ISOLATION BLOCK

I show my badge to the other guards, but judging by the way they ogle me, it wasn’t really necessary.

I told them the warden asked me to check on Alexander Graves because his lawyer was requesting an update.

They seem to buy it, and even give me a key to his cell.

I make my way there.

I have no idea how I’m going to approach Alexander, but I’ll figure it out.

There are only a few cells, and most of the inmates are asleep.

I hope this famous Alexander is awake.

He must be about my father’s age”forties, judging by how respected and important he seems.

I’ll just play the role of the naive girl. Maybe he’ll take pity on me.

I stop in front of the cell the guards indicated.

I see a man doing push-ups. From that position, he looks muscular and imposing.

I can’t see his face.

I slide the key into the lock and step inside, quietly closing the door behind me.

I expected him to turn around at the sound”but he doesn’t.

I glance around his cell: bare essentials”a bed, toilet, small round table, and sink.

I clear my throat to signal my presence, though it’s clear he already noticed me.

He keeps doing push-ups for a few minutes, then finally gets up.

He turns his head to me”

I’m stunned.

He looks nothing like what I imagined.

He’s tall, at least 6’5", maybe more.

I feel oddly small beside him.

His skin is deeply tanned, with light brown eyes with long dark lashes, a faint scar beneath one eye,

and a short beard that adds undeniable masculinity.

He shoots me a cold look that makes it clear he doesn’t want me here.

My gaze briefly drops to his sweaty, sculpted chest”still glistening from his workout.

Then I spot a small cross-shaped scar on his bicep.

He exudes insane charisma.

But what really draws my eyes is his hair: shoulder-length, wavy”

it makes you want to run your fingers through it.

He scans me up and down”but not like the others.

His gaze analyzes my every expression, as if trying to read me”

But I’m used to hiding emotions. His little game won’t work on me.

We silently watch each other until he breaks the silence:

"Who are you? And what the hell are you doing in my cell?"

His voice is deep and raspy, probably roughened by cigarettes”

but it only adds to his charm.

My father didn’t warn me that he’d be this attractive.

I cough once to regain composure and force a neutral expression.

"I’m the new guard. The warden asked me to check if you were doing alright."

He raises an eyebrow”clearly not buying it.

It feels weird using formal speech with someone so young.

But I have to maintain my cover.

"Since when does that fat bastard care about anyone but himself?

Why’d he send you and not one of the others?

You need seniority to access solitary."

I ignore the comment about the warden.

He keeps staring. He seems well-informed.

"I don’t need to justify myself to you. If you must know, the others are busy."

He clenches his jaw.

"You don’t look like a guard."

I frown, annoyed by the remark.

"What makes you say that, inmate?"

I really emphasized “inmate” to create distance and assert superiority.

He lets out a short, mocking laugh.

"No one calls me inmate. You don’t look like a guard because I just insulted your boss and you didn’t flinch!"

"I’m not a lawyer."

He laughs again.

"The warden paid you to play guard, come flirt with me and get me to spill my secrets, right?

How insulting. He could’ve sent someone way hotter.

It’s been ages since I’ve seen a woman, and he sends me a tight little virgin?"

My jaw drops, fists clenching on instinct.

I wasn’t expecting that. I feel insulted and degraded.

It’s only been minutes and he’s already formed a strong opinion.

A “tight little virgin”? Who the hell does he think he is?

He wanted “someone better looking”?

He can go throw himself off a cliff and see what he finds down there!

He’s already radiating hatred toward me”and I feel it becoming mutual.

I want to slap him across the face.

He’s probably capable of killing me, and I left my weapon at the entrance.

Officially, I’m just here to check on his well-being.

I can’t cause trouble.

I take a deep breath, though I’m mentally smashing his face into the wall.

"Don’t disrespect me. You don’t know me. I suggest you don’t talk to me like that."

He doesn’t deserve formalities.

"Dropping the 'sir' now, huh? What are you gonna do? Bite me?"

"I’d rather break whatever you’ve got between your legs. Watch it."

He doesn’t take me seriously at all and raises his brows.

"I’d like to see that. If you just wanted to take care of my balls, you could’ve just said so."

This man is unbearable and way too smug.

Gaining his trust is going to be harder than I thought.

"I hope Anis taught you a lesson."

He smirks.

"Do I look like I got beat up by that son of a bitch?"

Of course not.

I sigh and turn to leave. I unlock the door and exit the cell.

As I walk toward the exit of the isolation block, I hear Alexander’s voice behind me:

"Tell that bastard warden it’s insulting to send a whore to manipulate me.

He knows I’m not stupid.

So next time, don’t send me a rookie!"

I bite my lip to keep from yelling at the bastard.

He really thinks the warden sent me to get information?

If only he knew I’m really undercover”but not for the warden.

He called me a "rookie."

I hate that word.

I leave the isolation block and return the key to the guards, face expressionless.

SURVEILLANCE ROOM

7:49 a.m.

I finish buttoning up my shirt, ready to start another day in this prison that doesn’t exactly inspire trust.

I’m sore and bruised all over from last night. Even though I’m undercover, I’m not excused from my duties to the gang. Not in the slightest. I wish more than anything to be free from them.

My nights are filled with the same crap that’s haunted me since I was a kid. It’s inevitable if I want to avoid my father’s wrath.

I also had to spend time coming up with a plan to access the isolation ward. It’s complicated. I can feel my colleagues keeping an eye on me. They’d definitely find it strange if I wandered into such a dangerous area on just my second day.

But I don’t have a choice. I have no intention of staying in this hellhole forever. At least I’ll walk away with a decent chunk of cash when this mission is done.

I still hope that one day I’ll have the means to get far, far away from the gang and my father. I want to be free and live the life I dream of.

I arrive at the surveillance room, where I find Mathieu still sitting in the same place as before.

When our eyes meet, he smiles. I return it. I sit down on one of the chairs and rest my feet on the desk.

He’s the one to start the conversation:

"So, feeling suicidal?"

"Not yet. I’m pissed at that Alexander guy."

"What’d he do? Hit you with one of those savage comebacks he’s famous for?"

"More than one. He implied that the warden hired me to play the role of a sexy guard just to get him to spill his secrets."

Mathieu bursts out laughing while I’m still fuming.

"I hope you’re enjoying yourself because I’m not laughing. I want to smash his fucking head against a wall."

Mathieu tries to regain his composure, still chuckling.

"Don’t forget, officially we may have the power, but in reality, guys like Alexander are the ones who really run things."

"I don’t give a damn. He spoke to me like I was nothing, beneath him. It’s obvious he’s a sexist bastard who thinks women don’t belong in prison."

"Hate to break it to you, sweetheart, but most of the men in here think the same way. I’m pretty sure even the warden does."

"They’re all idiots. Women aren’t inferior to anyone. One day, I’ll prove to everyone that we’re just as capable as men."

"In case you haven’t noticed, they’ve been raised to believe that women should be submissive."

I’ve heard this kind of crap for years. I’m used to moving in male-dominated circles, and I’ve always proven I belong just as much as any guy in the gang. So I’m definitely not going to let myself get walked on here.

"You’ve been through it with guys, huh?"

"Let’s just say I grew up surrounded by men, and I had to make my mark from a young age."

"You’ve got brothers, then?"

"Not brothers, but they were part of my family."

"You raised in a conservative household? The type that thinks women should stay at home, right? Conservative families have a hard time accepting someone different from what they know."

He sounds like he’s speaking from experience. I choose not to bring it up”it seems personal. Still, I can tell he’s been hurt too.

I sigh.

"My father wanted a son. He shaped me into what he wanted."

"I can hear the hate in your voice."

"Hate that makes me want to burn everything down. But I’m here to work. Not to complain."

Mathieu looks at me, then gives me a wide smile.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"When you talk, it feels like maybe things could finally change in this prison."

I’m only here for a mission. If a criminal like me is the one bringing change to prison, something’s seriously wrong with the world.

APARTMENT

7:34 p.m.

I get home after a long day. I notice a sliver of light under the door, even though I’m sure I didn’t leave anything on.

I pull out the gun tucked in the back pocket of my jeans and grip it tightly. I enter the apartment, weapon raised.

My father is sitting on the main couch like he owns the place. I let out a sigh and lowered my weapon.

"Always on guard, huh?"

"You’re the one who taught me to be. Next time, ring the bell. You’re lucky I always look before I shoot."

"Just a reminder, this is my apartment. You’re living here as a tenant, not as the owner."

I hate when he says that. Like everything I have is his and I’m dependent on him. I could’ve figured out a place to live on my own.

"If you came just to say that, the door’s over there."

"Sometimes I feel like I have a son, not a daughter."

"Sucks for you”it’s just a feeling."

He shrugs.

"How’s the mission going?"

"Fine."

"You met Alexander?"

"Yeah. It was... intense."

"What do you mean?"

"You didn’t warn me about his personality."

"You didn’t think it’d be easy, did you?"

"I never said that."

"Think about it”how does someone that young get so much respect and influence? He’s got serious balls."

He stands up from the couch and heads toward the door. Before leaving, he turns to me one last time.

"Last night, you were pathetic. I was ashamed you were my daughter. You better do way better next time unless you want to suffer the consequences of your weakness. I won’t accept another failure."

He leaves, slamming the door behind him.

I sit down on the couch and run a hand over my face with a deep sigh.

I knew he’d have something to say about what happened last night, but I didn’t think he’d show up in person. Usually, he sends one of his guys to deliver the blows.

When he comes in person, it usually means I’m going to suffer”but this time, he didn’t touch me. He didn’t even try.

Good. I wouldn’t have been able to handle his rage with my body already wrecked from that shitty night that left me in so much pain.

At the prison, I suffered in silence so no one would get suspicious.

Living a double life is really fucking complicated.