Double Vexation ( A Harper's series. book 11)

Silver Tongue

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C.J.

Here she comes again doing her usual nightly patrol walk. Her timing is so precise that I could set my watch to her. We call her officer Briggs and most believe her to be a cold, heartless guard but I know that's not the truth. As mentioned earlier she does these nightly walks to ensure everyone is in bed and asleep. It's been during these time's that I have gotten to know her. She's a middle aged lady but still has a sophisticated beauty about her. I guarantee that she was a knock out during her young year's.

It started about two week's after my arrival here. I was awake one night sitting up in my bunk when she made her nightly round. "Is there a problem?" She asked a bit irritated that I was awake.

" Just having a bit of trouble sleeping. Would it be too much trouble to ask for some water? " I asked softly.

Briggs stepped closer to the bar's and peered in. "Stand up". She ordered.

I rose to my full height I stood there in only a pair of prison issued boxer's. It felt as if her eye's were taking in every inch of me and that's when an idea took root in my mind. Slowly, I stepped closer and didn't stop until my hands were wrapped around the bar's. A slither of light shown through a window from a spot light allowing her to get a better glimpse of my face. Her tongue moistened her bottom lip and I softly repeated again. "Water, please officer Briggs".

Suddenly her in awe eye's squinted at me quizzical. "So you are one of the Harper's.. The notorious Harper's."

" Yes. I'm Cole Butini Jr. C.J. For short. My mother is Mirimosa Haper. My father Cole Butini". I answered lowly.

She cocked her jaw up a notch and stared at me as if she were sizing me up. "You don't fit the disrcription of a killer."

" looks can be deciving. You know, never judge a book by it's cover". I said.

"Very true and very wise. I'll be back soon with your water". She said before turning away.

I was still standing at the bar's when she returned. Normally I was cuffed before any exchanges were made but she didn't demand this of me. "Place your lips between the bar's" .

I did as she asked and she held the cup to my lips. As I drank, I stared into her eye's. "Your eye's, they are beautiful" . She said in a mere whisper.

"Thank you". I replied.

" Sorry, I shouldn't have said that". She said seeming shocked by her own word's.

"No, it's okay". I reassured her and let my hand gently grazed here between the bar's" .

I smiled when she didn't immediately jerk her hand away. "Get back to bed". She suddenly barked becoming aware of how scandalous this situation was.

Without a word I returned to my bed. Every night afterwards we had short conversations and I begin to lightly flirt with her. Officer Briggs was soon eating out of the palm of my hand. We had shared a few kisses between the bar's and soon I brought up my execution date. Together we devised a plan for my escape.

The time had arrived and she visited my cell. "We have ten minutes to pull this off. Right now the cells are unlocked so it will look like a malfunction in the system. As usual I was doing my normal night time round when you slipped out and attacked me. You took my gun and i.d. Card that unlocks all doors." She said handing both to me.

" Here is the key to the prisoner bus. Take the stairwell at the end of the hall. At the bottom run straight then take the stairs on the left. Once at the bottom take another left and go to the end of that hall. There will be a black metal door. Use my badge to open it but be careful, there might be a guard there. Go right until you see a yellow metal door on the left. That will open up to where the bus is parked. The guard's there should be on break but stay alert. Drive the bus right through the gate's. Go right, it will take you right to the interstate but ditch the bus asap. It would be too easy to locate you in it".

I nodded my understanding "Thank you". I said sincerely.

" thank me by not getting caught. Now get going". She rushed.

I have gave her one last passionate kiss then turned her back to me. I saw her fists clinch by her side and she gritted out. "Get it over with".

I leaned down to her ear. "You will forever be in my debt. Should you ever need me call this number". I said slipping a piece of paper into her pocket.

Before she could reply I cracked the butt of the gun down on her head as gently as I could but with enough force to knock her out. Instead of letting her fall I gently laid her on the floor then took off. Thankfully I made it to the bus without incident. However no sooner than the gate's came into view gunfire rang out. I pushed the pedal to the floor and busted through the gate's. The first town I came to I ditched the bus and stole a car off of a used lot. Instinct told me to go to Vegas where King and the Marrittas were.

As soon as I arrived in Vegas I went directly to Kings building. His men informed me that he wasn't available but when I told them who I was they quickly got him on the line. Not longer after I was taken to the hidden place in the desert where the family greeted me warmly. I was happy to see the other's had escaped as well but still wished my Pape had been as lucky. Not to mention seeing my mother in this horrible condition. I feared life as we knew it would never be the same, that we wouldn't recover from this.

Deciding I needed some good rest, I took off down the hall where I ran into Alice. She was stepping from her room as I was teaching mine. We paused and stood there. We both seemed nervous and at a loss for word's. Alice twiddle her fingers which I knew meant she was uncomfortable and shy. I still remember every quirk about her. Finally she spoke in a soft tone. "I'm glad you're back C.J. I was hoping they would get you out soon but you did a good job".

" I'm glad to be back as well even if this isn't home, at least we are all together... Well most of us". I added as my voice faded out thinking of my Pape.

Alice gently touched my arm. "We will get him C.J. I just know it".

I smiled slightly and recalled how much I missed the innocence of Alice. Even after all she's seen and been apart of she still has that. Then I thought of my mom and looked down. "My mom". I muttered.

" Oh C.J. I'm so sorry but she's strong, always has been. She just needs time to come to terms with it. Just be there for her okay? "

I nodded my head and looked back up. I remembered how I felt the first time I saw Alice and how hard it was for me to speak to her. Right now I saw the coffee shop girl I fell for and before I realized it I pulled her into my arm's and placed my lips upon hers. Alice didn't try to push me away, instead she kissed me back. The kiss lingered and our embrace grew tighter. Maybe it was everything going on that had this effect on us, who knows but suddenly Alice pulled away and I turned cold without her warmth. "I, I should go. Get some rest". She said and skirted down the hall.

Slowly I turned to open my door and caught sight of Sire standing at his opened door. A bandage was wrapped around his abdomen from the injuries he had sustained during his escape but he was feeling better. However the look on his eye's were anything but better. I seen contempt in his eye's at having witnessed an intimate moment between Alice and I. Giving a hard stare back, I entered my room and soon was succumbed by sleep.

WELL THEN!!!

HOPE YOU ALL ENJOYED THE CHAPTER!!

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT HOW C.J. USED OFFICER BRIGGS TO ESCAPE?

DO YOU THINK THAT WE MIGHT HEAR FROM OFFICER BRIGGS AGAIN?

WHAT ABOUT C.J.'S AND ALICE'S KISS? COULD THIS BE A NEW BEGINNING FOR THEM? OR WAS THEY JUST CAUGHT UP IN THE TURMOIL OF EVENTS?

WHAT COULD THIS MEAN FOR ALICE AND SIRE?

WILL C.J. AND SIRE EVER REPAIR THEIR RELATIONSHIP?

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