Page 5 of Taking

My depression gave way to determination, the kind that propelled a man forward to stick to his desires, regardless of obstacles.

Twinkie gave me back my reason to live, helping me plan my revenge for the day I stepped outside the prison. My list accounted for four individuals: Sheriff Bradshaw and his son Devon, Addilyn Reed, and my father, Lloyd Destil.

And I would have my revenge, come hell or high water. The sheriff would end up in jail, his son would be ruined, the princess would break beneath my mind and body, and the last? He might have been the sperm donor who gave me life, but I would end his.

During years three through five without freedom, I focused on my health too. My strength, both physically and mentally. I gained thirty or so pounds of pure muscle—and used what I’d built to protect Twinkie and the other guys who couldn’t stand up for themselves against the raping bastards inside with us who’d gone too long without a woman.

I’d lost my goddamn mind the first time one of the other inmates touched me, a couple of days after getting locked up. Guess they thought I’d be easy pickings. Knocked his ass out cold—and no one tried to grab mine after that.

I ended up in solitary for that fight, but I’d drawn a line, letting the other fuckers rotting away with me know that I wouldn’t be fucked with—and I turned my focus on playing the game. I behaved and kept to myself except for those dark corners where no cameras existed and I could beat the shit out of or shank anyone who deserved it. I kicked asses in secret and kissed others, hoping my lies would earn me an early parole after only serving a partial sentence.

A supposed poster boy convict—and I fucking walked.

Guess that fucking Sheriff Bradshaw who had seemed above the law didn’t have any sway beyond getting me tossed into jail.

And I’d heard and learned enough from Twinkie and his boyfriend, seen enough in those five years to know how to hit him—hard. Make it hurt.

“You’re going to write to me every week,” Twinkie said, squeezing me tight.

I allowed him to rub his baby-like face against my chest, to enjoy the feel of my hard body he’d often begged for.

“Promise,” I told him, slapping his back in a real bro hug rather than the lover’s embrace he would have preferred. “And find someone better than Rogers, you hear me?”

Twinkie stepped back and winked, his smirk making me roll my eyes.

“Can’t believe you actually like that fucker. He’s ugly as shit and doesn’t treat you much better.”

“He’s got a gorgeous dick,” my cellmate said with a shrug. His smile faded as footsteps approached our cell. “You take that information he gave you and make them pay, G.”

Information—evidence—to link the sheriff to the reason Rogers sat in jail. And the best part? The fucker didn’t even know it existed.

Above the law, my ass. Within a matter of weeks, he’d be in cuffs. Behind bars.

And if shit kept me from going through with my plan? I’d find a dark alley and end his life like I did the two men whose demise earned me Roger’s trust.

I gave Twinkie a tight nod—and the guard showed up at our door.

“Take care,” Twinkie whispered, his hazel eyes welling with tears.

I wished I’d been able to love him, to offer him the attention beyond the occasional snuggle he was always desperate for when waking from nightmares.

“Sorry I couldn’t be more for you, Twinkie.”

“You were everything I needed at this time in my life.” His flashing smile spoke of forced happiness. “I’ll find myself another hunk of man flesh to hold me after my bad dreams. Maybe the next one will let me suck on his nuts in exchange.”

I held his stare, clasping his hand hard until our cell door slid open.

No more words passed between us, and as the door slammed shut once more behind me, a real future ahead, I hoped he would find a man to love him like he wanted.

My only friend in the world, one I definitely could trust to not betray me like the other had done five years earlier.

* * *

I stepped beyond the correctional facilities’ main doors, the winter coat I’d been given hitched up around my damn ears.

Fucking January in Alaska. Dark as shit. Cold as fuck, even though I had the burning need for revenge to keep me warm. But I had no one to meet me like in the movies when an innocent soul finds their freedom.

Chin tucked to my hollow-feeling chest, I headed down the stairs and toward the parking lot.

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