Regenia was a rookie detective following in her sick father's footsteps that everyone wanted to see fall, and the first given chance, they threw the hardest case in her lap. None cared if she succeeded or failed because their thoughts on the case we...
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"Why am I here? I don't like getting put into places I'm unaware of." River spoke as the guard pushed him into the room with Giuseppe and walked away. Regenia honored his wishes about helping River escape. Now Giu only hoped she followed his direction and went to his hideout. Although he didn't do what she had planned, he didn't want her in the middle of it all.
"Hm, You don't seem too happy to see me again."
"What the— Giu, how the hell did you pull this off? I understand you being in here, but me. I wasn't in any danger. I'm not complaining, but it won't last forever. You'll be getting out soon, and I know I am never getting out." Giuseppe understood where he came from as he sat by the cell's door. Still, he didn't answer River's question as he watched him glare out the door to the clock across from their room.
Time felt like it was frozen, moving slow as it could, and Giuseppe was growing anxious, and for the first time in his life, he worried about all that could go wrong. He was worried about someone else other than himself––– he was worried about Regenia. "Man, are you nervous? Why are you nervous? Is there something I need to worry about? Are you about to kill me? Please tell me you don't think I had anything to do with your last beating. Giu, I assure you I'm on your side. I told you this the day we became cellmates."
"You talk too much, Ver. I never get nervous before I–– Look, I know you didn't do...."
"What?"
"Kill that child; you didn't do it. I always listen before I judge, and I know you were in the wrong place at the wrong time. You made the call and got the blame for murder when it was one of them." Giuseppe spoke while nodding at one of the guards. "It's fucked up how people in this country judge you by the color of your skin or where you are from. Or frame others to protect each other. It makes us the target of crime... pigs disgust me. Tell me, how long have you been here? You never mention it." River sighed in response as he sat and shook his head. However, he was charged and convicted of raping and killing a ten-year-old girl when he was the one that found her. The police knew who had done it. It was one of their own, and instead of charging him, they chose the most likely target, a black male who was at the scene of the crime.
"Thank you. At least someone in this place believes me; they see and hear only what they want to believe... and eighteen years. I've tried to appeal my case they deny it. I have accepted my faith. I understand I'm going to die here. So, why are you so nervous, Romano? We have known each other for eight months, and I've never seen you nervous. Or back down from a fight. You're a crazy muthafucka. You know that, and I know they want you dead. One of the guards came to me and asked me to off you in your sleep, but you kept provoking the crazy fools."
Giuseppe wasn't surprised his cousin tried to hire River, but he was grateful the man was honest enough to tell him. Although River was right, it wasn't like Giu to back down from a fight. He was taught never to give up and if he must fight to the death. In the eyes of his family, it was cowardly to lie down and let someone take their life. It wasn't the way of the codice (code) mafia. They were considered disloyal or a disgrace if they failed to follow.
