Chapter 13

The days came and went easier after the visit he got from Dylan. He had something to look forward to, not that he didn’t want to be out already and take care of business as usual, but this came as a cherry on top. He didn’t mind to lie in waiting, while Cashel worked his magic.

“O’Connor, you have a visitor.”

The guard stood outside the door, but he had opened it without knocking, ‘cause asshole privileges. Riley straightened up. “Who?”

“Your lady,” the guard said with a sneer. “Got some wonder cock in your pants that she can’t stay away? You two had a conjugal like last week or so.”

Riley pursed his lips. He somehow doubted that it was Dylan again, putting on women’s clothes and getting past the guards. That meant that it was really Lola who was paying him a visit.

As usual, he didn’t comment either way. He got up from his bed and followed the guard outside.

Lola was leaning back into her chair, arms crossed, boobs sagging over them, and looking pissed. “Who the fuck is she?” Her voice had turned into a hiss, and she was giving him a death glare. He wasn’t impressed.

“Who’re you talking about?”

“That ... floozy who paid you a conjugal visit last week,” she said through her teeth. “Yeah, guess what? I found out. You fucking two-timing bastard.”

Riley grinned and rubbed his chin. She was livid, and he was fucking enjoying it, although he needed to calm her down. “Weren’t you busy with a wedding or something?”

She pursed her lips hard and looked to one side, chin up, just to prove him how hurt she felt inside. It wasn’t that much of a convincing act.

“Do you want to call it off?” Riley asked slowly, trying to sound chastised at having been caught red-handed.

The war-painted face turned to him, eyes swimming in tears. “How could you, Riley? I thought I was the only woman in your life.”

“You are the only woman in my life.” He didn’t have to lie. It was actually true. And soon, she’d be booted out, as she deserved. If there was a lying bastard there, it was her.

“Like I could believe you.” She pouted, and Riley couldn’t stop thinking for a moment how she must have wrapped those red lips around the warden’s cock, sucking him dry. The conjured image in his head didn’t anger him; it just left him with a slightly bitter taste of disappointment.

“She’s just an old acquaintance. We just talked,” Riley eventually said. There was little left, Cashel said, and they would all get their just deserts. It didn’t help to make Lola mad and turn her into some wild card.

“She dressed up like me? Had her hair done like me? That skinny bitch.” Lola trembled and shed another tear.

“How do you know how she looks like?”

Lola reached into her purse and slammed a photo on the table. Riley could tell that Dylan must have been caught by the security cameras on his way to visit him. They had been so close to getting caught. Cashel should have played safer. Their only salvation was that Dylan pulled a very convincing drag. If he hadn’t known any better, he would have taken the guy in the picture for a gal, and a pretty attractive one. Clearly more attractive than Lola. That had to be a sore point.

“Well, what do you have to say for yourself?” she asked, still shivering in anger.

“Maybe I have a type,” Riley replied calmly. “I didn’t fuck her, love. She just learned about me being in jail and all, and she wanted to see me.”

“Why didn’t she just pay you a visit like anyone else? Did she have to pretend she was me and ask for a fucking conjugal?” Her voice raised over the din of the other conversations in the room.

Riley leaned over the table and grabbed her elbow. “She’s been like a sister to me for a long time, back when we were at the orphanage.”

That seemed to mollify Lola a bit. “But why didn’t she come to you the normal way?”

“Let’s say that she’s not in that good terms with the law. And we had a lot to catch up. I promise you. We did nothing else but talk.”

Finally, she appeared to let herself convinced. She let her guard down slowly and linked her hand with Riley’s. “I won’t call off the wedding, now that I know the truth. But I would’ve done in a heartbeat, just so you know,” she warned him.

Riley caressed the inside of her palm. “I wouldn’t do a thing like that to you. How did you get this photo?” he asked, pointing at the picture on the table.

“I’m keeping an eye out for you, Riley. And your warden proved quite helpful.”

That was bold of her, to mention the man she was sucking off on the down low. But Riley kept a steady face and looked at her, feigning surprise. “I had no idea the guy was that interested in me.”

“I went to see him,” Lola said and straightened up to make her boobs move forward and entice him, as usual.

He pretended to stare at them for a moment, just to let her know that she still had him in her clutches.

“He’s a hard cookie, you know? But I pleaded with him, told him you’re not a bad guy, and that I would like to have my man back, without the usual scars left by prison on good men.”

Oh, what a bunch of bullshit. He stared at her, a bit impressed. She took it as a compliment and smiled back.

“Have you seen him often?” he asked.

That seemed to sober her up. “Twice,” she replied. “Or maybe it was three times? I don’t remember exactly. But I think I arranged for you to have a guardian angel in this place, instead of, you know, only guards.”

If that was how guardian angels looked like, Riley could very well do without one. Well, it was good to know that she didn’t deny knowing the guy. That meant she was bold, and bold people often tended to be stupid.

The rest of the visit, he encouraged her to talk about the wedding arrangements, while he half-listened and pondered over the new info in his head.

“I’m about to honor your request, sir,” Riley said during his next visit to the warden. “Can I ask for a favor?” Cashel had come up with the idea, and they had both decided that it was the best course of action. They worked awesome as a team; the only thing Riley found annoying was that whenever he tried to ask about Dylan and how he was, his best friend preferred to change the subject. Sure, he was right to think that they shouldn’t jeopardize their plan by talking more than they should about certain matters, but he was still annoyed with it.

“A favor,” the warden said slowly.

“My gal wants us to get married as soon as I’m out, and it feels like that day is getting further and further away from me. Can I get out earlier? I’ve been on nothing but my best behavior.”

“Earlier? It’s not like I decide. It’s a judge’s calling.” The cold eyes examined him slowly.

“And your recommendation could tip the balance,” Riley pointed out. “Lola can barely wait to wear my ring. Everything I have will become hers.”

Had that been a little too on the nose? Riley held his breath for a moment, but the greed he had observed in the other glinted in his eyes. Sure, he’d sell that club and send the proceeds to the so-called charity of the warden’s choice, but how about taking him to the cleaners through Lola, who could get everything after a well-timed divorce?

It looked like the thought appealed to the warden. “I’ll see what I can do. She’s a good woman,” he added after a short pause.

“She told me she came to see you on my behalf. Yeah, she’s a good woman,” Riley said.

A short look of triumph lit up the cold eyes but died immediately. Riley didn’t want to push his luck. He’d sacrifice Angel Wish, but it was for a good cause. And he wasn’t as sentimental as some people pegged him to be. If anything, he knew how to be ruthless when it mattered the most.

Cashel was waiting for him, leaning against the car, and looking his usual bored self that could fool the entire world, but not Riley. “You’re really happy to see me,” he said with a grin.

Cashel nodded shortly and gestured with his chin for them to get inside the car. “That was a good move. They really think they got you where they wanted,” his best friend commented. “You’re a free man who’s about to become dirt poor by marrying poorly.”

Riley laughed. “We’re going to see about that, right?”

Cashel offered his thin, all-knowing smile. If Riley was called Cobra, Cashel’s moniker was far more sinister. He was indeed, worthy of being called Shark.

“Well, now that I’m out, how about making a little detour?”

“Where do you want to go?” Cashel asked. “Don’t tell me you want us to go for ice cream.”

Riley laughed. “I had a bit of a different sweet thing in mind.”

To his surprise, Cashel grimaced.

“What?” he asked. “He’s out shopping or something? I know your favorite hiding place. It’s not that far. In two hours, we could be back.” Riley observed his friend’s face for clues. “What the fuck aren’t you telling me, Cashel?”

“He’s gone,” Cashel replied shortly.

“What the fuck do you mean, gone?”

“He upped and left, Riley.”

“The fuck?!” Riley slammed his hands on the dashboard.

Cashel held his eyes on the road, completely undisturbed by his friend’s display of anger. “He’s a free man, isn’t he? You made that sure.”

“Not free from me.”

“You just sounded like a petulant child right now. Grow up, Riley. He made his choice.”

“Fuck off, Cashel. You’re calling yourself my friend? For real?”