Strays

Bomb Drop

Chapter Fifteen

Stockton State Prison

 Tully

When I got the call that Teller wants to meet with Juicy all kinds of red flags go off in my mind. Juice was supposed to do Linn this morning but a rat got in the way of that before he could. My pretty Puerto Rican did get the information needed so I count that as a partial win for now.

We get into the room and the cuffs come off. I nod to Larry and he leaves us alone. " Had to come up. Only way I could secure the room. Pretty Puerto Rican's on his way. "

" Okay, I appreciate it. " He says nodding. 

Taking a death I begin this meeting just like any other. " Talked to Otis. Heard our black-and-white problem's been solved. "

" Yeah. He's a solid guy. " He comments absently. 

Nodding I say, " Juice wasn't able to put Linn down. There's a rat I need to sniff out. He'll get dealt with though don't worry about that. He did, however, get the confession you needed. "

" That's good... For now. " 

Thinking on it a moment I make sure my next words are careful. " And when that happens, what about Ortiz? Does that pay off his sins? "

" I'm not sure. " He says before changing the subject entirely. " I don't know how much she told you about how we took the news, but I am happy for you guys. " 

Took the news? What news? " Thanks. " I say stone-faced. 

" You ready for things to change so soon after getting out? " He continues like a good boy.

My lips purse in response. " As ready as I'll ever be. " 

" It's just, a baby really changes things... It did for me anyway. " He says with a shrug. " I would have thought you'd want Jayce all to yourself for a while. " 

I know those words didn't just come out of his mouth in that order. " What the hell are you talking about? What baby? " 

" Jesus Christ. She didn't tell you? " He asks knowing he just let the cat out of the bag. 

Suddenly it's clear why my burner had so many missed calls. We got some new guards on my block and I've yet to break them in enough to risk making a call. 

" She told you before me? " Is all can get out while my mind processes what he just told me. 

Lighting up a cigarette he says, " I know it's some male thing we have to want to know before everyone else. But Jaycee doesn't work like that. Even when we're at odds, the family is still the ones she tells everything to first. It's ingrained into her. "

I don't like the foreign feelings welling up inside of me. Ones of trepidation and dread fill me to the brim. This little girl is having the pretty Puerto Rican's baby. She told everyone before us. This makes things murkier than they were before. 

" So she has decided to keep it. The baby I mean. " I ask already knowing the answer deep down.

He nods with his eyes closed. " Yeah. It's the Irish in her. Very maternal. " 

It's then that we hear three knocks and the door opens. 

Juice

" Ortiz. Tully's waiting for you. Arms out. "

Giving him a confused look I get up and hold my arms together for him to cuff. I can only assume it's because I missed my chance to do Linn. Sure, I got the information on who snitched but before I could get my shiv the guards busted in. They cut him down and led us both to the hole for three days. 

I can't help but feel like it could be fate. I'm definitely losing the nerve to kill a man that I know didn't do what he's accused of. Part of me wonders why I hold on to Gemma's secret after she betrayed me the way she did. And then I remember... She's the only mother a lot of us knew. The glue that holds the MC together.