Page 109 of Shattered Pieces

“How can you be sure? What if⁠—”

“Mark hacked into the system to check last night.”

I glared at him, considering punching him but thinking better of it since he was my ride home.

“You let me stress over this all night and for the entire four hour drive when you knew she was fine? Was there a reason she didn’t call?”

He winced, switching off the engine and unbuckling his seat belt.

“There were a few issues, but she wasn’t the target. Someone was attacked in the showers. It was planned, and all the clues lead to Rory and Lexi being the attackers, but with no proof, they can’t punish them. Rory also started a fight and got a newbie put in the hole. No idea what over though, and Rory made it look like the other girl was the problem, not her. She wasn’t punished for that either.”

“Lexi’s not forcing her into things, right?”

“Since when has it been possible to force Rory to do anything?” he said dryly, making me feel a little better.

“Can we find out today?”

“I’ll ask, but don’t go blurting shit out across the room. The guards can’t know we saw footage or we’re all fucked, and they can’t know Rory’s involvement,” he warned, climbing out and emptying his pockets. I did the same before we walked inside together, and Hunter gave me an apologetic look when I was dragged off to be strip searched.

They could look at my cock and balls all they liked. It was probably the best cock they’d ever laid eyes on anyway, and I hoped they were jealous of Rory for getting to have it all to herself.

Hunter was waiting for me outside the private room after he’d been searched too, and he sighed.

“I was wondering how long it would take them to start searching you too. We always get searched, so I’m surprised it took them so long.”

“They won’t do it for much longer when I file a harassment claim against them for you,” I scoffed loud enough for the guards close by to hear.

“Aw, thanks, bro,” he chuckled, nudging me ahead so we could enter the visitation room to wait.

Other families entered, and once everyone was seated, the inmates started wandering in through another door.

My heartbeat picked up when Rory walked out, just like it always did when I laid eyes on her, and she gave me a tight hug as I stood to greet her.

“Hey, baby,” she whispered, giving me a kiss before turning to hug Hunter next.

“You didn’t call last night,” I grumbled, earning a small smile.

“Sorry. A bunch of the girls wanted to hang out, and I was piled high with school work in the afternoon. We had trouble yesterday among some other girls too, so the whole day was a little crazy.”

I wanted to ask her about it, but I knew Hunter would be better at doing it carefully.

“What happened? You girls getting yourselves into trouble?” he asked casually as we all sat down, giving her a pointed look that I understood as he already knew and wanted her to explain further.

She must have gathered that too from the way she paused and watched him for a moment before blowing out a breath.

“Tina’s girls got into a fight with Kat. One of them was left in gen pop without protection, and I guess someone had beef with her. She was found beaten in the showers,” she explained, Hunter’s eyes dropping to her hands to see her damaged knuckles. “Newbie got in a fight with me. She’s in the hole.”

“You wouldn’t have started it, right?” I asked dryly, and she flashed me an innocent smile.

“Never. I’m a good role model in here.”

“Sure,” Hunter scoffed, his tone laced with sarcasm. “Anything else?”

“Don’t think so. Marco couldn’t make it?”

“He was dealing with something at home.”

“Like what? Is he okay?” she asked with a frown, both of us looking to Hunter for answers. He hadn’t given me a reason for Marco’s absence this morning, he’d just said he wasn’t coming.