Two for Joy - Louise Collins Page 0,1

was rescued just in time. But appearances could be deceiving. He of all people knew that, his handsome exterior wrapped around something darker, something twisted, something wrong.

“Walk this way.”

There were two guys accompanying him to the visiting room. There were always two people with him in case he managed to slip the cuffs and strangle them. He knew the only way to remove them was by dislocating, and breaking the bones in his hands, but if he did that, the strangling part wouldn’t be very enjoyable.

One of the guards, Fred—tall man, moustache, but no hair on his head—gestured for Romeo to come out. He sauntered forward, smile stretching his lips. His smile got a grimace from Fred, and he muttered something under his breath.

The other guard, Paul—huge build, obvious steroid user, and mullet fan—gestured down the corridor with his baton, and Romeo walked in the direction he pointed. He passed the other cells of serial killers, who hooted and howled at him, some even blew kisses and Romeo blew them back. He was the same species as them, but a cleverer, more charming, good looking version.

Most of the time Romeo ignored the other inmates, and stared straight ahead at the high security door, but he was going to see Chad, and the excitement and the anticipation bubbling in is veins made him wink back, blow kisses, and smile.

He stood in front of the door, the camera whirled, and after a few seconds, he heard a clunk. The door opened, and Fred told him to keep moving.

Another corridor, another set of inmates, but these weren’t the friendly type. They yelled threats, reached through their cages to reach him, nostrils flaring, and growling through their teeth. Even in high security prisons rivalries were born, each corridor of inmates despised the next corridor of inmates.

The guards didn’t stop the arms reaching for him. It was Romeo’s fault if he got too close.

“I’m gonna smash that pretty face of yours.”

Romeo stopped outside the inmate’s cell and lifted his eyebrow. Justin Steel, semi-professional boxer who killed his coach and his coach’s girlfriend, the latter, with one punch. Romeo hadn’t read about him or seen his report, but the rumors of other inmates travelled from cell to cell.

If Justin Steel swings his fist, back away fast.

“Thanks for calling me pretty, but you’re not my type.”

“One day I’m gonna fuck your face.”

“As I said, not my type.”

“Romeo.” Paul warned. “Just keep walking.”

Another camera stop, another clunk of a heavy-duty lock. The next corridor didn’t have any cells, it was long, painted white, almost clinical in appearance. Romeo was heading for the door on the end, the one that led to the visiting room.

He could only see Chad through a thick sheet of plastic. Chad’s voice always sounded distorted, muffled when it came through the speakers. He couldn’t smell Chad, or reach out and touch him, but it was better than not seeing him.

Romeo knew Chad could just stop at any time, that’s what his colleagues wanted him to do, his friends, his therapist, but they had an undeniable connection, a mutual attachment and it kept him coming to the prison and, boy, did Romeo need it.

He sat down on the chair and watched the door on the other side of the plastic barrier. This was the moment he was most excited for. It only lasted a fraction of a second, but each time Chad opened the door, Romeo caught it. The look on Chad’s face. The same excitement, anticipation, and happiness he felt, but expressed by Chad’s big smile, and bright eyes.

Chad wanted to see him, a monster. In fact, he looked forward to it, just as much as Romeo looked forward to seeing his magpie.

His arms ached from being cuffed behind his back, his shoulders jutted forward, and his hands felt cold, as if the cuffs were too tight, and his blood circulation was shutting down, but he didn’t care.

This was the moment he’d been waiting for all week, and there it was. The door opened. Romeo leaned forward expectantly.

Chad’s mouth twitched, as if he was trying very hard to keep back a joyous smile. His darting eyes, his blushing cheeks, then eventually his soft laugh. Romeo laughed, too, a breathless sound of relief, happiness, he didn’t have a clue what it was, but when they saw each other, they both got fidgety, both got red in the face, and laughed.

It was completely stupid.

“Fancy seeing you here.” Chad said.

“How funny of you.”

“I’m trying.”

“I know, that’s why