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Jethro kept his eyes shut and his breathing steady, feigning sleep so he could gather as much information as possible. He was tied to a bed, but he wasn’t in his cell. The smells were different. Only a slight odor of fear, no feces and no stench of sweaty, unwashed males. Instead there was disinfectant and blood, but most of the latter was coming from him.
“It took three darts to bring him down. That’s not normal. Even a Grunt or Producer goes down with one,” said a male.
“How much sedative was in the dart, Miles?”
That was Hugh’s voice. What was he doing here? Jethro tensed but kept his mouth shut. Now, it was even more important to find out what was going on. He didn’t trust Hugh.
“Three ccs in each dart. One should’ve knocked him off his feet, but it didn’t seem to do anything but make him angry,” said Miles.
“It was probably the adrenaline,” said Hugh.
“You wouldn’t say that if you’d seen him.” Miles’ voice became softer. “I’ve seen a lot of fights and there’s something not right about him. Even if he’s a mixed-breed it doesn’t explain what he did.”
“Please. He’s just a strong male who trained with Guards,” said Hugh. “We’ve all read about the adrenaline rush during battle. From what you’ve told me, he was fighting for his life. Why didn’t you stop the attack sooner?”
That was a good question, but Jethro didn’t think Hugh would get the real answer. The prison Guards had started this fight not the prisoners
“The Guards got there as soon as they could,” said Miles.
“There should be Guards with the prisoners at all times when they’re out of their cells.”
“They were, but they had to leave to get the tranquilizers. They don’t carry those with them.”
“How do they break up altercations if they don’t use tranquilizers?” asked Hugh.
“They have clubs.”
“Then why didn’t they use them? Why did they delay by running to get tranquilizers instead of attempting to use their clubs first?”
Jethro was impressed that Hugh wasn’t believing any of the Gruntshit tale Miles was trying to feed him.
“A few did. Jethro went through them like they were nothing.” Miles was scrambling but unfortunately, he was making sense. “The others ran to get the tranquilizers. It was their only option.”
“Their only option?” Hugh moved closer to the bed. “I don’t see any bruises that look like they were caused by a club. Only fists.”
“He took them out. You didn’t see him. He was fast and...brutal.”
“So the Guards were afraid.”
“Officially, I’m not saying that,” said Miles. “But yeah, I think they were, and I don’t blame them. I’m telling you there’s something not right about him.”
“There’s nothing different about him.” Hugh’s words dripped with derision.
Jethro kept his breathing steady, but he laughed inside. Miles was right. He was different but he was glad Hugh didn’t think so.
“Besides the fact that he spent months training and working with Guards instead of Almightys,” continued Hugh. “He had to be strong and fast, or he’d never have survived.”
“It’s more than that, Hugh. I swear. You need to see him fight.”
“Hmm. I don’t agree, but I’ll look into it. Even if he is a great fighter, there’s still no excuse for what happened today. I can’t have prisoners being attacked. It doesn’t look good. Tell the Guards that there’ll be a thorough investigation into this situation, but right now, I need you to get something for his cuts. We have to clean him up. I can’t let his family and friends see him like this.”
“Is he getting released soon?” asked Miles.
Jethro really wanted to hear that answer.
“Get the good antiseptic. I don’t want him dying from an infection.” Hugh ignored the question.
“Got it,” said Miles as he walked across the room.
As soon as the door closed, Hugh whispered, “Are you okay?”
Jethro continued to moderate his breathing.
“I know you’re awake.”
“How?” Jethro opened his eyes, staring up at the male he hated more than anyone else.
“You tensed when you heard my voice. It was barely noticeable, but I was watching.” Hugh grabbed a syringe, uncapped it and then squirted the contents down the drain. He turned back to Jethro. “I need you to trust me.”
That was never going to happen.
Miles came back in, and Hugh turned around, cupping his hand around the syringe.
“He’s awake?” Miles stopped in the doorway. “He shouldn’t be awake for hours.”
“I gave him a shot to spark his adrenaline.” Hugh opened his palm, showing the doctor the empty syringe.
“I don’t think you should’ve—”
“Don’t worry. I didn’t give him much. Just enough to wake him. I have some questions that I need answered and I don’t have all day to wait.”
Jethro eyed Hugh. Why was he covering for him?
Miles nodded but stayed on the other side of the room as he opened the packages of salve for Jethro’s wounds.
“Why were you attacked?” asked Hugh.
So they were going to play this game. “Don’t know. Ask the prison Guards who attacked me.”
“The prison Guards who attacked you?” Hugh actually sounded surprised.
“Yeah. It wasn’t prisoners.”
“He’s delusional. The initial attack was from prisoners. The Guards tried to break it up.” Miles walked over to the cot. “The tranquilizers can mess with his head for hours. Days even.” His eyes met Jethro’s and it was clear that Jethro had better go along with this story.
“I’ll need to talk to the prisoners involved,” said Hugh.
“Sure,” said Miles. “As soon as they can talk. They’re both pretty banged up. One has a broken jaw. The other we had to sedate to ease his pain.”
“Then I want to talk to the prison Guards.”
“They’ve all been sent home. Some had to go to the hospital. He did a real number on all of them. Broken ribs, fingers, arms...broken everything. It’s almost unbelievable that one Almighty could do that much damage to four Guards in such a short period of time.”
“It didn’t seem short to me.” That was kind of true. Time had slowed. Each movement and punch replayed through his mind, and yet it’d all happened fast in one glorious moment of survival. He flexed his fists. The cuts were already healing. He slid his hands under the sheet. He didn’t need Hugh or Miles to see that.
“I don’t want this to happen again.” Hugh’s gaze went to Miles and then back to Jethro.
“Gee. Me either.” He didn’t even try to hide his contempt. “But it never would’ve happened if I wasn’t alone in here.” He glared up at his half-brother. “Thanks to you.”
“I didn’t...What can I do to help keep you safe?” Hugh seemed sincere and a bit angry.
“You can turn me loose. I don’t deserve to be in here and you know it.” His hatred for the other Almighty seethed into something almost living.
Hugh hesitated a moment. “Setting you free isn’t an option.”
“What crime did I commit except that of a soldier? All the other soldiers have been released.”
“You were more than a soldier. You were a leader. You instigated and organized the attacks.”
“So I’m being punished for being good at my job.” Jethro snorted. “Figures. You say you’re different, but you seem an awful lot like those who were in charge before you.”
“It’s not my fault you were on the wrong side of the war.”
“That’s not why I’m still in here and you know it.”
“That is exactly—”
“The only reason I’m still locked up is that you’re afraid—”
“I’m not afraid of you.”
Jethro couldn’t help inhaling and testing the air. Hugh wasn’t lying. The only fear in this room was coming from Miles. “I know that.” At least, he did now. “But you are afraid that your fiancé will want a real male. One who can protect her. One who can fight and not just someone who spouts political drivel.”
“Don’t talk about her. Ever.” Hugh’s eyes narrowed and his hands clenched at his sides.
Jethro almost snarled. If his limbs weren’t still heavy from the sedative, he’d rip through the restraints and tear Hugh apart.
“Ignore him.” Miles grabbed Hugh’s arm, pulling him away from the cot.
“Good luck in here.” Hugh yanked free and turned toward Miles. “Let me know when he’s dead.”
Hugh’s angry footsteps echoed down the hallway as Miles closed the door. Jethro waited. He was vulnerable, but the doctor had to get close to poison him. He’d watch for an opening because he refused to let Miles inject him with something and pass off his death as a consequence of the beating.
“If you want out of here, you’ll stop taunting Hugh. He holds all the power...out there.”
“Meaning, he doesn’t in here?”
“You tell me. Do you think Hugh arranged for those Guards to attack you?”
“I told you. I don’t know why they attacked me. Prisoners? Sure. I’m alone. Vulnerable. But the prison Guards? I have no idea why they went after me.”
Miles rolled his eyes.
“Believe what you want.”
“You don’t think it has anything to do with you being alone in here and running a very lucrative business?”
So that’s what this was about. Other prison Guards wanted in on the cut as well as Miles. “They should remember that there is no business without me. Indy won’t work with anyone else.”
“You think he’s the only one who—”
“He’s the only one who figured out how to get past the honest Guards.”
“And now, we know. Why do we still need Indy? Or you.” Miles walked across the room. “I’m just saying that maybe you should be nicer to Hugh. Life in here can be dangerous.” He opened the door and motioned for someone to come forward. Tonkers and another large Guard entered the infirmary. “The only way you’re going to survive is by making new friends.”
He should’ve known Tonkers was behind this. The Guard had been whining about wanting a bigger cut of their business.
“Let’s go.” Tonkers unfastened the restraints and pulled Jethro off the table. The second Guard grabbed his other arm and they escorted him out of the infirmary.
“You have a new partner,” said Tonkers.
“We don’t need another partner.” He tipped his head at the other Guard. “Apparently, there are already four of us.”
“You aren’t the boss anymore,” said the new Guard.
“Then who is? You?” He laughed but none of this was funny.
“Gap? Nah. He ain’t smart enough to be the boss. Are you, Gap?” laughed Tonkers.
“Nope. I’m strong.” Gap’s grip on Jethro’s arm tightened. “And mean but not smart.”
“Then who? Miles?” He was liking this even less.
“Miles ain’t the boss but he’s working with us. The new boss’s idea,” said Tonkers. “It’ll be easier with him. Those who pay can pretend to be sick. I’ll bring them to the infirmary and when they’re done, I’ll take them back to their cells.”
“Our way was working fine.” He was losing control and that was never good, especially in here.
“That way is over. We’re branching out.”
“Branching out? Indy hasn’t said anything to me about this.”
“Indy’s out.” Tonkers’ lip raised a bit. “You were supposed to be out too.”
“What are you talking about?” His friend had better still be alive. “Indy is the one who knows how to bypass the honest Guards.”
“We learned from watching him. Now, we don’t need him.” Tonkers shoved Jethro. “Or you. The Almightys are our partners now. Wickerwood is the new boss.”
That wasn’t good at all. “Why am I still alive?” Even though they hadn’t been able to kill him in the cafeteria, Miles could’ve finished him off in the infirmary.
“I have no idea.” Tonkers shrugged. “Orders changed. You should thank Wickerwood.”
“I guess I should.” It made him want to vomit but he could no longer afford to be choosy about his friends.