guys said they can have it up and running within a week once they come to install it. Will you let the other guards know?”
“Of course,” I agreed.
“Good.” She leaned back in her chair. “The Belorian is well healed since its escape, but I’ve asked the lab to have a few more in the pipeline in case anything happens to it. We can’t afford to have gaps in our system. We have a reputation to uphold, but better than that, we will improve upon it.”
“Good to hear, ma’am,” I said.
“How’s your report coming along on inmate Twelve? She should have started correctional classes by now, is her time in isolation drawing to an end?” She arched an eyebrow and I fought the urge to shift in my chair. I hadn’t started the damn report I was supposed to hand in about her. I needed to suggest classes based on her behaviour. But every time I went to do it, I ended up worked into a rage again.
“It’s…coming along. But I’m eager to ensure she learns her lesson since her attack on me before she’s released.” I’d had to come up with some reason to cover why I’d locked her in there. And that was the simplest one which justified the length of time she’d been isolated. My throat tightened at the thought of her in there alone for all this time, but I pushed away any uncomfortable feelings on the matter and lifted my chin. “Another few weeks at least. New inmates need to have the message driven home.”
“Well you’re the best at what you do so I’m sure you know what you’re doing.”
“I do,” I agreed. But I didn’t. I was keeping her in there for selfish reasons as much as anything else at this point. Because I knew that the second she was let out, I had to be ready to regain control over her, resist her manipulation, figure out what the fuck it was she wanted from me and ensure I never crossed the line with her again. Even as I thought of my past mishaps, playing cat and mouse with her down on the maintenance level, my mouth watered over her blood and my cock twitched with the memory of her body pressed to mine.
Fuck. I’ve got to get a grip.
“Alright, make sure that report is sent to me before she’s released though. I want her behaviour being corrected as soon as she’s back in gen pop.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I agreed, rising from my chair as I sensed this conversation was over.
“Oh, and Officer Cain…” Pike steepled her fingers together, eyeing me with a stern expression. “I am aware you have been neglecting to visit Twelve. But she is still under your supervision. Don’t forget your duties.”
I paused a moment, hoping I wasn’t detecting any suspicion in her tone, but I concluded that she was just towing the line with me when she didn’t elaborate. “Yes, ma’am.”
I walked for the door, my legs like lead as I turned the handle and stepped outside. The air was too thick as I dragged it into my lungs.
My fate was written for me. I’d run out of time to try and get these rampant feelings under control over the Wolf girl. I had to face her. And I hoped to fuck I was strong enough not to fall prey to her again.
I never should have let my tears fall. That was the real lesson I was learning here. It wasn't about me having a total lack of emotion. I didn't think I'd ever be able to stop myself from feeling anger or longing or fear. No more than I could stop myself from feeling the pain of the injuries he gave me and forced me to battle through. It wasn't about becoming some emotionless monster who felt no pain. It was about making the world believe that it was so.
My tears gave me away just like a whimper of pain would. What I was really being taught in my papa's home was how to construct a mask for myself and how to never take it off. At least not where anyone else could see.
I should have known better than to cry. I'd been here long enough to know it only made him angry, and he always loved a reason to punish me. I didn’t know if I feared the beatings more or the lingering torture of this kind of punishment. Locked in the dark.
I wondered if he'd had this place