Chapter 6 Hades
Hades
“Breakfast.”
The small hatch in my cell door opens, and a tray is shoved through. I rise from the floor where I was doing sit-ups to grab it. A groan escapes me when my eyes land on runny eggs, questionable sausage links, and a small glass of milk.
“Looks… disgusting,” I mutter.
“This isn’t the Ritz, Hunter,” an unfamiliar voice retorts. “Don’t like it? Too fucking bad.”
“Who the hell are you?” I snarl, bending at the knees to look through the tiny opening. “Where’s Levins?”
“His kid is sick. I’m filling in.”
“Nice to meet you, Filling In.”
The man laughs, but the sound is more evil than humorous. “The name’s Bender, not that it matters. I won’t be here long enough for us to get acquainted.”
Thank fuck for that. It took me months to turn Levins, and the thought of having to break in a new guard gives me a headache.
“Good to know.”
I take the two steps to sit on the pathetic excuse of a bed and eat.
The food is bland, making me grateful that Levins always brings me a few donuts from a local shop when he’s on duty.
It doesn’t take more than a few minutes to scarf down the meager meal, and as soon as the plate is empty, I set it on the floor at the foot of the bed.
Today is visit day, which means I’ll get updates on Dead on Arrival MC business.
I may be locked up, but I’m still in charge.
Nothing happens without my approval, unless quick action is necessary.
If that’s the case, Zodiac has my permission to act.
I’ve known him my whole life and trust him not to take advantage of the situation.
The only thing that’ll stop my presidency is my heart ceasing to beat.
Time passes in a blur while I wait to be retrieved for the visit. I’m not sure who’s coming today, whether it’ll be Zodiac or a few of the others. Only three people can come at a time, so my VP likes to give the others a chance every once in a while.
Eventually, the clanking of the door lock releasing echoes off the concrete walls, and I stand to turn my back to the entrance.
“Hands behind your back,” Bender barks, and I do as I’m told.
He secures the cuffs around my wrists and attaches them to the waist chain, which connects to my ankles. The walk to the visitor’s area is quiet, and the man’s grip on my arm is hard, like he doesn’t trust me not to try and run at any second.
When I enter the room, which is divided into two halves by bulletproof glass, he shoves me onto the cold metal stool before removing the restraints and backing up to stand against the wall.
“You can go,” I snap, not bothering to look at him.
“Yeah, right,” he huffs out. “I ain’t goin’ anywhere.”
Rather than argue, I sit and stare through the glass, waiting for the others to be allowed to enter. After a minute, Zodiac, along with Boa and Chains, my road captain and sergeant at arms respectively, step through the door.
Zodiac immediately spots Bender and narrows his eyes before turning to Chains. He says something to him, but I can’t hear what it is. Chains turns to the guard who let them in and whispers something in his ear. The guard then shifts his gaze to Bender before exiting the visit room.
Five seconds later, Bender’s walkie talkie buzzes to life, and he’s informed that he’s needed elsewhere in the facility.
“But what about supervising this visit?” Bender asks.
“I’ll find someone to cover,” the voice squawks through the radio.
Bender mumbles under his breath as he steps up behind me and squeezes my shoulder. “No fucking funny business,” he snarls.
“Wouldn't dream of it,” I state with a smirk on my face.
As soon as he’s gone, my brothers sit on the stools opposite me and pick up the phones so we can communicate. I lift mine off its cradle and put it to my ear.
“Who the fuck’s the new guy?” Zodiac demands.
“A fill-in for Levins,” I say. “His kid is sick. Anything we can do about that?”
Chains nods. “I’ll make sure he has a reliable babysitter, so this doesn’t happen again.”
“Thanks.”
I might have Levins in my pocket, so to speak, but I actually like the guy.
When I was first brought to SCI Somerset, he was a newbie guard with an attitude to match.
He wanted to prove himself to his superiors, and I respected that.
But I also needed him compliant, which I’m proud to say, he has been since I ‘broke’ him in.
Three years into my sentence, Levins’ wife got pregnant.
He was so fucking happy, and I was happy for him.
Well, as happy as anyone can be in a place like this.
Then she hemorrhaged during the birth and died.
Levins hasn’t been the same since, and I wanted to make his life a little easier because that’s what he does for me.
I had Zodiac take my idea to the club for a vote, and it was unanimously decided that the club would ensure that Levins and his daughter never wanted or needed for anything. It’s the least we can do for how he takes care of me in here.
“How’d rec time go this week?” Boa asks, pulling our focus to more important matters.
I grin. “As expected. The Prison Kings are on board with the plan but increased their fee by ten percent.”
“As long as they keep the channels open, we can make that happen,” Zodiac says.
“Did Tallyman secure enough dough to cover other expenses?” I ask, referring to the club’s treasurer.
Zodiac nods. “We’ll have all the necessary supplies procured by the end of the month.”
“Then everything is on track.” I rest my elbows on the stainless-steel counter, relaxing now that that business is out of the way. “Anything I need to know about going on in the club?”
“Butcher is sponsoring a new prospect, Jake,” Zodiac replies. “He’s fresh off a stint for armed robbery in Ohio. Everyone seems to like him, and he doesn’t shy away from grunt work. We’ll see how he does for six months and reevaluate then.”
“Anyone hurt in the armed robbery?” I ask.
“Nah,” Boa states. “Nothing more than a black eye and hurt pride for the liquor store owner.”
“Not sure if that’s a ringing endorsement for the prospect or not,” I gripe. “Time will tell.”
“We’re definitely putting him through his paces, Pres,” Chains comments with a smirk.
“He was on puke duty at the last party. I lost track of the number of times he was summoned to the bathroom to either clean up a mess when someone didn’t make it in time or to hold a club whore’s hair while she spewed into the toilet. Handled that like a champ.”
“Like a champ?” Boa snorts. “Bastard sympathy vomited every time.”
“And cleaned it all up without complaint,” Chains states.
This is why I love visit day. I get a taste of the outside world, of what normal life is like, and it makes me forget, even if for only an hour, that I’m never going to see the light of day as a free man again.
A light above the door flashes, indicating that there’s five minutes remaining.
“How’s Evie doing?” I ask, same as I always do as soon as that light flashes. I save this question for the end because hearing about my baby sister is the one and only thing that shatters me.
“She’s good, Hades,” Zodiac informs me. “She wanted to come today, but she’s prom dress shopping with some friends.”
My heart squeezes at the thought of all the milestones I’ve missed over the last decade. I know my brothers have filled in for me, and they’ve done a great job, but it’s not the same.
“Tell her that I expect to see her ass here next time,” I grouch.
“I will.”
The door behind me swings open, and Bender steps in. “Time’s up,” he snaps, clearly pissed that he was not allowed to remain in here earlier.
I say my goodbyes before standing to allow him to secure the restraints. Bender escorts me back to my cell, and as soon as I’m closed inside, I slide my hand under my mattress and grab the razor Levins gave me a few months ago when I received my execution date.
I scratch a mark into the wall, indicating day one hundred and twelve. I’ve got one hundred and fifty-eight days until my head will be shaved, and I’ll be eating my last meal.
Plenty of time.