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Jail Cell

Joseph

She looked at me blankly. I had interrupted some deep thoughts. I had been sitting in the hallway chair for a while now. Letting the guards catch up on some sleep. I don't sleep much anyway. She was still just staring at me awkwardly. "I am sorry if I interrupted some kind of epiphany," I said sarcastically. "No Smoke, You didn't, I was only thinking you could have sprung for the more expensive ham" She rolled her eyes at me. I felt myself enjoying her snappy comeback. Most people wouldn't dream to use sarcasm on me. I started to wonder if I should pity her as I have been. I walked a foot closer to the gate to try out intimidation. She seemed to ready herself. This woman has planned to escape I was amused and she caught on. " Im not weak" She forced the words out. I stepped back, shocked, "I never said you were weak, Mrs. Burd." Yes Smoke, keep it business. "I want to go home!" she was short and stern again. I stepped closer again now laying my hand on the door. "Are you sure about that Sandra, you want to go back there?" I looked right into her eyes. She hesitated. I felt my anger begin to grow, but not at her, at that asshole. I could see the fear in her eyes. This time I hadn't caused it. "I do, I want to go home to my husband" she finally said. I don't know why but I got frustrated with her, "'Why would you want to go there? Why would you go back to him? After everything" I paused, not wanting to embarrass her with our knowledge of her bruises, I continued "that I have told you, everything he is hiding from you." Her eyes got wide I could tell she was getting angry. "WHY WOULD I BELIEVE YOU!" she was screaming this time. "You don't have to Mrs. Cop, but I suggest you lower your voice when you are talking to me!" She stepped back instinctively, which cemented what I already knew. Where the bruises came from. I felt like my body caught fire. I made myself seem calm, I no longer wanted to scare her. "No one will touch you here Sandra, you are safe here, If you wish to return to him when I have made him expose himself, no one will hold you here. I need you to get him to expose himself. Then you will be free to go. Breakfast will be brought to you soon. " I watched her relax some and I let the guards take their places before walking away.

I walked towards the kitchen and heard Henry humming. "Big bad Brotherhood guy humming in the kitchen" I couldn't control my laughter.. Henry wasn't as big as Zeus. He was younger than all of us. I brought him into the brotherhood from the streets a few years ago. He felt like family to me. He was strung out and alone when I found him. I gave him the choice to get sober and work for me. It took his dumbass a while to get straightened out but I trust him as much as I trust Zeus now. He wanted his brotherhood name to be Henry, and we don't speak his name before. He chose to leave that part of him in the past and we respect that. " Listen, bro, Humming helps me concentrate my damn ADHD while I am cooking" he laughed too. He looked up to Zeus and me but he is truly the stronger one of us all. "Do you want me to take this food up to the cop's wife" I flinched when he asked? I don't know why. I stopped him, "Sure, be kind Henry, she is not the problem, I doubt she knows any of what that stupid detective has been doing." He nodded so I let go of his shoulder and let him leave. I grabbed some toast and took a bite. Sitting at the counter I pulled out my phone. I only allow Zeus and Henry to know where my safe house is. In my position, the fewer people who know my secrets the better. Well other than the guards, but they guys are professionally trained. They don't speak to anyone and appreciate being invisible more than I ever do. I had about 15 messages. Most of my men ask for different permissions. They could wait a while. The last two were requests to turn on the news. already crying for the camera are you Ryan He put a bad taste in my mouth. The woman on the t.v. was talking about the city keeping an eye out for her. Oh no, he thinks she ran away from him. I dialed Zeus, and he answered immediately, as he always does. "Smoke, the news, I see it, he thinks she took off" he was talking fast. Probably thinking the same thing I was. He's gonna be irate with her. I never thought about this. I didn't know he was a cold abusive asshole. I thought he cherished her. He should NO Jo, not right now.

I looked in her small purse for her phone. 43 missed calls. All from him but 4 from her friend Tanya. 10 Messages. I opened one...

From: Ry (Husband) (Forever)

Why did I not receive my after-movie picture, Sandy? Where the fuck are you? Whore! I hope it's worth it. I cannot wait until you get home so I can remind you that you are mine. -YOUR HUSBAND IN CASE YOU FORGOT.

I decided not to read any further. I will kill him instantly and defeat our purpose for taking her. I hit reply.

To: Punk Ass Bitch (changed that shit)

Hello Detective Burd,

I would like to inform you that your wife is in fact, not a whore. I took her. She had nothing to do with it. Should I tell her about the hookers you get high and make go into the hotels with you.

also, if you want to see her again, I expect you to confess live on television. You know what for.

XoXo - Smoke.

I am sure he had already tried to track her phone. It should be telling him it's in Japan right now as I paid good money to stay off the map out here. You are quite literally teleported to different destinations through technology once you are here. No, they couldn't trace it. Not even if they tried. Zeus made sure as soon as we got in the van that he sent the code through her phone. Vibration.

From: Punk Ass Bitch (changed that shit)

You're Dead.

I didn't respond. I would give him time to swallow that I had taken her. He knows he can't get to me and all the brotherhood is hiding right now. I have been planning this for months. I walked upstairs and threw her the cell phone through the gate. "Your husband seems very, well, I wouldn't say worried." She looked up at me and tensed. "Don't worry darling, I defended your honor." I caught a small smile across her face when she saw the change in the contact name, but it quickly changed to utter despair as she began opening messages. I spoke up " I didn't read on as it isn't my business." She looked up at me with tears in her eyes. She looked defeated. Part of me wanted to go inside the room and hold her. Take that pain away. what the fuck is wrong with you Jo I think I visually shook it off. One of my guards side-eyed me. "Sandra, he knows now that it wasn't your fault" I said softly. She put her head down and mumbled something. I noticed that her plate was empty from breakfast. I hope she ate that instead of throwing it in the trash. Opening the gate I went to grab the plate. She was crying harder and I left the plate and headed to the bed. "I'm sorry Sandra had the brotherhood known this would put this on you, we would have planned this another way." I didn't know what to say to her, this wasn't my strong suit.

She didn't say a word just stood up and began removing her hoodie. I was too mesmerized to stop her. Then all I could see was purple and red and blue and green. New and old bruises like polka dots all over her skin. Tears streamed down her face. Suddenly she grabbed the bottom hem of her tank top and pulled it up to meet her bra, only showing her stomach and ribs. More bruises covered her ribs and back, these had some time to heal. "Sandra I.." She put her hand up in front of my face. She unbuttoned her jeans and I was afraid to see her legs. That was a first for me when a beautiful woman was undressing in front of me. This was different for me completely. She slid them down and like I imagined there were fingerprints all over her thigh. Those were more recent. She looked at me letting out a deep sigh. "I am going to take a shower now." She waited for me to respond barely looking up at me, but for the first time, I didn't know what to say. I just shook my head yes as she walked into the bathroom shutting the door. I sat there frozen for a moment. Then I pulled out my phone.

To: Zeus, Henry

Ryan Burd is a dead man.

-S

In seconds I had a reply from Both. In short. "Yes sir."

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