Shattered Pieces (Watch Me Burn #5)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

RORY

“Donovan? This is you,” the blonde guard with the name Jarvis on her badge said, giving me an impatient look that told me she was repeating herself and I’d zoned out again. I was exhausted, barely getting any sleep at the police station after speaking with the lawyer.

As expected, the judge I was put in front of this morning refused to release me on bail, deciding my connections and access to money made me a flight risk, so I found myself being put on a bus to Fairview Prison to wait out my day in court for sentencing.

The guards had invaded my privacy with the strip search on the way in, removing all my piercings in the process. They’d definitely start closing over without anything in them.

I glanced around the small space, finding a common area with a small TV and couch in the middle and a coffee station in the back, with eight doors leading into each person’s room all around.

I held onto my belongings, which consisted of bedding and a change of prison uniform. I felt exposed without my knife or gun, but I had to try and push the anxiety off my face. They’d eat me alive if I showed any fear.

Until they found out I was Skeeter’s girl, I’d have zero protection.

“That room is yours,” she said in a bored tone as she led me inside the small space, the bed looking uncomfortable as fuck and the toilet was questionable, but at least I had a door for privacy.

An inmate appeared in the doorway with a bright smile, suspicion filling me instantly. She didn’t look much older than me, and she studied me with dark brown eyes like I was her latest plaything.

Her light brown hair was tied up in a messy bun, some of the front pieces falling over her face.

“Morning, Miss Jarvis.”

“Ah, Mendez, there you are. This is Aurora Donovan. I’d like to hope you’ll take good care of her,” Miss Jarvis said with a flat tone. “Donovan, this is Jamie Mendez.”

“Of course. I’ll give her the tour,” Jamie said with a shrug, eyeing me again. “Go on, put your stuff on the bed so we can go.”

I placed it down with a frown, not really understanding what we were doing. It was a prison, it wasn’t like we could explore a lot.

Miss Jarvis gave us a nod and left us alone, and I had no idea whether to be an asshole to show I wasn’t scared, or be soft spoken to show I wasn’t a threat.

Jamie chuckled, rolling her eyes at me. “You can chill out, I’m not testing you or nothing.”

“You got stuck with the newbie mentor shit?” I asked, and she grinned, motioning for me to follow her back out of the common area.

“I don’t mind. Means I get to be a snoop and inspect all the fresh meat.

I’m in the room beside yours, and Kat Mila is next to me.

Don’t piss her off,” she warned, pointing to a door as we passed it.

“That’s the way to the shower block. I’ll go with you when you need to use it, just for now. Newbies cause a stir in here.”

“If someone comes at me, I can defend myself, right?” I asked dryly.

“It’s good if you can, but you can get charges added to your sentencing if it’s witnessed by the guards.

Holding your own is the only way to survive in here, especially until you get a crew.

That can take some time. We’re on friendly terms, but I won’t wade in to save you when shit goes down, understood? ”

“I can respect that. How many women are in our block?”

“In our particular space? You’re number six.

There’s five areas like ours in each cell block called pods.

We’re block C, pod three. Keep your head down and you’ll be fine.

Our group is the top of the food chain in our block, so you shouldn’t have trouble in the room unless you cause it.

I’d highly recommend doing as you’re told and don’t ask questions.

If you see something, no you didn’t. Loyalty and tight lips goes far. ”

“I read somewhere not to ask people what they’re in for,” I mumbled, a bark of laughter leaving her.

“Where did you read that? Prison for Dummies? Look, some girls don’t give a shit, while others don’t like people being nosey.

Personally, I’m a lifer. Killed my piece of shit boyfriend and his two friends when I was nineteen when I found out they’d been touching the neighbor’s seven-year-old daughter. I’m four years in. How about you?”

“They’re saying I killed my piece of shit dad for selling me multiple times and abusing me my whole life. Allegedly,” I added, and I hadn’t realized her guard had been up until she relaxed, seeming to realize I wasn’t a problem as she snickered.

“Men, eh?” She pointed out the cafeteria before leading me outside to a fenced area, pulling a cigarette out and offering me one. “You smoke?”

“What do I owe you if I accept it?” I asked suspiciously, earning a nod of approval.

“Smart girl. Nothing this time. I know how hard it is on the first day.”

I took it and she got one out for herself, motioning to the cigarette lighter hole that was in the wall so no one could use it as a weapon, and some of the tension left me once we were sitting at a picnic style table smoking.

“Where are you from?” she asked from opposite me, seeming genuinely interested.

“Grew up in Hawthorne Heights. Currently in Ashburn Valley,” I answered, her eyes lighting up.

“Oh, you live near Bryant.”

“Lexi?” I asked, her eyes widening slightly.

“You know her?”

“Well, no. I’ve just heard of her. She’s in with the Reapers, right?” I asked carefully, not sure if I should be admitting I knew any of this. When she studied me a little more tensely, I added, “I’m dating one of the Psychos.”

“Shit, really? I’m surprised they put you in our block. They try to keep crew connections separate in here to save drama. Especially lately,” she said with a wince.

“Psychos and Reapers don’t have beef.”

“That can change on any given day,” she snorted, flicking her eyes over my shoulder. I turned, and as much as her face was bare and she was in prison uniform, I knew it was Lexi walking towards us.

She was being flanked by two other girls, one with strawberry blonde hair and the other with a long black pony tail, all of them taking me in like I was vermin.

Lexi’s bleached hair was getting dark regrowth, and despite not having her lashes or makeup on, she was still naturally pretty.

“Hey, Bryant. Donovan’s from Ashburn,” Jamie said as a greeting, Lexi dropping her gaze down my body before looking back up at my face.

“I know. You’re Skeet’s girl, right?” she asked, her voice flat and putting me on edge.

“Yeah. You’re with Hendricks? I’m Rory,” I stated, standing and offering my hand to shake to show respect, not expecting her to punch me in the face.

The girls with her laughed as I stumbled, and when I went to swing back, Jamie gave me a shake of the head, telling me not to.

I gritted my teeth and relaxed my hands, eyeing the pissed off woman in front of me.

“That’s for waving a gun at Myles,” she bit out before stalking inside, and Jamie sighed.

“I thought you said there was no beef?”

“There’s not, that was personal,” I muttered, rubbing my jaw.

“So, you’re with Skeeter Maddox? He’s popular here when he comes to visit some of the girls,” she smirked, finishing her cigarette and putting it in the ashtray on the wall.

“Not surprised,” I grumbled. “How long until I can have visitors?”

“They like to let you settle in for a week first. If you get into trouble, it can be longer. Skeeter will probably get hold of the other girls to pull you under their protection. They’re not a big deal in here or in our block, but there’s strength in numbers.

The hierarchy is simple. Bryant’s the top dog, and the other girls in our cell area are her crew.

You’ve got to prove yourself before she brings you in, and I hate to say it, but it’s going to be a challenge if she already hates you,” she cringed.

“I’d recommend staying out of her way for now.

Keep your door open during the day to avoid people thinking you’re hiding something, don’t ever push the help button or bring the guards into any trouble, and don’t be a rat.

It’s really not that hard in here if you can do all of that. ”

“Noted,” I huffed, following her back inside to our cell block.

Lexi and the others were all there, and I ignored the fact that the girl with the strawberry blonde hair was straddling her while shoving her tongue down her throat. Hunter hadn’t been kidding, she was having a blast in here.

I headed straight into my room and remembered to keep my door open, sorting out my bed and lying back on it with a sigh. What the fuck did people do in here all damn day?

Hours dragged. No one bothered me, and I didn’t leave my spot on the bed until Jamie poked her head in.

“Hey. Coming for lunch?”

“Can I skip?” I grumbled, and she rolled her eyes.

“It’s better that you don’t. Everyone’s wanting to get an eyeful of the murderous newbie from the news, so it’s super obvious if you hide away.”

“Ugh,” I grunted as I stood and stretched. “What are the chances of this going smoothly?”

“Zero,” she said seriously, leading me to the cafeteria.

Everyone was staring at me. Some straight up stopped their conversations, while others kept talking while studying me.

Lexi and her girls were ahead of us in line, grabbing their trays and wandering over to the empty table in the corner, and I was grateful when Jamie stayed with me as I sat at another table away from them.

The food looked good and I was starving, so I dug in.

A hand reached out to grab the toast off my tray, and I smacked it away.

“Hey. Newbie tax,” the person bit out, and I glanced up to find a woman beside me looking irritated. Definitely a junkie, she was twitching and grinding her jaw, her skin ruined with scabs.

“What ever happened to hello?” I deadpanned, her face twisting in a scowl.

“You think you’re funny?”

“No, I’m hungry. If you lost your toast, that’s on you,” I answered, hearing Jamie sigh, but she didn’t say anything.

“Grovers!” a guard barked, walking in our direction. “You’ve eaten, so go.”