Outsider - Book Two

Chapter 21

After being thoroughly searched and walking through many detectors Cece was finally sitting down on one side of thick glass.
She tapped her fingers against the small faded yellowish orange counter, the small stool becoming uncomfortable as she could feel one of the bolts loosen her balance.

The doors to the prison opened and she watched - waiting to see Pedro but it was just some other inmate.
She followed the man as he walked handcuffed down the isles and past her, towards a large woman with big square glasses.
The woman sniffled as he sat down.

The prison doors opened, and once again she watched as an inmate that wasn't Pedro Ramos came out.

She was beginning to feel foolish.

Did he even want to see her? What was the hold-up? Her fingers tapped harder and faster against the counter, paying less attention to the rhythm of it. The doors opened, this time she'd been sure it would be Pedro but once again just another inmate.

She spun her head, looking at all the inmates having conversations with friends and loved ones. Some were crying, some were laughing. There were about four visitors not including Cece around.

The one that had been sniffling earlier was now yelling through the glass, shaking her finger in a thick southern accent.
A guard came over to the woman but did nothing, making sure she wouldn't crawl through the glass and shake the prisoner down.

'Sometimes they have worse tempers than the prisoners.' A voice spoke deeply.

Cece looked back through the glass, she hadn't even heard the doors open.

There right in front of her on the other side of the glass stood Pedro Ramos.

He was much taller than she imagined. She stood up as if on command. He was bald and darker than his sons. Covered head to toe in ink. Some faded and slurred, some with clean lines and sharp. They all kind of blended in with each other, making it hard to find what art belonged to what.

He had narrow black eyes and broad shoulders.

He walked right up to the glass, now even bigger than he was before. Nerves fluttered around inside her, she felt uneasy. She wouldn't be surprised if he was capable of punching through the glass like bread.
He had two teardrops under his left eye, he sat down and adjusted the seat under him.

'You're Pedro Ramos.' Cece spoke finally.

'The one and only.' He replied. He leaned on the counter, his cuffs clunking together, reminding her this was a prison and not a personal meeting.

'I'm....'
'I know who you are.' He interrupted.
'You do?'
'Francesca Cappitani. I must say, you've grown into quite a woman. Though you still have the same rosy cheeks from when you were a child.'
'You... we met when I was a child?'
'Your father and I were close friends once. Before he passed, may he rest in peace.' Pedro spoke, doing the sign of the cross.

'When did we meet?'
'You came to my son Kaden's second birthday party. You were only born a few months apart. Like I said, once your father and I were close friends.'
'I know he worked for you.'
'He did.'
'And he also worked for Giovanni!'
'Correct again.' He waved his hand up and a guard came over, handing him a cigarette.

'You're smoking?' Cece asked.
'Would you like me not to?'
'I just mean...this is a maximum security prison.'
'I am a powerful man Francesca when I want something. I get it. I am still a millionaire after all.'
'But this is a prison.' Cece repeated like he had no idea.

'Everyone has a price.' He breathed in and released a breath of smoke.

'I'm here to ask you a few questions. I'm glad I could be here, I really thought my application wouldn't be approved.'
'The warden came to me right as he received your application. As I said, everyone has a price and I usually get what I want.'