Finding True Love

Prison?

"So this is him?"

Korn stared at the tall, muscular man sitting across the small table in front of him. Even sitting Korn could see the man had a few inches on him. His arms showed lengthy lines of recent scarring, received within the last year. His long flat nose looked as if it had been broken a few times. His thin dark eyes glared at them both.

This was not a man he wanted to get into a fight with. When Pop said her ex was in prison and she wanted to visit him, this was not what he expected at all. At this moment his hands were bound to the table, but nothing else separated him from them. Korn leaned over to Pop and whispered into her ear.

"I thought you said he was in prison."

"Yeah, so about that. I lied." The guy's mouth twisted wide, bearing a long row of teeth. "Oh, they arrested me." He pulled his hands, jerking the metal cuffs against the table. "But, this, this is only temporary. I will be out soon."

"Ram, why did you lie?" Pop's voice cracked as she spoke. Korn took her hand under the table and gave it a small squeeze.

"I just wanted to see you, babe. I didn't expect you to still be with the asshole over here."

Korn could feel the muscles in Pop's hand clench.

"After all this time Ram? Why?" Pop asked.

"Why not? I figured after you left I would give you some time. I expected this guy to get bored with you already and that you'd come back to me, eventually. I got tired of waiting. This seemed like an easy way to get to you. If you came, I thought it meant you were ready to forgive and give me another chance. I just wasn't expecting him. Seems my intel about you was wrong."

"You're crazy." Korn knew Pop meant to say the words with more power. Instead they came out small and weak.

Ram's eyes looked over Pop. It looked as if he was willing to eat her alive. He licked his chapped lips.

Korn slammed his free fist on the table. Ram's eyes drifted to his, but showed no fear, no surprise. "Have you been having her watched?"

Ram shrugged his shoulder and leaned back as best he could, handcuffed to the table. "I have my ways."

"You mother fucker." Korn spit the words at him.

"Oh such language. Really, all I wanted to do was talk to Pop. You've interfered enough. Stay out of this already."

"Not a fucking chance. We came here for your apology. Since that was a lie. We're leaving." Korn shoved his chair back. "Come on, Pop."

"Such anger, such violence. You should learn to keep that under control. Some people might mistake your anger for something far worse than it is." Ram smiled at him, showing all of his crooked teeth. Korn jumped up from his seat, hands in tight fists, to lean over the table. Ram's stupid self-satisfied grin never left his face. A warm hand touched his arm, drawing him away from the table.

"No, Korn's right. We're leaving. I only came to hear your apology not forgive you."

"That's fine. I got what I wanted. I'll see you two later. Korn, Pop."

Pop walked out of the room with her head held high. Her eyes never wavered as she looked forward. Korn was not as strong. He glanced back once. Ram puckered his lips and blew him a kiss.

"Goodbye lover boy. See you both again very soon."

The door slammed shut behind them with a loud bang, causing Korn to jump. Pop didn't move a muscle. Korn was impressed with her ability to show such strength at the end. That she could walk away even with Ram's taunting. At the second door leading to the main hallway Pop stopped. Her shoulders hunched, her head fell forward, and a loud sob came from her.