Guarding Secrets Read online

  He looked around the room again. “Welcome to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.”

  That day, I had no clue that his warning would one day haunt me during my time at TDCJ.

  CHAPTER THREE

  ON THE JOB—KENYATAYE

  “Oh, hell no! They don’t pay me enough to deal with that kind of foolishness,” C.O. Jones said as we discussed cleaning up after prisoners. Jones tossed the clipboard onto a nearby desk and stormed out of the guards’ booth.

  All eyes were glued to her and her antics. I had called a quick meeting before the next shift change and she acted like she had better things to do. Nobody wanted to think about having to clean up an inmate’s feces, urine, or sperm, but the way she walked out during the meeting wouldn’t change anything. What did she expect when she took a job in a prison? Inmates threw all kinds of crap.

  “Good damn riddance,” I said, and rolled my eyes as she left.

  “What’s wrong with her?” Edwards asked.

  I shrugged. “What’s right with her?”

  Nearly three grueling weeks had passed since the new people had joined us on the job. And in that short amount of time, I already knew which ones would be team players and which ones we should send back marked rejects. Correctional Officer Charisma Jones had a serious attitude problem and I hated that she was on our shift.

  Her entire disposition was cold; she was mean, standoffish, and kept to herself except on the few occasions when she talked with C.O. Tiny Scott. But C.O. Scott was a loner too, so it wasn’t a complete shock that they jelled.

  Jones’ dramatic exit made things easier for me; after that, the meeting went smoothly. Besides, my mind was overrun with enough as it was.

  The most pressing of all my issues was the fact that I hadn’t been back in the closet with DaQuan in what felt like forever. Time away from him made me feel agitated and irritable.

  Although we hadn’t spent much intimate time together, business was still being handled. So that meant I still talked to him nightly on the phone, and reports flowed in as usual.

  All of that flooded my mind as I sat inside the guards’ booth when R.J., one of DaQuan’s soldiers, came to fetch me. He was thin with a muscular body and he was cool. As a trustee, he wore all white.

  “Yo, Dunbar, Bossman needs to holla at you,” he said.

  There were two other correctional officers in the booth, so it wouldn’t be a problem for me to leave. Both of them were on the team, which meant I’d be covered for as long as I needed.

  “I’ll be there in a sec,” I told R.J. I barely turned to look at him.

  Nothing kept me from going right away, but I wanted to go when I felt like it. I was still uncomfortable over the fact that DaQuan never responded to the things I said to him.

  I needed to set up some rules with our relationship and I wanted the talk to lead to better communication between us. But instead, he had been impossible and made things complicated.

  It wasn’t like I was gonna make him wait too long, but I wasn’t about to snap to, just because he summoned me, either.

  Several minutes later, when I felt good and sort of ready, I got up and strolled into the day-room area. The room was loud and completely abuzz with lots of activity and chatter. Inmates watched TV, and played cards, and some stood near the wall in groups of three and four.

  Sometimes it was hard to tell we were in a prison. I glanced around the room and took in the action that played out in each section. When inmates were on their best behavior, it made our jobs easy. My eyes focused on the two correctional officers who stood post nearby.

  That bitch Jones looked in DaQuan’s and his soldiers’ direction every few minutes. I had no idea what she thought, or whether she was just being nosey, but I didn’t like it. I didn’t like any of the attention she threw his way.

  All the other female C.O.s on our shift knew he was off-limits, and as far as I knew, they respected the fact that I kicked it with him—all except Jones.

  The other day, I’d noticed she waited until DaQuan finished talking to someone, then stepped to him like they were out on the streets. I wanted to flush my ears when I heard him call her by her first name.

  That was a complete violation and he could’ve been written up for that. They were far too chummy with one another, and I didn’t appreciate that shit. Because she looked funny and was ugly, I wasn’t too worried about her.

  I wasn’t sure what she was up to. Later, as she walked toward the locker room, I stopped her and tried to give her some friendly advice.

  “Hey, Jones. I’m not sure if you’re aware, but inmates are supposed to refer to you by title and last name only. You don’t want to get too comfortable with these guys. Otherwise, they’ll think you’re a mark, label you weak, and try to take advantage; just some friendly advice.” I even ended with a fake smile.

  I nearly fell down when the bitch sucked her teeth, looked at me, allowed her eyes to start at my feet, roll up to my face, then said, “You should let me worry about my own label and handle yours. Besides, when I want friendly advice, I go to my friends.”

  She pivoted and sauntered away.

  Dumbfounded was the only word that could describe how I felt as I stood there and tried to process what she had just said. I couldn’t remember a time I had come so close to reaching out and slapping the piss out of a coworker. Ever since that exchange, I’d kept a watchful eye on Jones.

  From where I stood, it looked like she wanted to get DaQuan’s attention. I was furious, but I decided not to act out on my anger. I’d let the bitch hang herself. At the rate she moved, I wouldn’t even need to provide the rope.

  When the guys moved away from DaQuan, I strolled over and greeted him the proper way.

  “Inmate, I heard you were looking for me.”

  You never knew who tried to ear-hustle on a conversation. So I scanned the area around us, to be sure no one was being nosey.

  DaQuan’s eyes shifted as he spoke. “R.J. says ya ain’t done payroll yet; what’s up?” The frown on his face made me want to take him into my arms and erase whatever it was that was really bothering him. Maybe he missed our intimate time too.

  “Oh, nothing. I was waiting for the right time to pass the envelopes out.”

  “Listen. We don’t play with nobody’s money. They got bills and need they shit just like ya need yours. If ya can’t handle payroll, let me know and I can get someone else to take care of it.”

  He spoke to me so matter-of-factly. There was no softness in his tone, and no affection in his eyes. He was in straight business mode. I was crushed by the way he had handled me.

  “Babe, do you wanna talk about it?” I asked once he finished his threat.

  His face fell into a deeper frown.

  “There’s nothing to talk about. Don’t play with people’s paper. It’s that simple, ma.”

  “DaQuan, I heard you. But now, I’m talking about us. We haven’t been in the closet in weeks now.” I lowered my voice to a whisper. It was a move I hoped would signal to him that I didn’t want to fight anymore.

  “I’m here to discuss business. Anything else, we can talk about that shit later.” He did a half shrug.

  I swallowed back the tears that wanted to push forward and out.

  “Is everything okay over here, Officer Dunbar?”

  I whipped my head around just as C.O. Jones approached. Was she that fucking stupid? When I didn’t answer, because I couldn’t find my voice, she spoke again.

  “Inmate, is everything okay?” she asked DaQuan.

  What the hell was happening? Had I underestimated her?

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHARISMA JONES

  I watched him and his boys from across the room. I was nothing if I wasn’t patient. When their meeting ended, I sashayed up to him and immediately got lost in his sexy, dark eyes. His thick lips looked so inviting. Everything about DaQuan turned me on. It felt good when Dunbar’s radio went off and she left us alone.

  “Hey, Char
isma, you know you wearing the hell outta that uniform, right?”

  His words made me feel all warm and good inside. Who didn’t like a man who greeted you with a compliment?

  “Umph, thanks. But you always say that.” I grinned. When he flirted with me, it made everything right. “Besides, I’ll bet you tell all the C.O.s that,” I said, and blushed despite myself.

  “Aw, man! I’m hurt.” He feigned insult. “So ya really think I say the same thing to Swanson?” he asked. He scrunched up his handsome face.

  Could his smile be any sexier?

  I laughed. “No, silly! Swanson’s a man, but I’ll bet you probably tell Edwards, Bishop, Scott, and the other female C.O.s the same thing.” I intentionally left Dunbar’s name off my list. He didn’t seem to mind.

  He shook his head. All the while, his eyes did a slow roll up my legs, lingered at my hips, then traveled up to my breasts, where my nipples suddenly got all hard. He looked at me like I was wearing a sexy wrap dress instead of the standard issued slacks and white shirt.

  I couldn’t explain it, but there was nothing slimy about the way his greedy eyes threatened to devour me. As a woman, you wanted DaQuan Cooper to notice you. And when he noticed you in a sexual way, that made it even better. There was definitely something between us.

  Even when he frowned, he was handsome. His features were real strong, almost chiseled.

  “Who ya been talking to, Charisma?”

  I loved the way he said my name. Inmates were supposed to address us by our last name, after our title, of course. But when we were alone, I didn’t care what DaQuan called me. When he called me by my first name, it helped me forget where we were.

  “Whatever, Bossman,” I joked. I used the nickname his soldiers called him to let him know I was aware of the power he carried.

  His right eyebrow twitched a little. His white shirt and white pants were always clean, pressed, and starched. He stayed groomed, freshly shaved, with his hair lined up nicely.

  DaQuan was also a beast about his workout. His arms, abs, and thighs were all cut up and added to his sexiness. I already knew, if we was out on the streets, there was no way in hell a man like him would take a second look at me.

  But we wasn’t on the streets; we was inside the Jester State Prison Farm. And although the circumstances weren’t ideal, I loved being the center of DaQuan’s affection, real or imagined.

  Sure, I had heard all about his reputation, but that wasn’t none of my business. All I knew was, he looked good, he ran the yard, the building, and everything else.

  “So what’s good, baby girl?”

  He sounded so sexy, and I liked the way he licked his lips when he knew I was looking.

  “I got a lead on some Xanax and Percocet,” I said.

  Instantly, something happened. The air between us got thick. His jawbone tightened and his features hardened right before my eyes.

  Silence hung between us for a long while before he spoke.

  “Is that right?”

  His lack of excitement confused me at first. I expected him to be hyped considering his workers had been trying to get me on the smuggling team for the past two weeks. I felt special that they wanted me. And I thought it was because DaQuan had told them I was cool and could handle it.

  “Yeah. It’s legit too,” I said.

  My feelings were crushed. I wanted to make him proud. I wanted to prove to him that I could be on the team. I had been off for two days and had dreamed of the moment I’d get the chance to deliver my news directly to DaQuan in person.

  I thought he’d scoop me up in his strong arms and kiss me passionately to show his appreciation. Instead, his lackluster reaction left me dejected.

  Maybe he didn’t think I was good enough to join his team. I thought he liked me. I was so confused.

  DaQuan’s eyes held mine, but it became obvious he wasn’t about to discuss any business with me.

  “So what’s up with ya?” he asked. He cocked his head slightly.

  I was perplexed, and felt the heat of disappointment as it traveled through my entire body. All of a sudden, I was nervous about being in his presence. Everybody knew DaQuan was the boss. Maybe that was all part of the game. Maybe there was a different chain of command with his team too.

  He tapped the empty spot on the bench. “Here, why don’t ya cop a seat?”

  He didn’t ask, and I understood that. I glanced at the other inmates who moved around in the large room. If anyone paid attention to DaQuan and me, they weren’t obvious about it.

  I eased onto the bench and felt his eyes cover me even more. It was so good to have his attention all to myself, but I was saddened by the fact that I had failed in my attempt to get closer to him. If only I could prove that I’d be a valuable asset to the business, I knew we’d be great together.

  “Yo, ya need to get with R.J. about that business. But I wanted to ask about your ol’ man. Did y’all ever work that out?”

  I glanced down and felt odd about the way I had told him all my business. We’d talk for hours on end, and I felt like he really cared about me and the drama my baby’s daddy had put me through.

  “It’s okay, baby girl. Ya ain’t gotta feel no kinda way about talking to me. It’s all good. I just wanna make sure ol’ boy know what he’s got in ya.”

  “Yeah, he was still trippin’, but I went on and took your advice,” I admitted. “I’m done with him and his drama.”

  “See, that’s what’s up. That tells me, ya not only pretty, but ya smart too,” he said. “That’s what’s up.”

  Whoa! Earth just slipped from its axis. People usually never called me pretty; actually, no one ever had. Words like that were usually reserved for my cousin, Lena. His compliment made me blush.

  “Don’t think I didn’t notice yo hair too. I like that color on ya. Most women with your complexion not bold enough to rock that shade of red, but ya owning that, ma.”

  I grinned so hard, my cheeks started to ache. DaQuan was dangerously handsome. He dripped power, and in a place like this, that was a good look. He wore it so well, thoughts of him made my panties wet.

  “Well, listen, I need to get back to my post, but I’ll holla at you later on,” I said.

  His eyes held me and I wanted to melt right there and give him anything he wanted.

  As I got up, he didn’t say anything. He nodded slightly and kept his gaze glued to me. Our connection was fyah. It might have been lust, but I felt it and it felt good. I wanted him, and as I moved away, I decided I’d do whatever I needed to get him.

  When I made it back to the guard’s post and stepped inside, I felt odd. Suddenly, it got quiet and everyone looked at me like I had just disrupted a secret conversation.

  That usually meant that I had been the subject of their gossip. The thought didn’t really bother me, because they barely knew anything about me, and I wanted to keep it that way. It was only my eighth week on the job and I needed to get past my three-month probation period with no problems. I needed the job more than I needed the drama, so I checked my temper.

  “Hey, y’all, what’s up?” I spoke, even though I didn’t want to.

  No one said anything, but C.O. Dunbar shot me an icy look that was meant to kill. If I wasn’t sure about that glance of death, the minute I looked in her direction again, she boldly rolled her eyes at me. The roll was so hard, it looked like her eyes might pop square out of her head.

  I held a straight face, but on the inside, I was on fire. There was no need to let them know they had gotten to me, so I tossed them one final glance before I turned and walked back out of the booth.

  There was no doubt. I had received KenyaTaye’s message, and even though she didn’t utter a word, I still heard it loud and crystal clear.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  KENYATAYE

  I was so sick of being fed up. I walked out into the searing Houston sun and found the building where I was supposed to meet another correctional officer.

  We wanted to be away fr
om curious minds and tongues that wagged. She worked a different shift, but we agreed to finally meet and talk face-to-face. I had a severe case of the jitters that I couldn’t shake. My heart raced with each step I took.

  Before now, we’d only heard about each other through rumors and coworker gossip. There’d been a couple of nasty phone calls too, but for the most part, it was the work chatter that kept the drama going.

  It made me sick that people stayed in my business, but I told myself that was the price you had to pay when you kicked it with a Boss. And DaQuan was definitely a Boss.

  I walked out to the far end of the yard and waited. The wait was the worst. I thought about the catfights, rumors, and some of the nasty words we’d exchanged.

  After about fifteen minutes, I looked around again and really considered leaving. It was hot, my skin felt sticky, and I wasn’t in the best mood. Besides, I should’ve known she’d be a no-show. Some people just lived to keep drama going. I turned to leave and had taken a few steps when I heard her.

  “You Dunbar?” a voice asked.

  I turned and faced a woman I would never have suspected would be in the same situation as me. She was fair-skinned, about five feet three inches, curvy, with dark eyes and unruly, curly hair. I noticed one of those eyes looked a little slow, but otherwise, she looked okay. Envy began to flood my veins because I had hoped more would be wrong with her. Under different circumstances, we might’ve actually been friends.

  With the brick fortress as the backdrop and only a few feet of barbed-wire fence between us, she eyed me up and down before she spoke again.

  “Yeah, that’s me.”

  “Umph. So, did he tell you we was having a boy this time?” She placed a hand on her stomach. “Did you know about our other kids?” She huffed in disgust.

  Actually being in her presence and seeing her for the first time was more awkward than I’d imagined. I swallowed the dry lump in my throat. She didn’t look pregnant to me, but I knew she was because people had already talked about it nonstop.