Page 120 of I Will Break You
May our souls be forever bound until the end of time.
Love,
Xero
P.S. Please don’t be discouraged. I will find a way for us to be together.
SIXTY
TWO WEEKS AGO
XERO
I run around the track, my heart pounding. Wind rushes through my ears, and I suck in lungfuls of air. It’s still dark at this time of the morning, without a hint of dawn, so the only illumination comes from floodlights.
Montesano runs several strides ahead, keeping his distance. Neither of us are used to sharing rec time. We used to get thirty minutes each with Officer McMurphy, but thanks to the fan club and Amethyst, our rec time has now stretched to an hour.
Jynxson stands beside McMurphy, looking as awkward as ever in his prison uniform. He tries to make conversation with the woman, but she only has eyes for inmates. That taste for caged men might one day get her killed.
With her short hair and athletic frame, McMurphy reminds me of a strict instructor at the Moirai Academy, except she gets off on exerting power. If she didn’t, she would turn her unwanted attention to a flirt like Jynxson.
After ten minutes of tolerating her male colleague, she turns away from him, steps onto the track with both hands raised, and walks into Montesano’s path. I shake my head. She’s desperate to grab his chest.
Montesano stops several feet short of her and nods, and thenthe two of them walk toward the building. Jynxson watches McMurphy’s ass until they’re out of sight, and then it’s his turn to approach the track.
“Why didn’t you ever take her up on her offer?” Jynxson asks.
My lip curls. “I haven’t given into despair like Montesano.”
“Give the man some grace. It’s been nearly four years, and he’s lost every single appeal.”
“What are you saying?” I ask with a smirk. “That I deserve my place behind bars?”
He raises his shoulders. “I’m sorry, your honor. My stepmother slipped on the knife, which cracked open her ribcage. The police made a mistake. I was putting her heart back in, not taking it out.”
I huff a laugh. “You’re an asshole.”
“Not a good idea to taunt the keeper of your phone.”
I glance around. My cell has been raided on the daily ever since my letters to Amethyst included tidbits about the prison. It’s an intimidation tactic to stop me from talking shit about the conditions because my fanbase has become powerful.
Too powerful.
So powerful that the governor moved forward my execution date. They don’t want crowds of people storming the prison, demanding justice for a remorseless killer. And they certainly don’t want said killer to write about all the corners they’re cutting.
But I’m not complaining. It’s time I left this shit hole and continued my search for Father.
“Give it here.” I extend a hand.
Jynxson reaches into the pocket of his jacket and pulls out my phone. “Enjoy your sexy time.”
I snort. “What I have with Amethyst transcends phone sex.”
“Will she accept your proposal?” he asks, his throat bobbing. “It’s a lot to ask.”
News about my execution date has spread across the prison like syphilis, as has the warden’s proposition. If there are no more protests between now and the day I get the chair, he will allow me a conjugal visit, but there’s a catch:
One, I must be married.