Page 17 of Merciless Protector

His voice was unmistakable, regardless of the fake accents he used throughout his day. I shifted the security bar before using the knob to open the door.

Griff’s grin was a welcome sight. I stepped out of the way as he lumbered in. We exchanged a quick hug before stepping back.

“It’s good to see you, brother.” Though we weren’t related in any way, a bond had formed between us, which was as thick as blood. “I see you’re still a brunette,” he said with a chuckle.

Born with blond hair that matched my twin’s, I was fortunate that Griff hadn’t completely followed my direction for no contact while I was locked up. A lawyer had visited me in jail despite what I’d told my handler. Since he wasn’t my assigned lawyer, we met in the general room, where all prisoners met with visitors. When we shook hands as he introduced himself, he passed me a small vial. He thought he was giving me drugs. It was, in fact, hair dye. The man hadn’t stayed long because I’d refused his offer of counsel after he said my old lady sent him. Even if Griff and I hadn’t discussed this as a means of communication, I’d guessed he’d been the one to send him.` `

I matched Griff’s chuckle with one of my own and said, “Thanks for that. You’re looking like a rock star yourself.”

His hair curled at his nape. Longer than I’d ever seen it. He ruffled it a bit. “You like?” he asked and did a little twirl.

I clapped him on the back. “Sometimes, man. I wonder about you,” I teased. “Anyway, it’s good to see you. You’re a sight for sure.”

He held up a bag I hadn’t noticed. That just went to show me how off my game I was. Griff might not have been dangerous to me, but training meant I needed to know what was in someone’s hands at all times. It was something that didn’t turn off when work was over. Yet, I hadn’t been aware. That bothered me, but I didn’t say it.

“What have you found?” I asked instead as I took the bag from him. There appeared to be clothes inside and I set the bag on the floor near the bed.

Griff smirked and spoke in his normal Scottish brogue. “He hasn’t responded to our messages yet.” His hacker was on the dark web as me to make contact. “But we know where he’ll be.”

For the next hour, we hashed out a plan that included his hacker.

“So, what’s up with you and Kelsey?” I asked Griff when we’d finished working out the details.

“Kelsey?” He asked with his face scrunched up as if that was a ludicrous question. I just raised a brow. His face relaxed. “Okay, fine. Nothing. She’s an employee, and that’s it.”

“Are you sure about that? Because she’s something, and I’m a bit lonely.” It was a bluff, but I got the reaction I wanted.

A storm raged in his eyes as they narrowed on me. “Leave her be.”

I held up my hands in surrender. “I’m kidding. I can see you’ve staked a claim, anyway.”

Tongue in cheek, he repeated, “She’s an employee and nothing more.” I nodded, not buying it at all. “Besides, ye got a thing Tayla. Don’t ye, brother?”

There was no denying it. “When you admit you have feelings for Kelsey, I’ll admit what I’m feeling for Tayla.” As if there were words for what I felt. I’d known the woman for minutes, not hours or days. Yet that time was more intimate than some knew of people they’d known for years.

In silent agreement, we left what we both felt unsaid. “Tomorrow night,” he said.

“Tomorrow,” I agreed before he walked out the door.

Being alone again was a blessing and a curse. I hadn’t had much alone time on the inside. But being left with only my thoughts to keep me company wasn’t a great space to be in either. The anger and rage I felt for all that had occurred, I channeled into my new mission. Though David Royal hated my guts, I would save his sister again. Not for him, but for me this time. No matter how he may have poisoned her mind against me.

I ordered room service, and after eating, I took a very long, hot shower. Only after did I give in to more sleep. Something I’d been deprived of for months. As much as I didn’t want to revisit my nightmares, I wouldn’t be effective with a lack of downtime.

It took longer to sink into that darkness than it had the night before. I had to turn on the TV to some random thriller movie to quiet my mind before sleep took me.

Showers inside were nothing like the one I’d taken a while ago. They weren’t clean or safe. It was probably the most vulnerable time next to sleep that you could have inside. You had to be quick and efficient and pray like hell the guard on duty couldn’t be bought.

At the time, I didn’t know what the vial the lawyer gave me was for. I couldn’t even look at it until I got to a spot hidden from camera views and a place where the guards wouldn’t take notice. Only then did I realize what it was. It had been weeks, and my blond hair was peeking out at the roots. Not enough that most would take notice. But enough that I had to decide to shave my head or let everyone know I’d been hiding my true self.

Griff had anticipated my need and gotten me dye. I had to risk a longer shower and one without anyone or many in the area who would notice what I was doing. Over the years undercover, I’d become quite the hair guy. I couldn’t go to a salon and have my hair done and risk the kingpin of Chicago finding out. So, all the dye work was up to me, including my eyebrows. But at home, I’d have a mirror. Inside, I had nothing but memory to get this done. There wasn’t a lot of dye either. I had one shot.

Showers were open for use anytime when we weren’t locked down in our cells except for mealtime and during head count. I waited until yard time and took a chance that most would want to maximize their time outside and the showers would be empty.

I was right, but not for long. I’d gotten the dye in my hair and worked it in, dusting my brows with my eyes closed when I heard footsteps.

Fighting was a normality inside. If not for the mixed martial arts training I’d undertaken, knowing that I was going deep undercover with a cartel and couldn’t rely completely on weapons, I would have lost my life or mind many times over the past three months.

But not even that saved me that day. Someone had found out I was a former Chicago cop. And just after I’d finished with my hair, I closed my eyes for a second and it happened. I was blindsided by a blow to the head. A guard, an honorable one, heard the ruckus and broke it up. A few broken ribs, bruised kidneys and other things I couldn’t bear to think about. I spent a few days in the infirmary and a few more in solitary. Solitary may save your life, but it can break your mind as you suffer through the replay of memories.

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