Chapter 15
PRISON
10:53 a.m.
I’ve been struggling to stay awake for hours. Last night drained me, but I have no choice but to keep going with my infiltration. I don’t let anything show.
Since I arrived this morning, I haven’t seen my target.
Alexander should be around, but there’s no sign of him.
“I’m going to grab a coffee before I pass out,” I say to Mathieu.
He nods. I’m on surveillance duty with him in the cell block while the other prisoners are out in the yard. I try to avoid Franck and Anis as much as possible.
I’m heading toward the staff room when someone suddenly grabs me from behind.
A hand clamps over my mouth to muffle my cries, and I struggle as much as I can, but the person drags me with undeniable strength into an empty corridor I’ve never walked through.
Then, they throw me to the floor without the slightest care.
“What the hell is wrong with you?!”
I get up, glaring-and it’s Alexander standing before me, his eyes full of hatred and contempt.
“So… you’re part of a gang.”
I freeze.
My heart almost stops at those words-they sound more like a statement than a question.
He knows.
He’s uncovered my true identity.
“I figured your hands weren’t clean, but I didn’t think it was that bad. You’re a real killer.”
Rule number one: Don’t show fear.
“I have nothing to say to you.”
“Wrong. You have a lot to tell me. So…. you’re also the daughter of that bastard Khalid?”
My eyes widen in shock.
I didn’t expect him to know that part too. But it’s clear he does-he said my father’s name with so much bitterness.
“So now you know everything. Happy?”
“I’ll be happy when I put a bullet between your eyes. You came here to collect information on me, didn’t you?”
Shit.
“Who told you all that?”
1/4
“Remember the guy who was following you last night? He was one of my men. He’s been on your tail since the moment you set foot in here. And honestly, you made it easy by being so interested in me.”
What a fucking idiot I am.
It wasn’t one of my father’s men-it was one of his.
“You’re going to answer all my questions, and you better be honest. If not, I’ll kill you on the spot.”
I have no choice.
He already knows the answers-he just wants to hear them from me.
I’ve got nothing left to lose… except my life.
I look him straight in the eye, searching for any weakness-but I find nothing.
He’s impenetrable. A real wall.
“I want a full description of who you are and what role you play in your father’s gang.”
“You already know everything about me. I assume you’ve done your research.”
“Correct. But I asked you something-I hate repeating myself.”
I sigh.
“My name is Inara. That’s all you need to know. I serve multiple roles in the gang-mostly as a weapons courier, and I handle new shipments.”
“Where did you learn to shoot like you did in the freezer?”
“I underwent intense training in my youth-to learn how to kill.”
“What exactly can you do?”
“I’m trained in using firearms and bladed weapons. I’m also a hand-to-hand combat specialist.”
He doesn’t look impressed-not that I expected him to. He watches me with a neutral expression.
“Who would’ve thought a little thing like you could do so much?”
I sigh again.
“I’m surprised Khalid sent the princess of his network here.”
“A princess wouldn’t have learned the things I know.”
“Tense father-daughter relationship, huh?”
I shoot him a death glare.
“Keep asking your questions.”
“You’re still not afraid, huh? Ever since we met, you have tried to act like some ice queen. I could kill you right now, and yet, you don’t show a flicker of fear.”
He smirks and steps closer-dangerously close.
2/4
Chapter 15
He towers over me, his scent invading my space.
I don’t flinch. He keeps staring.
“He sent you to watch me?”
At this point, might as well tell the truth.
Khalid doesn’t deserve to have me die for him.
“He knows you’re here voluntarily and wants to know what you’re hiding.”
He clenches his jaw.
“Once I get out of this prison, I’m going to remind all those bastards who the real boss is.”
“Don’t underestimate my father. You don’t know what he’s capable of when he wants something.”
Buried memories flash in my mind.
I force myself to stay emotionless so Alexander doesn’t pick up on anything.
“What kind of coward sends his own daughter into a men’s prison? You clearly don’t mean much to him.”
“Mind your own business.”
My voice is cold.
I’m in no position to demand anything-but I don’t like how freely he judges my non-existent relationship with my father.
“What are you going to do to me? Kill me? Torture me?”
I try to hold my head high, to look confident-but I’m terrified.
“I could also tell the other inmates who your father is. I’m sure they’d love to take care of you.”
I clench my fists as my heart skips a beat.
I won’t beg.
I won’t get on my knees.
But I can’t let him reveal who my father is.
That would get me raped and murdered.
I’d rather take a bullet to the head from Alexander than suffer that kind of death.
“Didn’t think you’d stoop so low. Only scumbags pull that kind of move.”
“Your father sent you to spy on me and bring me down. You seriously think I’d have any moral qualms?”
“It’s just another mission I was assigned to carry out.”
“I don’t know why I’m even wasting my time talking to you.”
“I’m sure you’ve already drawn up a schedule for your buddies to take turns raping me. But if any of them touches me, I’ll gouge their eyes out.”
