Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 71179 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71179 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
I shrug. “I assume it was. I can’t imagine anyone would sneak a toothbrush into prison.”
“Then perhaps you are also aware that the prison keeps track of which toothbrushes are sold to which inmate.”
My stomach clenches, but I don’t respond.
Ms. Waters pulls out a piece of paper. “According to this copy of the commissary record, a few months ago, a toothbrush with the serial number matching the one on the weapon used by Mr. Flegler was purchased by you, Mr. Bellamy.”
I sputter. “Who’s to say Zion didn’t fucking steal it from me? I want an attorney.”
“First, Mr. Bellamy,” Ms. Waters says, “I would advise you not to use that kind of language in a disciplinary hearing.” She approaches me slowly. “Second, this is an administrative proceeding and you are not allowed to have counsel, as you well know. And third, it is entirely possible that the item in question is stolen. But then we examined your cell, Mr. Bellamy. Do you have any idea of what we might have discovered there?”
My throat closes. I can’t speak.
“May the record show that Mr. Bellamy is not responding,” Ms. Waters says. “In your cell, Mr. Bellamy, we found a small niche between the wall and the floor. Inside this niche we found a very sharp rock, which we sent to forensics. On the rock, they discovered several microscopic pieces of plastic, the color of which match the weapon used in the assault with Mr. Flegler.”
I still don’t respond. I can’t.
“We also found cigarettes in the niche. Also contraband.”
Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck.
“It is clear, Mr. Bellamy, that the weapon of interest was in fact yours. Do you deny it?”
I should stay quiet. But my mind is a blur. I blurt out the first thing I can think.
“He was going to kill me! I had to have a weapon.”
Ms. Waters nods curtly. “If you believed that you were in danger, you should have talked to a correctional officer. They would have helped you.”
“They would have thrown me into solitary.”
“Nonetheless, you would have been safe,” Ms. Waters says. “Mr. Bellamy, I’m afraid that possession of dangerous contraband, in addition to lying under oath, is going to add a significant amount of time to your sentence.”
And every last ounce of Falcon remaining in my body drains away.
Rage.
Wrath.
Ire.
I go rigid.
I’m Savage now. Only Savage.
Forever.
32
SAVANNAH
Falcon is sliding in and out of consciousness, and when the technicians arrive to take him for his imaging studies, I head to the front to fill out his paperwork as best I can. I have no idea what insurance he has or what his actual address is. My God, I don’t even know his birthday.
I do the best I can, and then I sit in the waiting area.
I try to process what just went on.
How?
How did Falcon end up in that warehouse?
Last I heard, he didn’t come home after his parole revocation hearing because he had something to do in Austin.
Next thing I know, I’m getting a phone call the next morning, telling me that they have him.
It was a goon, but was it my grandfather’s goon or the McAllisters’ goon?
Does it even matter at this point?
I call Leif and give him a quick update, and then I wait. I grab a magazine but then put it back. Nothing can take my attention away from Falcon.
From this whole situation.
Falcon is my main concern.
Once he’s out of danger, then I’ll worry about Vinnie and the rest of the family.
Then I’ll worry about my father shooting Miles.
Then I’ll worry—
“Ms. Gallo?”
I jerk at the sound of my name. “Yeah?”
“Dr. Logan wanted me to tell you that Mr. Bellamy has returned from his imaging. We’re admitting him and he’ll be moved to a private room. You can be with him now.”
“Thank God.” I follow her back to the exam room, where Falcon is sleeping.
I kiss his bruised forehead. “Just sleep, babe. It’s the best thing for you.”
A couple orderlies begin moving the bed out of the ER stall and to an elevator.
I look around as we enter the actual hospital.
I was here when Ashley died.
When Raven was here.
Falcon and I made love here.
Though I guess it wasn’t making love at that point.
Still, it was hot and passionate and needy and perfect.
And here we are again, back in this hospital, back where so much of our story began.
Sure, it began at that seedy bar Ashley picked out. Then it began again the next day at the parole office. And again that evening when I went to see Ashley and ran into Falcon when he was visiting Raven.
And so it all began…
We’ve come full circle.
Except we haven’t.
Falcon may have won his parole revocation hearing, and I may be free from Miles McAllister, but this whole thing is far from over.
Vinnie has sacrificed himself for me. Agreed to marry a child. Granted, she won’t be a child when they marry, but Vinnie will be forty-two to her eighteen.