fortunate with Caine as her bunk mate.
Quickly grabbing only her clothes, since hers were bigger, I darted out of the room before either of them saw me. I knew from last night that Lyra tried to stay in the bathroom as long as possible, Simone had to leave on Barcel's orders.
Hiding down the hallway, we witnessed the vampire leaving the bathroom with a look of longing. My lip turned up into a snarl. I didn't like another being so openly attracted to Lyra.
It's why I hated Talon so much. The prick even had Armoni rooting for him.
A few minutes later, Lyra came out in a skimpy towel. They didn't give us much cloth to work with, to not have a weapon in our hands. Yeah, this prison was weird as shit, but I didn't mind the life inside.
Some of these boys ran with gangs I was close to on the outside, so I only secured the Stamos connections while being in here. Caine and I had plans for how things would be ran, once we got out.
We would be in charge, too. There was nothing to tie us to what had happened to my uncle.
Before I could think about it any longer, Lyra's angry eyes found me holding her clothes. I loved seeing the heat behind her stern gaze. I loved it whenever she met my eyes instead of Caine's.
She'd never know that, though.
"Axel Stamos, give me back my clothes." One hand held the knot over her breasts that threatened to spill over the hem. There was a revealing gap on her left side, showcasing the perfect curve of her hips.
"Damn," someone whistled beside me.
I growled, but it was masked by the group of inmates that came from the other direction. Catcalls and stares met my cousin.
Where I once thought this was a good idea, I only felt my animal being pissed I had exposed her. I reminded the fucker once again that Lyra Stamos was not ours to claim.
She tried to look indifferent as the men crowded her, but the fear was evident in the locking of her shoulders. Now, I got what I needed. I was satisfied that she became humiliated.
Though, on that left hip, I saw something I hadn't before. She had never been exposed to me in such a way.
Hell, after her kidnapping, she never wore a bathing suit. My gut soured as I realized why my cousin never wore a swimsuit again.
She had markings.
Markings that lined her body to be imperfect, among the world of men. Someone gave Lyra those markings, and I didn't know how to handle the conflict growing within my soul.
"Lookie here, boys. This little angel isn't untouched." A guy tried to run his finger along her scar. Skittishly, she jerked away.
They all laughed, being flashed more of her middle and ass cheek. The guys by me snickered as well.
Though this is what I wanted, I didn't feel the relief her torment usually brought me. I hated that I felt weak about something so trivial.
Lyra wasn't in the plans Caine and I prepared.
As I readied to move her way, a hand smacked me upside the head. I found August ripping her clothes out of my grip.
"I don't care what immature games you play against Lyra. Never disrespect a woman's body, Axel. That is the only thing they should be allowed to do on their own. You're no better than all the monsters in this place for taking her dignity too."
The wise ass had to ruin everything. Though, as he handed her things back to her, I finally felt relieved when she covered back up.
7
Lyra
"Top bunk, sis." Caine was led back to our cell as the guards escorted him. One stood on each side, preventing him from moving too far.
I had sprawled out over his bed from feeling a little sore after my fight in the cafeteria. Rolling off his mattress, I hid my pain. Though my middle let me know how tender each muscle was after the sucker punch to my stomach.
Each twist and movement jarred the pain to radiate. Biting my inner cheek, I let that new discomfort block this one. Climbing up the ladder, Caine tugged the back of my hair as I got halfway up.
Unable to stop the sound, I hissed my hurt. He liked being the master of my torment. He always had, since I saw what I shouldn't have that one day.
"You couldn't just take the hit, could you?" I knew he referenced my behavior earlier. He