Page 56 of Until the Day You're Mine

Tayida – Ty – Beloved One

JULY 2022

Tayida wakes up at four in the morning, just like he has for years now. His disappointment is as profound as ever when his eyes crack open, and he tilts his head to the right, only to see someone else rather than Cyril sleeping in the bed on the opposite side of his cell.

It is self-imposed torture to remind himself, that not only has his friend been gone for years now, but Ty had failed him, leaving his last wish of protecting Rian at all cost unfulfilled. Rian is out there, alone, and probably suffering as much as Ty is.

Tayida has a meeting with his lawyer today and he doesn’t want to be too hopeful, as every single time he dares to ask what his chances of getting out are, the guy seems to be ready with a cold bucket of water.

He cleans himself at the small sink and waits for the doors to slide open so he can join the general population for breakfast and then get this shit over with.

Sullivan catches up to him, just before he enters the large mess hall, and they eat in silence. His friend knows not to say some inspirational nonsense, in a useless attempt to get his hopes up on days when he is due to meet his lawyer. There have been exactly five of these visits for the last four years, and two of those had resulted in him being sent in the “hole” each time for six months.

During those appointments with his legal counsel, he had pleaded his innocence. He had demanded to be heard, to be given a chance to present the evidence he had acquired. He had offered to testify, and he had suggested witnesses that could confirm his account of events. Each time, he tried to make his case, it only landed him in solitary where he felt his mind go wild with memories and regret.

Thus, the third time he got to speak to his lawyer, he barely said anything at all. His suspicions were finally confirmed – that man was not there for his benefit. After that third meeting, he had left in a better mood than Ty had seen him arrive. That was enough to convince him, he was truly on his own. He was about to slowly rot in this hellhole, his case buried under piles of bureaucracy and deception, seemingly destined never to see the light of day.

The years he had spent behind bars gave him an excellent opportunity for reflection. Talking to his friend Sullivan helps too, but he knows this place is fucked up. He can’t tell him everything even if he wants to. The secrets that he carries must remain his own.

Sullivan is there for life. He has told him this much at least. He knows not to say shit that’s not fucking real. Second chances, even for those falsely convicted like Ty, are not a viable possibility when all the odds are against him.

All his friend does, when he gets up to leave for his meeting is offer his fist for a bump without looking up from his food, and the pocket-sized Ashlyn Drewek book he is devouring. Something about vampires, and it’s only fitting as that’s Sullivan’s type – deadly, fair, and grouchy.

Ty is escorted to the part of the prison where small rooms are fitted with plain desks and a few chairs for meetings like this. His lawyer isn’t in the room, but his laptop and files are spread out on the table and a messenger bag is hanging from the side of his chair.

Ty tries to remember the last time he has seen any of this paperwork and his mind comes up blank. He sits in his chair, growing more curious. Just as a weird sense of unease begins to gnaw at him and he is about to lean over the piles of files, the door swings open.

A man he has never met before rushes in holding up two coffees in either hand. A greasy paper bag is precariously hanging clasped between his teeth. He’s young and looks plenty energetic, as he kicks the door shut and then walks over to Ty, grinning.

His neat, albeit plain, smart clothing is a far cry from the stuffy expensive attire Ty was accustomed to seeing on his actual lawyer. The one that has done a better job fucking him over rather than helping him out of this legal nightmare. He hasn’t seen the guy in roughly a year. This new development makes him weary.

The guy grins at Ty, looking oddly excited as he shuffles back to the table, handing him over one of the coffee cups, then placing the greasy brown bag between them.

“Help yourself. They’re still piping hot.” The sugary smell of freshly baked donuts hits him hard, and he is annoyed at how his mouth waters immediately. Tayida thinks absent-mindedly, that if his stomach growls right fucking now, this would be really humiliating. He might have to clock Mr. Phan straight in his cheerful mug.

This ain't a fucking picnic.

The guy goes back to check the door behind him, making a sign to the guard, and after the briefest moment of hesitation, he offers his hand to Ty.

“Tayida Wright, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you. My name is Christopher Phan. I’m your new lawyer.” He is smiling at him, and his eyes crinkle at the corners. He waits patiently for Ty to shake his hand and when he does, his smile is even wider.

Ty is taking his sweet time studying him. The coffee he has brought him smells like the real deal. Ty desperately wants to gulp it down, but he forces himself to focus on the importance of this moment. He can’t bring himself to say anything yet, and even though this guy seems all sorts of chipper, Ty has learned his lesson – this man needs to prove to him he’s here to actually help before Tayida decides to talk to him.

He waits patiently for Phan to start the conversation. The fact that he’s smiling, doesn’t necessarily mean he is about to deliver good news.

“Okay,” he says, as he is organizing his folders, seemingly looking for something. He finds some forms and looks up at Ty. He is now apparently in work mode and all serious.

“I’ve been appointed to your case recently, and I have come across some inconsistencies in the due process as well as the paperwork that is attached to your file. Are you aware, that there are no witness testimonies to confirm any of the charges raised against you?”

Ty nods in acknowledgment, still unsure where this conversation is going. He had mentioned it so many fucking times, only to be told his word didn’t matter. That there was irrevocable evidence against him. That he had attempted to slander Harris Kelly to cover up his own involvement in the murder of Sebastian Scott.

After all, there were countless records of complaints that Tayida had filed against Scott. After their only mission, Sebastian turns up dead. Mutilated beyond recognition. Even though Tayida isn’t accused of his murder right away, as testimonies can confirm his whereabouts, the moment he tries to bring attention to the part Harris Kelly has played in the gruesome murder of his “beloved” nephew all hell breaks loose.

Dozens of servicemen can testify to their volatile interactions. There are many fellow soldiers, that have gone as far as saying, in a misguided attempt to defend Ty, that Scott had it coming.

The way Harris had twisted Sebastian’s tragic fate, to serve his own agenda, was diabolical. A mind fuck of the worst kind. Ludicrous nonsense Tayida had given up disputing since there was no one interested in hearing him out. The only person, who could give an honest account of what had gone down between them was dead. Cyril’s testimony would have been his saving grace and the can of worms to swarm the perfect fake life of Harris Kelly.

Yet there had been no trial.

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