Isela's Love (8 page)

He ran around her, cutting her off, as soon as she and Mae turned down their hallway. She stopped. Mae stopped too. Guarros glanced down at Mae, scowling.

“Don’t you have somewhere to be?” he growled.

She looked at Isela wide-eyed, unsure of what she should do.

Isela sighed. “It’s okay, Mae. Go on.”

Mae scurried off, glancing behind her before hurrying through her door.

Guarros stepped forward, backing Isela up against the wall.

He licked his lips as he traced a finger down Isela’s neck and over her shoulder. Turning away from him, she fought the urge to gag.

“What do you want?” She gritted her teeth.

He chuckled. “You know what I want, Isela, but that’s not why I’m here. It seems Keeri is under the impression that you’re jealous of my attention toward her. She said the two of you had words.”

Isela made a mental note to strangle Keeri.

“We barely spoke—”

“Isela, dear, you have no reason to be jealous. You know I don’t care about the other girls.”

Isela ducked out of his reach. “I assure you, Warden, jealousy is not a feeling I have where you’re concerned. Keeri is a liar and just wants to make trouble for me.”

His eyes narrowed, his features darkening. “You seem perfectly capable of that all by yourself with that mouth of yours. Maybe a taste of my belt might help you hold your tongue.”

Isela chewed her bottom lip, not daring to push him any further for fear he’d make good on his threat. The last time he’d left her with welts that lasted over a week.

“I’m sorry, sir. I just don’t appreciate people telling lies about me.”

He chuckled, softening. “I can see that. Don’t worry about Keeri. I’ll take care of her. But remember, Isela, I’m doing it for you.”

He cupped her cheek and then walked away. Isela found it hard to feel bad for Keeri. She deserved to be punished, but probably not the beating she was about to get. Maybe she’d learn to keep her mouth shut next time. Isela scrubbed her face, trying to wash Guarros’ touch off of her skin. After she returned to her room, she changed and climbed into bed, exhausted.

****

She gazed into his eyes, hurt by the anger and frustration she saw there. “I’m sorry,” she said, placing her hand on his chest.

“Don’t,” he stopped her, pushing her hand away. “Don’t tell me you’re sorry when you’re not even willing to try.”

“I want to. I do. But what if we get caught? He’ll kill you.”

“We won’t get caught.” The man began pacing. “I’m done watching him hurt you. I’ll be the one who kills him, Isela. Make no mistake about that.” He stopped pacing and pulled her into his arms, burying his face in her hair, whispering against her neck, “I love you, Isela, please come with me. Love me back.”

She threw her arms around his neck. “I do love you. You know that.”

He kissed her, deeply, his tongue lavishly lingering over her lips, devouring her, sending blasts of heat spiraling through her core. He pulled away for a second to stare at her lips hungrily. She nodded, breathlessly.

“I’ll do it. I’ll come with you.”

He threw his head back and laughed, picking her up and twirling her around. Isela couldn’t remember ever being so happy, even through the red haze.

She woke up panting yet again, feeling confused. Who was the brown-eyed man? Why did she keep dreaming of him and why did he make her so happy? Why did his touch leave her dizzied and unsteady? She touched her lips. And his kiss...

“Calm down, Isela,” she told herself, “He’s only a dream.” No real man could ever cause her to lose herself like that. No real man could ever be that perfect.

Chapter Nine

The Council’s guards were two large, humorless men. They’d agreed to meet at the farm so Maggie didn’t have to watch her brother being taken into custody, even though it was only pretend. In case Guarros had an informant, they wanted to make it authentic.

The guards grabbed hold of Brendan and placed him in shackles. Darrios agreed to come as far as the gate, but thought it too risky to go any further. Brendan and the guards agreed. Another prisoner, a real one, was already chained to the wagon. The guards hooked up Brendan then got back in the wagon and left, the prisoners walking behind.

Laughing, one of the guards yelled over his shoulder, “Make sure you keep up, fellas. We won’t be stoppin,’ so if you fall behind, you’ll be draggin.’”

Brendan’s crime was to have been stealing food from his employer, a bar in Midland, and distributing it to the poor. They wanted him to be a sympathetic criminal so Isela wouldn’t fear him. A couple of fights at the bar were added to the jacket so he’d have a somewhat tougher image for some of the more aggressive inmates.

By the time they reached the prison, Brendan had fully assumed his role. The other prisoner hadn’t spoken the entire trip. Brendan followed his lead.

The prison guards met them at the gate then led them to the incoming door. A balding, bloated man, who Brendan figured was Guarros, stood scowling behind two other men. He attempted to fold his arms over his chest, but his fat belly made it impossible. His fingers didn’t even touch end to end.

The Council guards produced the prisoner paperwork, announcing their names and offenses as they handed it to the prison guards.

“Arvin Reed, residential robbery, Midland, three times. Brendan Malone, robbery, repeated distribution of stolen goods, Midland. Assault and battery, three times, Midland.”

The warden stepped forward and snatched the paperwork from the guard. He chuckled when he read it.

“I can see we got a couple of dangerous criminals here, boys.”

He motioned with his hand for the guards to lead the prisoners to him. “Thanks, we’ll take it from here. You can be on your way.”

Turning, he went inside, waiting until his prisoners were secured before dropping the door shut. He glared at the two men before him for several minutes, saying nothing, obviously trying to seem intimidating. Brendan already thought him to be a pathetic excuse of a man. He couldn’t wait to take this asshole down.

“We got rules ’round here, dirt bags,” Guarros began. “I know you boys aren’t accustomed to that, but I assure you, they will be enforced. If you break ’em, the punishment will be swift and severe.” He chuckled and looked to his guards. “Just ask around. Understand?”

Brendan nodded, stared straight ahead, and said, “Yes, sir.”

The other prisoner, Arvin blew out a breath. “Whatever,” he muttered.

Anger flashed in Guarros’ eyes. He pulled from his pocket what appeared to be a cigar and he lit it. He stepped right in front of Arvin and blew smoke in his face, causing him to sputter and cough. He glanced to his guard and then back to Arvin.

“I don’t think that was very respectful. Roy, do you think that was very respectful?”

“No, sir, I don’t,” the guard answered.

Moving inches from Arvin’s face, Guarros said in a deadly monotone, “I think you need to learn some respect, son.” He stepped back away from Arvin. “Show him some respect, Roy.”

Brendan stood by helplessly while Roy, Guarros’ guard, threw Arvin to the ground, punching and kicking him. The man cried out, unable to fight back or even block the blows due to his restraints. He begged for the guard to stop, but the guard and Guarros laughed. He continued to kick him in the face until Arvin lost consciousness.

“All right, all right, Roy. That’s enough fun for one day,” the warden said. “Let’s get these boys settled.”

****

Isela turned her attention to all the hushed whispers and people gathering near the parlor door. She only saw the new prisoner from the back as they led him away to his cell.

“I thought there were two,” she said.

One of the servants sidled up next to her. “There are. One of them lipped off to the warden.”

“Not very smart.”

“He knows that now. He’s in the infirmary, unconscious.”

“Is he going to be all right?”

“What do you care? I’d think you’d be happy it was someone else besides you for a change,” he said. Then he ran off to follow the commotion.

Isela stood there, stunned. Was Guarros’ treatment of her really that common of knowledge among the inmates and servants? That would explain the sympathetic looks she sometimes got from the old-timers.

“I gotta get out of here,” she muttered under her breath.

She gathered her cleaning supplies and moved onto her next task. She immersed herself in her work, not hearing when someone approached her from behind as she polished the trim. She whirled when she heard breathing from behind. Keeri stood in front of her, hands on her hips, staring daggers at Isela.

Isela glanced around, but everyone had gone to check out the new inmates.

“How long have you been standing there?” Isela demanded.

“Long enough to stab you in the back,” she answered, acidly.

“Again?” Isela asked sarcastically.

“Fuck you, Isela.”

“What is your problem?”

“You. You’re my problem. Every time I get his attention, you steal it from me.”

“Who’s attention? Who are you talking about?”

“The warden, of course.”

Isela took a deep, calming breath.

“Keeri, I promise you, I do not want anything from that man, least of all his attention. Why do you want it?”

“I told you, if I do things for him, he does things for me...but you’re trying to ruin it.”

Isela’s anger erupted. She pointed her finger in Keeri’s face, standing taller. “No, you did that when you lied and told him I was jealous of you. What were you thinking? I want him to stay the hell away from me, and you just made him more determined.”

“Well, you told him I lied and he...he...” She sniffled. “He was so mad. He came into my room and he took off his belt...”

Isela interrupted. “I know, Keeri. You don’t have to say it.”

She found herself feeling sorry for Keeri, remembering her own experience.

“With these marks on my legs and ass, how am I supposed to get the new guy’s attention?”

“Wait, what?”

“You heard me. Thanks to you, I have to wait to make my move.”

“Oh. My. God. And here I was feeling sorry for you because Guarros hurt you...and all you’re worried about is whether or not it will prevent you from having sex with someone, a complete stranger? What is wrong with you?”

“Fresh meat doesn’t come around here that often. You gotta take what you can get.”

“He’s a criminal, Keeri.”

“So?”

“So he could be dangerous.”

“Around here? I hardly think so.”

“And what do you think Guarros is going to do when he finds out you’re not exclusively his?”

“Oh please, Isela. Who are you trying to bullshit? Everyone knows the only one Guarros wants to be exclusively his is you.”

“I told you—”

“I know what you told me. Point is he won’t care what I do. And if I miss my chance at the new guy, you’ll be sorry.”

She turned on her heel and stomped away. Isela sighed, shaking her head, thinking Keeri was even more messed up than she was.

****

Isela woke up to the sound of pounding on her door. She dragged herself out of bed and went to the door. Mae burst in a little frenzied. “What are you doing? Did you oversleep? Get your clothes on or Guarros will have your hide. You’re late, Izzy.”

Isela shook her head, still fuzzy from sleep. Mae grabbed Isela’s clothes and shoved them into her hands.

“The sun will be up any minute. You need to move.”

Isela yanked her pants on, her nightgown off, and the tank top over her head.

“I don’t know how I overslept. I never do that.”

“As long as you get down to the kitchen, no one has to know.”

They peeked out Isela’s door, making sure the coast was clear, before darting out the door.

Luckily, they made it to the kitchen unnoticed. They slipped through the side door, bustling around with everyone else.

Isela hurriedly mixed ingredients together in order to get breakfast ready on time. Mae shot her a look as she slopped batter over the side of the bowl.

“Be careful, Isela,” she warned. “Otherwise you’ll get put on cleanup.”

Isela took a breath. Mae handed her a rag so she could wipe up her mess before the supervisor saw it. Unfortunately, she wasn’t fast enough.

“Isela!” she bellowed. “Step forward.”

Isela stopped mixing. She stepped away from the bowl, turning around to face the gruff voice. The supervisor was a stern, churlish woman, probably in her sixties. She demanded perfection, tolerating no mistakes.

“Yes, ma’am?” Isela asked.

The woman looked behind Isela at the spill on the counter. She shook her head, pursing her lips. “What do you call that?” she asked.

Before Isela could answer she moved within inches of Isela’s face. “Sloppy, that’s what. Apparently someone needs a reminder of how to keep things neat and tidy around here.”

“No...I—”

“Oh, and now she wants to argue. I don’t think so. You will finish your duties preparing breakfast. Then instead of having yours, you will stay for cleanup as well. Am I clear?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Good.” She smirked. “I’d hate to have to go to the warden with this.”

“You won’t, ma’am.”

The supervisor dismissed her with a wave of her hand. Isela returned to her bowl and began mixing again.

“I’ll stay and help you,” Mae offered.

Shaking her head, Isela sighed. “No, Mae. Thanks, but I’m okay. You go eat.” She grinned at her friend. “Just save me something, huh?”

Mae nodded.

As soon as everyone had been fed, the cleaning crew came in. Isela had already started gathering dishes. A group of inmate women gathered at the door, whispering and giggling.

“He’s so cute,” one of them said.

“He’s adorable,” chimed in another.

“And that body.”

Isela rolled her eyes, chuckling. The new inmate must’ve been assigned to the cleaning crew.

“You all do that every time we get someone new,” Isela pointed out.

“It’s different this time,” one of the women argued. “He’s really, really cute.”

“I’m sure he is,” Isela answered, setting a stack of plates into the sink.

“Don’t you want a look, Isela? Aren’t you even curious?”