor. The governor’s room smells cleaner than the ground below.

I’m gestured into a chair and take a seat. The governor takes a few minutes before she joins me, taking the chair opposite as the guard steps out.

“Mr Marsden, thank you for joining me.” She shuffles some folders on her desk, not meeting my gaze.

“What can I do for you, Governor?” I ask. I don’t know the rules here, but being polite is probably the right way to go.

“Please call me ma’am.”

“Yes… ma’am.” I hesitate before finishing.

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