Mylo
Finishing the letter, I lay there stunned, wiping unexpected tears from my eyes.
It would be so easy to give in, to let him have his way, but I can’t.
And with what he put in there, he damn sure can’t send anymore.
Who knows who Mack has on the inside, who read this and was already running back to him with only half the information.
I mean he was at least smart enough not to include his name, my shit head, my kitten.
I bunched up my pillow, curling around it holding the letter to my chest. It was almost like holding him. When I had regained my composure, I headed to the makeshift desk in my cell to grab my own pen and paper.
I had just finished reading the letter from ‘Kitten’ to Maddox, and knowing who Maddox was, I made a copy, folded it up and put it in my pocket.
After sorting the mail for distribution and getting it passed out to the inmates.
I settled in to finish my shift. I have a few hours left on shift and I prepare myself to go through the outgoing mail.
Seeing the look on Maddox’s face when I called his name, I was interested to know why he seemed so surprised. But what really piques my curiosity is when I see a letter from Maddox going out so quickly. Being allowed to spot check incoming and outgoing mail, I decided to read it.
After reading the response, I’m really curious about several things.
I now know he’s scared of someone going after whoever this ‘Kitten’ kid is, I also know that this kid shouldn’t be in here.
I know Maddox is Mack’s kid, but why would he be upset about Maddox dating?
Then it hit me, the post-it note on the letter said ‘HE wouldn’t back down’.
Son of a bitch, Mack’s son is gay. Holy FUCK, Mack’s son is gay! ’
‘SHIT.’ I run a copy of the outgoing letter as well, pocketing it with the other. I need to talk to Cas about it.
After finishing my shift, I head out. Walking in the front door, I find Cas in the kitchen making dinner and after kissing him hello, I pull a beer from the fridge.
“Long day, Love?” Cas asks me.
“You could say that. I need your advice on something. I came across some interesting letters today doing mail call,” I answer after taking a long pull off the bottle.
Cas switched the sauce to a simmer, turning to look at me, “Interesting? They’re teen boys, how interesting could it be?”
Pulling the letters from my pocket I hand them to him, “Read ‘em yourself and then we’ll talk about it.”
Cas takes the letters and sits at the table, reading and looking up at me every few lines. The gasp at part of Maddox’s letter and then with eyes full of anger, “This is not that shit stain Mikhailov’s kid Maddox, is it?”
I had finished the first beer while he read, “Yeah, that’s the one. Vanya is waiting for Mack in Pontiac and I have his kid sitting in a cell block. There’s something fishy goin’ on.” I answer, grabbing another beer from the fridge.
Grabbing the beer from me, Cas takes a long drink before handing it back.
Agreeing that something isn’t right as he refolds the letters, stands and puts them in his work bag as he says, “Don’t say a word to anyone yet.
I’m taking them to Vanya tomorrow. He’ll tell us how to proceed.
That boy is terrified and he has no reason to be. ”
Nodding my head and shrugging, I say, “Mack’s always been a prick, but this takes the cake.” Cas moved towards me, taking the bottle and setting it on the table as he pulled me into his arms.
Kissing the top of my head, “We’ll fix it baby. Just keep him safe while I get the info to Vanya and figure out how to proceed.”
Wrapping my arms around him, I sink into the feeling of safety. Mack has always hated that we ranked higher than him, always had some slur for us, but we are adults and can take it.
‘Whatever he did to his kid, yeah, he’s definitely gonna pay for that.’ I think, holding onto the love of my life.
Kai
Standing at my locker, my thoughts on how stellar my junior year was gearing up to be had me in a funk. Maddox was gone, Mel was up Seb’s ass, Dani and Jason had gotten back together, again. I just wanted to curl up alone in our nest in the van and hide in the memories for a few days.
But there was no time for that, I needed to go look for a job so I could help put money on Dax’s books. Mel was limited on how long she could work due to Mack’s strict curfew for her. I knew of a couple places that I could apply to and was headed there straight from school.
I had just closed my locker when Mel skipped up, waving a sealed letter in my face. Cautiously, I took it, feeling very confused at why she was waving unopened mail at me.
“It came yesterday and I didn’t write him a letter since I’m gonna see him soon. So this has to be yours. I checked the mail first, found this and stashed it so no one else would find it,” Mel said with a sparkle in her eye.
Folding the letter, I shove it in my back pocket quickly, kissing her forehead. “I’m outta here, there’s only one place I want to be when I read this and it’s not here. I need to do it alone. See ya tomorrow?” I say, already feeling like the letter is burning a hole in my pocket.
She’s still nodding as I tear out of the school, practically running the whole way home.
I climb into the van, pulling his sweatshirt out, breathing heavily as I slip into it.
Holding the letter close for a few minutes, nerves practically vibrating my skin, I start thinking, ‘maybe I shouldn’t do this alone.
There’s so many ways this can go.’ Taking a deep breath, ‘Like a bandaid, Sullivan, just rip it off. Just read it.” I think, tearing into the envelope and reading.