Chapter 23

Chapter 23
< Ryan's POV>

“When I’m done with you Ryan, you will regret ever crossing me. Oh and not just you. I promise, now that you’re locked up, I will go after Liam ,make him fall in love with me and break that stupid little heart of his. He will pay for what he did to me." Brandon had said.

Those words were enough to make my blood boil. My mind was blank. I couldn't think straight. I had never felt so much anger before.

"You." I ran towards him and pulled him by the collar.

"If you dare go near him .If you lay a single finger on him. I will kill you. Fcking kill you." I yelled.

“ Liam is not a toy that you can play with and get rid of once you're tired. He's not a plaything. Fck. Fck. I swear. I will kill you."

Brandon was laughing hysterically. He didn’t care that I was about to choke him.

"Ryan" The chief called.

"Release him. Now." He said.

I didn’t. I didn’t want to let go of Brandon. I had to hurt him.

"Let him go." The Chief ordered. "Or, I will increase your time in jail.”

I was tempted to hit him but I decided not to. My fists were clenched and raised. There was only a short distance from my fist to his face. He would have been knocked out, if the chief hadn't intervened.

"Ryan, I said let go of him.” The Chief shouted. I reluctantly released Brandon. He fixed his collar and smoothed his hair.

"Haha. Ryan, you can't touch me. See, the chief is here protecting me.” He said.

Then he leaned in closer and whispered in my ear.

“That’s what happens when you’re rich and famous. Everyone protects you. Even the chief of police." Brandon said in a very low whisper, making sure his voice was barely audible.

"Fucking bastard. I will end you." I was about to hit him when the Chief stepped in between us.

"That's enough. Both of you. I said let go of him." He said.

"No. Let him hit me. Hit me as hard as he can. Let’s see what happens to him.” Brandon threatened.

Then he looked at me and pointed his index finger in my face.

"Oh, I will make sure your life is hell. And Liam's own too.” Brandon taunted.

I couldn't stand him anymore. I swung my fist and connected with his nose. The blow sent him reeling backward. The hit must have caused his former injuries to hurt because, he started to scream in pain.

"Ahhhh." Brandon screamed as he hit the floor.

Blood trickled from his nose and spilled all over his white t-shirt. He cupped his nose and cursed at me.

"Fck you, Ryan.” Brandon yelled.

I looked down at him. He was bleeding and crying.

"Fck." He held his nose and rolled around on the floor like a baby. He wasn’t even a man.

I smirked. It felt so good.

"What the hell is wrong with you Ryan? What has gotten into you?” The chief shouted.

He called one of the officers standing outside the office to take me away.

"Take him away. I can't deal with him right now. Get him out of my sight." The chief ordered.

I laughed as the officer dragged me out of the room.

"You can't keep me in here forever, Chief. You can't." I yelled.

Then I turned to Brandon.

“I promise you, when I get out of here. You will regret the day you were born." I threatened.

"Just you wait." I added.

"I’ve changed my mind. Take him to jail, officer." The chief ordered.

I was pushed out of the office. The officer who took me was so strong. He was dragging me so roughly, and he wouldn't listen to a word I was saying.

I tried to talk him into letting me go.

But, he didn't.

I was thinking he would take me back to one of the holding cells in the station but he didn’t. Instead he led me outside the police station.

I could see people staring at me.

There were a couple of other inmates who were waiting by the door. They were also being taken out of the station.

Most of them had a lot of tattoos on their body and some had a scary look. A couple of them had scars and stitches on their faces.

“Where are you taking me to?” I asked in protest.

The man didn’t respond, instead he pushed me towards a vehicle. The other inmates were getting into the same van. I knew what this meant. I was going to jail. For real.

"You have got to be kidding me." I groaned.

"I can't believe you're putting me in there." I complained.

"Get inside. We're taking you to the correctional facility." The man ordered and shoved me towards the van.

I didn’t have any option. I obeyed.

"This is bullsh!t." I said and stepped into the van.

As soon as the officer closed the door, the van drove off.

I sat quietly with the other inmates.

I wasn't the type of person who talked to others. Although I knew some of them. As a repeat offender, I was used to spending time in the county jail and the correctional facility.

"Miller" A voice called.

It was one of the guys. His name was Trent. He had short spikey hair and was a bit fat.

There was a scar on his face which he got from a fight and he had a tattoo that said, 'Brave' on his shoulder.

Trent was one of my closest friends when I was in jail he always had my back.

"Why are you here?" Trent asked.

"I beat the sh!t out of someone." I replied.

The guys laughed.

"That's our Ryan" He joked.

"Good one." Another guy added with a chuckle.

"It’s not good.” I sighed and rested my head against the wall of the vehicle.

"I don’t deserve to be here. I didn’t do anything.” I said.

The inmates must have found my situation funny because, they kept laughing.

"Ryan, this isn't the first time we're seeing you here." Trent said.

"We've all done things. And, we all got caught. It's the consequences of your actions." He stated.

I shook my head.

"I know. I’ve been bad. But this time it wasn’t my fault, I swear. The stupid guy hit me first.” I replied.

“And I was also trying to change. I was trying to stop getting into trouble.” I said. Trent raised his eyebrows.

“You?” He asked.

“Are you serious?” He asked. “You want to change? Change what, Ryan? You’re like the bad boy of the town. The playboy criminal. There is nothing to change about you. You're already perfect."

"It's not about me being bad. I mean, it's about someone." I replied.

"Someone?" Another inmate asked. He looked at Trent and then at me and started laughing.

The name of the inmate was Jorge. He had a bald head and was the tallest person in the van. He was a few years older than me.

"A guy. He's the reason why I want to change. I need to stop doing the things that will make him leave."

Jorge let out a laugh and the others joined him.

"Guy? Guy? You're doing all this for a guy? I thought it was for a girl. Oh my God. This is too funny. You're the toughest person we've ever met and you're doing this for a guy" He joked.

I wasn't amused.

"You know what, forget I even told you guys. It's a stupid thing to do.” I looked away from them.

“No. Come on man, we are joking. We just never thought you were the type to like someone. You’re a certified playboy. Girls fall head over heels for you. You’re Ryan Miller, the hottest guy in the city. Who wouldn’t want you?" Jorge asked.

"I do have a lot of fans. And I did date a lot of girls hardly any boy. But, it's different with him. I don't know. When I'm with him, I just feel like the happiest person on earth." I replied.

"He's beautiful. I've never met a man like him before.” I told them about Liam 

“He’s so cute and quiet. But…Jason, my brother, and his best friend, says that He’s too good for me. And He’s right.” I sighed.

“ Jason is right. I’m trouble and I’m only going to cause so much trouble for Liam”

Trent patted me on the shoulder.

"I can see that this girl is really important to you. And you really want to change but…. Changing is hard and it will take time. It won’t happen overnight." Trent said.

"So, the fact that you're here, doesn't mean you can't change. It means, you will have a little bit of time to reflect and think. When you're in here, you will be able to think about what you want and the future. Then, when you get out, you will work hard to get what you want.” Trent added.

"Yeah, that's true." Jorge agreed.

"Thanks, Jorge." I smiled.

"But, what am I going to do now? This whole mess started because of Brandon. If I was not in here, he would go after Liam. He threatened to do something bad to him. What am I supposed to do about that? And, how am I supposed to protect him if I’m here.” I asked.

The men were quiet at first. They were all staring at each other and they didn’t seem to have a solution to my problem. The vehicle was turning into the driveway leading up to the facility.

I could see the big gates that surrounded the building.

"Hmm." Trent rubbed his chin as he thought about my question.

"You might not be able to do much in here but you can get someone to keep an eye on him.” He said.

“What do you mean?” I asked as the vehicle came to a stop.

The officers in charge unlocked the doors and opened them.

"I have a cousin who goes to your university. His name is Murphy. Ask him to check on him and make sure that guy, Brandon, doesn't try to hurt him." Trent said.

Trent pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to me.

“This is his number. Call him when you get in. Tell him I sent you.”

I nodded.

"Thank you, Trent.” I said and collected the paper from him.

One of the officers signaled to us.

"Everyone out." He said.

We stepped out of the van and walked into the building. The correctional facility was big and very secure. It was heavily guarded and it was like a fortress. The building had high walls and barb wire all around the fence. I sighed as I walked in. I had been here so many times and this time, I knew it was going to be worse.

We were given orange outfits to change into and also assigned our cells and roommates. I sighed in frustration. I didn’t know how long I was going to be in here for. I just hoped that Liam would be safe and try her best to stay away from Brandon. The facility always allowed a phone call immediately after an inmate arrived. So, I was able to call Murphy. I had no idea how Trent's brother was going to help me but, I had to take his word for it. I had no other choice.

A voice picked up on the first ring.

"Hello." The voice said.

"Uh. Is this Murphy?" I asked.

“Yes. And who the hell is this?” Murphy questioned.

“My name is Miller, I’m in jail with your cousin Trent.” I replied.

“Oh….” Murphy trailed off.

“I guess, Trent can’t stay out of trouble for a day. He’s back in jail." He said.

Then he asked. “What do you want? If my cousin sent you, then I can imagine, you must have something to ask."

"Actually, I do have something to ask. And, it's important. There is a guy who goes to the university. His name is Liam."

"And?”" Murphy asked.

"I want you to help me look after him.” I said.

“You want me to babysit a full grown man?” Murphy joked.

I chuckled.

"Not really. But if you can, just help me protect him. And, make sure sure He stays away from a guy named Brandon. Okay?" I explained.

"Look man, I'm a senior in the university. I'm a medical student and I'm busy. Unlike my brother, I don’t like getting into trouble. I can't be watching over people not especially a guy at that. That's a job for the campus security. I don't have time for that."

"Please. I will owe you one." I begged.

"If there is anything you need. Just tell me."

"Anything?" Murphy asked.

"Sure. Anything." I replied.

"Okay. Fine." He replied.

"Great. Thanks Murphy. And, just so you know, it's not my fault that I'm in jail. Brandon bribed the chief.” I said.

“It doesn’t matter to me, I don’t care to know why you’re in jail. Not my business." Murphy said.

"Okay." I sighed.

"Just take care of him for me. Please." I begged.

"Whatever man." He said and hung up.