Page 132 of Temptation

The door clanged closed once again. Such a loud, stark sound.

Preston waited a beat. A camera rested near the ceiling, in the upper right corner of the little room. He waited for the green light on that camera to turn off.

It did.

No more recording.

Cody stared at him, eyes wide. “What is happening?”

“I’m giving you a chance to attack me again,” Preston told him. “Only this time, be warned, I will fight back.”

Cody did not get out of the chair.

Preston stalked toward him. “I’m not some sleeping mother in her bed. Not some dozing father who will never have the chance to reach for a weapon so that I can defend my family.”

Cody’s shoulders hunched.

“I am not some dumbass, good guy who will just let a violent thug beat him while he does nothing but cower on the floor.” Preston stopped right beside Cody.

Cody barely met his eyes.

“I am not some poor sonofabitch who will let you destroy his life because you come after his wife.” Sloane would be his wife. Soon. They were already planning the wedding. “Let me tell you who I am.” His hands flew out. Curled around Cody’s neck. Not tightening. Not yet. “I am your nightmare.”

“G-guards!” Cody tried to call, but his voice was just a whisper.

“I am the man who can get to you, at any time, at any place. Bars won’t keep me out. They will not keep me away.”

“G-guards…” But Cody’s voice was even weaker.

“I am the man who will make you suffer before you die.” Preston could feel the frantic racing of Cody’s pulse beneath his touch. “I am the man who will show you hell on earth long before I let you take your last breath. I have killed before, and I will do it again, in an instant, before you ever touch Sloane again.”

Cody pissed himself.

Preston let him go. He shook his head in disgust.

“G-guards…” Cody whimpered.

“Have fun serving out your time. Plus, the time you’ll get for, you know, assaulting me on camera.”

“Guards…”

Preston headed for the door. Deliberately, he turned his back on the prisoner. If Cody wanted to attack again, Preston would enjoy the fight. He wouldn’t hold back. He’d be swinging brutal punches of his own. After all, he already had the footage he needed in order to prove that he was a victim.

But there was no second attack. Nothing but what could have been sobs from Cody.

Officer Trenton opened the door for Preston, but Preston didn’t exit. Not yet. Preston snapped his fingers together. “Almost forgot.” He looked back at Cody. Hunched shoulders. Craned neck. Bowed head. “You’ll be in general population now.”

Cody’s head whipped up and toward Preston. His eyes turned saucer-wide.

“It was weird, but for some reason, you were being given preferential treatment. I think because your family was bribing the warden? Probably, but well, anyway, I have more money than they do so…” He smiled. “I think general pop is going to suit you so much better. You will make so many great, new friends.”

“G-guards…”

“Good luck with all of that.”

When Preston left the prison moments later, he was whistling. The sun was incredibly bright outside. He popped on his sunglasses and felt the warmth of that light on his skin.

* * *

THE END