Twisted Justice

by Danielle James

  “Manny, what the fuck are you doing here?” I frowned, sucking in breaths.

  “What the fuck are you doing? Jesus. He’s out cold. Goddammit. Cami said you’d been fucking people up in here but…guards?”

  “He was talking reckless about Camilla,” I shrugged. Manny looked on the floor and sighed, crushing the heel of his shoe into the guard’s face.

  “I’ll have that taken care of.” He wiped his shoe on the man’s torso and sat behind a desk like he owned the entire prison. “Alexander, I’m not here to play nice with you. I don’t wanna make small talk. I came to let you know I’ll be forwarding your DNA evidence to the judge as soon as possible and you should have a trial set for some time this month.” His eyes, eyes that were identical to mine, stared at me waiting for a response. Hell, I was waiting for one too. I was stunned, but instead of gratitude I laughed.

  Manny frowned at my laughter. He looked positively pissed. I held my stomach and shook my head, letting the last remnants of my laughing fit trickle off. “I’m sorry. But…you’re really trying to get back into Camilla’s good graces. How bad did you fuck up?” He sighed and leaned back in the chair.

  “Bad,” he grumbled. “Look, you can sit here and rot for the rest of your life sentence if you want. I’m trying to be nice.”

  “No. You’re trying to get Camilla back.”

  “I haven’t lost her,” he snapped. I sat back and looked at my brother. He looked like shit. He hadn’t been sleeping well, the bags under his eyes told me that. His face was scruffy and he looked distant. He looked like he was going through something deeper than missing his wife.

  “Manny, what the fuck is wrong with you?”

  “What? Nothing.” He scrubbed his face with his palm and cleared his throat. He was distracted and that wasn’t like him at all.

  “What did you do?” I asked him calmly.

  “I didn’t…what are you talking about, Alexander?”

  “You can barely focus. Listen to me,” I said, resting my elbows on the desk and forcing him to make eye contact. “What did you do to Camilla?” As soon as he heard her name I could see him fighting to focus again.

  “I didn’t do anything to her. I didn’t hit her or anything crazy like you did.” He frowned. “I did fuck up though.” He blew out a slow breath. “I cheated. Me.” A dry chuckle came from him and he shook his head like he could barely believe it himself. “I don’t understand myself. None of it makes sense.” He focused on my eyes and then drummed his fingers on the desk. “You’re a psychologist,” he said.

  “Was,” I corrected him harshly. “I was a fucking psychologist until you ruined my life.” Anger flared in my chest and made my heart thunder.

  “Uh huh,” he grunted unconcerned. “What would make someone hell bent on monogamy randomly deviate like that?” I fought the urge to tell him how he’d crushed Camilla to the point of a relapse. I also fought against telling him he was delusional. “I mean I really wasn’t that attracted to Lana. It’s like she has some kind of pull on me though. Whenever I’m not around her I loathe her but as soon as she comes around it’s a different story altogether.” Unfortunately, I was actually listening to him and mulling it over in my head. I couldn’t really think of a reason though.

  “Honestly, it sounds like you’re intoxicated with her,” I shrugged.

  “I can’t accept that shit. It’s like I’m two different people.” He really seemed perplexed about the whole thing. I stifled my laughter.

  “Manny, you’re a man. You had an urge and you scratched it when you shouldn’t have. Clearly it happens to the best of us.”

  “The best?” He laughed. “Okay. I think we see who the best is, little brother.”

  “The one who crushed her soul?”

  “Are we still talking about me? Let’s not forget who went off and made a life in Montana with Anais, then unearthed our dead father who in turn came to Miami and ruined our lives. Remember all that shit when you get high and mighty.” His focus was back and it was razor fucking sharp. It made me want to punch him in his damn throat. “Just because Cami is a sweetheart and forgave you, doesn’t mean I have.”

  “Luckily, I’m not holding my breath.”

  “Yeah, luckily because you’d be dead fucking with me.” He clasped his hands together and cleared his throat. “Where’s the gratitude, Alexander? I’m practically making you a free man.”

  “You’re doing this on Camilla’s behalf. I’ll be grateful to her.”

  “I bet you will. When you get out, stay away from my wife.”

  “When I get out will she still be your wife?” My words made him bristle and I could see his jaw flexing.

  “She will. She’ll still be my wife and Mason will still be my son. Anything else we need to be clear on?” I remembered Christina’s letter and let the show of testosterone die down for a moment.

  “Actually there is,” I said. “Chris contacted me last week.” Manny’s face fell into a frown.

  “She did?”

  “Yeah. She’s still in contact with Joseph. I have the letter but it’s back in my solitary cell.” I glanced over at the guard who was still knocked out with a bloody face. “He wouldn’t let me bring it.”

  “What did the letter say, exactly?”

  “That Joseph wants to come back to Miami and he wants to meet with me and make amends.” My blood boiled just thinking about that man after all the shit he’d done.

  “I knew it was only a matter of time. You have to let him pull you in.”

  “I know,” I grumbled.

  “I’m willing to forget everything for the time being if it means getting my hands on that motherfucker. He’s evaded me for far too long. It’s high time Camilla got to have her way with him.”

  “I agree. He’s put her through enough.”

  “I’ll get you a phone, but I need you to stay in solitary, Alexander.”

  “I need more than a fucking phone if you want me to stay in that piece of shit.”

  “Name it,” Manny blurted, glancing down at his phone.

  “I want a laptop.”

  “Jesus do you think I’m a magician?” He laughed. I just looked at him. I’d already said what I wanted and I expected him to get it. “Okay, I’ll get you a fucking laptop. Need wifi too?” He chuckled but I didn’t. “For fuck’s sake, Alexander.”

  “You put me in here and this is the first fucking time you’ve come to visit me in a year and it’s only because you’re trying to win Camilla back but you think I’m asking for too much? You’re the governor now, right? Make it happen.”

  “I didn’t put you in here. I left you in here. Correct yourself. Anais got you in here.” Anais’ murder haunted me during most nights. I wondered if I would have been able to save her from her killer.

  “Do you think they’ll find her killer?” I asked, still imagining how scared she must have been in her last moments of life. It was the saddest thing to know what she fled from most of her adult life, is what ended up killing her.

  “As soon as your evidence comes out, they may be able to,” Manny nodded. “Look, I have to go. Let me call the warden about this shit.” The guard on the floor groaned in pain and I sighed heavily. I wished I could bash his skull in but I knew I didn’t have it in me to actually kill someone with my bare hands. I wasn’t a damn barbarian.

  I watched my brother place a call to the warden and in five minutes, he was there having other guards drag their colleague out. “What the fuck happened, Governor?” The warden frowned once everything was clear.

  “Nothing,” Manny handed the warden a stack of money and smiled charmingly. “This inmate is my little brother. He’s to be treated like a fucking king in here. Any guards fuck with him after this…” He made a noise and shook his head.

  “Understood,” the warden sighed and looked me over then turned on his heel and left. Manny glanced at me and patted my shoulder.

  “You’ll be out of here soon, and…I guess after all is said and done,
before you go to Atlanta you can come see the kids.” I couldn’t deny the happiness that gave me if I tried. I missed Chloe and Mason so much that I thought about them daily. I also wanted to meet the twins so I could finally learn to tell them apart on my own.

  I thought I would have been furious seeing Manny again but once the initial anger wore off I realized my brother was just hurting and doing what any man would do, trying to get his wife back. I settled in my solitary cell and took all the pictures from my envelope so I could hang them back up since I’d be there for a little while longer.

  When I heard the cell door rolling open, I woke up from my nap and rubbed my eyes to see a new guard. He didn’t say anything, only handed me a flat square box with a smaller flat rectangular box on top of it. He closed the door back and I sat at my tiny desk, prying the packages open. I never got packages unless they were from Camilla and whenever she sent me something it always had her girly handwriting on it. These boxes were plain and brown and unassuming.

  My eyes landed on a shiny black phone and a sleek silver laptop. Manny had come through on his promise in a matter of hours. Damn. Being Governor of Florida must be fucking nice.

  **

  Chapter Sixteen

  Emmanuel

  My suits were laid out on the couch of my suite as I raked my eyes over the different choices I had for the day. I didn’t like any of them. I decided to go home and grab some others. It meant I’d see Camilla, and even though it hurt every time I had to look at her and see the sadness in her eyes, I was elated to get to even glance at her.

  I plucked my phone from the coffee table and shot her a text asking if I could stop by. When she responded with more than a one-word answer I felt my heart quicken. I didn’t want to push her for more though so I just responded with an okay. Maybe there was hope for us.

  Happiness started to spread around me like warmth from the sun. When there was a knock on my suite door, I didn’t even think twice about it. The moment I opened the door, the warmth faded and icy anger replaced it. Lana stood in front of me with puppy dog eyes and a dress on that left little to the imagination. Pathetic.

  “Go home. I know you’ve been contacted about your termination.” I started to close the door but she slipped her slender ankle inside right before it shut.

  “Manny, can we talk, please?” She held up my favorite coffee grounds and smiled as she walked in. As much as I hated her, my eyes watched her anxiously for some reason. Like she had something for me.

  “There’s nothing to talk about, Lana. Get your ass out of my room before I have you escorted out.”

  “No, we’re going to talk. I hate how you’ve changed. Plus, you haven’t been answering any of my calls.”

  “How I’ve changed?” I chuckled. “You never knew me.”

  “I know you,” she smiled, her full lips curving upward. “Let me make you some coffee before you head out to your fundraiser.”

  “No, thank you,” I grumbled. “You need to leave, like I said.”

  “Manny, what happened to us being so good together?” She draped her arms around me and I pushed her back just hard enough so that she knew I was serious. He features fell into a frown. “You’ve been talking to your wife haven’t you?” She asked angrily. I was over Lana’s bullshit so I called security and continued to ignore her insanity.

  “Yes, can I have security escort for an unwanted visitor on my suite?” I smiled charmingly into the phone.

  “Yes, Governor Scott, right away.” I hung up and walked away from Lana, who was following behind me all around the room. I thought she’d given up when I didn’t hear her footsteps anymore, but then I heard her making coffee. My hairs stood up on end and for reasons I couldn’t understand, I wanted that cup of coffee so badly. The sheer desire for a simple cup of goddamn coffee pissed me off beyond belief. I couldn’t trust my own body.

  “Manny, all I want is for us to give it a shot together. You don’t honestly think that Camilla is the right fit for you, do you? She’s so rough around the edges.” I felt compelled to put my hands on her, but not in a good way. I snatched her throat in my hand and backed her against a wall just before she poured the coffee.

  “She’s perfect. You’re the one that isn’t a good fit for me,” I growled.

  “I’m a better fit for you than she is. Just drink your cup of coffee and we can talk. I know you miss me.” She tried to touch the side of my face but I blocked her. When security knocked on my door I was more than relieved. Lana looked at me like she couldn’t believe I’d actually call to have her taken out. Like I said, she didn’t know me.

  “Manny, why are you doing this?” She whined as she struggled against the grip of the bulky guard. I turned my back on her and continued getting my things ready so I could go to the house and get some new suits.

  I wondered how long it would take for Camilla to forgive me? I missed her every day, and sleeping alone was taking a serious toll on me. All I did was toss and turn and dream about Cami. I dreamt about the way she smelled, the way she tasted, how adorable she sounded when she laughed too hard and couldn’t stop herself, and how amazing she was as a mother. I rubbed my hand over my face and looked out of the window over the city. I needed to get her back. She’d become my reason for everything.

  **

  Inside the house was quiet but Camilla’s truck was outside. I listened at the foot of the steps and heard nothing. Usually the kids were in full swing around the house ripping and running. I didn’t even hear Claire bustling around. I walked up the steps and rounded the corner to the room I used to share with my wife.

  That’s when I heard it.

  Sniffling.

  I would have almost expected to hear moaning, but not sniffling. She was crying. I squeezed my eyes shut and rested my head against the closed door. I was tearing her apart. I knocked on the door and I could hear her clear her throat and shuffle around quickly on the other side. “Coming…” She said with as much clarity as she could muster.

  When she opened up the door she looked beautiful. Her hair was tangled and messy and her eyes were red and puffy along with the tip of her nose. She wasn’t made up or glamorous she only wore a tank top and a pair of cotton shorts but…she smiled. She fucking smiled when she saw me. It was the most beautiful thing she could ever wear.

  I lost all my guards and pulled her into me for a hug. I’d never experienced a single hug that moved my entire world the way the hug with Camilla did. It rocked me. She grabbed me and held on to me for dear life and I could tell that she missed me for the first time since she’d put me out.

  “Are you okay?” I asked. She shrugged her shoulders and pulled away from me finally.

  “I’m okay,” She sniffled. “Claire took the kids out to get groceries so I could just…cry.”

  “Camilla, you just cry when you’re alone?” The sadness that brought down on me was heavier than anything else.

  “What else am I supposed to do? I miss you so much,” she looked up at me. “I miss you even though you hurt me worse than anyone else.” Timidly, she walked over to me again and I could tell she wanted another hug. I sat on the bed and sighed, hugging her tight.

  “Cami, I miss you too. I miss you so fucking much. We can work this out. It might take a lot of time but we can do it.”

  “I don’t know, Emmanuel,” she sniffled shaking her head. “I’m so fucked up over this.”

  “She’s gone. She came to my hotel this morning and I had her escorted out. I’m done with her. I don’t want her around me.”

  “I still don’t know how I’m supposed to move on with you.”

  “By trying. We try every day and we don’t give up.” I was practically begging with my words, praying that she heard me out.

  “Okay.” Her voice was small and I barely heard but I heard it nonetheless.

  “Okay?” I almost laughed with relief.

  “Okay. I don’t know how, but we can try every day. I miss you. I thought having revenge sex would help but it
only works in the moment.” Her words scathed me but I shook it off. If she could work on taking me back, then I could forgive whatever the fuck happened while we were separated. “I realized that…you’re my best friend. Cole and Laurel are my best friends but you? You’re the ultimate, Emmanuel.” Her words touched me and I smiled, tucking a lock of messy hair behind her ear. I would do any and everything in my power to show her I was worthy of her again.

  “We’ll get it back, baby,” I told her honestly. “We’ll make it right. I’ll tell you everything. I’ll be as transparent as you need me to be.”

  “When will you see Lana again?” She asked calmly.

  “She has to come clean her office out, but she doesn’t have much in there. She’s scheduled to do that in a few days. I shouldn’t see her because I’ll be out of the office when she comes,” I told her on purpose. If she wanted Lana’s head, she could have it. Camilla nodded with understanding and sucked in a breath.

  “I’m not ready for you to come back to the house just yet but can you be home for dinner?”

  “Of course.” I didn’t even try to hold back my smile. It was too wide and happy to hold back. It would have broken my face if I even dared to try. I was soaring high on Camilla right then and I didn’t think anything could make me happier…until she kissed me. It made me pause. It knocked the goofy smile off my face and replaced it with an expression of pure desire. I curled my fingers around the back of her neck and pulled her into me, deepening the kiss until I felt her moan into my mouth. My dick was awake in seconds.

  It wasn’t anything like when Lana made me hard. This was immediate and full of adoration. It was urgent and tethered to my emotions. I loved Camilla more than anyone or anything else and I wanted to show her so badly, but I knew she’d pull away. She still needed time. Lots of it. So as difficult as it was, I pulled away first. “I miss you,” she trembled in my arms.

  “Cami, I’m trying to give you time. I know you need time to trust me again.”

  “I. Miss. You.” She almost growled before pushing me back on the bed and climbing on top of me. “Nobody else can give me what you give me.” She kissed my neck and I shut my eyes. Her lips felt like silk on me and I lost my reserve to fight her off. The need to be deep in her sweet cunt took over everything else.