PRISON TRANSFER & FIRST MEETING

Marissa POV

The transport van smelled like vomit and despair.

"You're that rich bitch," the woman beside me said. "Saw you on the news. Killed your husband with your lover boy."

I didn't respond. Everyone had already decided I was guilty.

"What'd he do?" she pressed. "Cheat on you? Spend your money? Or did you just want it all for yourself and your side piece?"

"Leave her alone, Denise," another said, humming.

"I'm just curious. I mean, she had everything. Mansion, billions, a handsome husband. And she threw it all away for what? Dick?"

My hands clenched in my lap. The cuffs bit into my wrists. Don't engage. Don't react. Just survive.

The van stopped at Los Angeles County Jail. They processed us one by one. Strip search. Delousing shower. Medical exam where I nearly mentioned prenatal vitamins before catching myself. The pregnancy was my secret though I knew I couldn't keep it for long

"Hale, Marissa," the guard called. "Cell block D."

"That's the men's block," another guard said.

"High-risk designation. Co-ed housing approved."

My blood turned to ice. "You're putting me with male inmates?"

The first guard smirked. "Should've thought about that before you murdered your husband, sweetheart. You're considered extremely dangerous."

"I'm not dangerous! This is insane!"

"Tell it to your lawyer. Move."

Cell block D was a nightmare. Dozens of men turned to stare as I entered. The whistles started immediately.

"Fresh meat!"

"Damn, she's fine!"

"Hey baby, Christmas came early!"

The guard shoved me toward a cell. "Bottom bunk. Try not to get killed before dinner."

She left me in a cell block full of men who looked at me like prey.

Hours crawled by. Then yard time came.

The yard was worse. Sixty male inmates scattered across concrete. I pressed against the wall, trying to be invisible but it didn't work.

Three men headed straight for me. Big. Tattooed. Predators.

"You're that heiress, right?" the leader said, gold tooth catching sunlight. "The one who killed her rich husband?"

I didn't answer.

"I'm talking to you." He stepped closer. "You got a name, princess?"

"Leave me alone." My voice came out steadier than I felt.

He laughed, a sound like grinding metal. "Oh, she's got spirit. I like that." He leaned in, close enough that I could smell cigarettes and sweat. "You know what they say about rich girls? They know how to please a man. All that money, all those fancy schools. Bet your husband taught you real good."

"Back off," I said through clenched teeth.

"Or maybe it was your lover who taught you?" Gold Tooth stepped closer. "That Castellano guy. He must be something special for you to throw away billions."

His friend reached for my hair. "Maybe she needs a new side piece. I could keep you real satisfied, baby."

I slapped his hand away. "Don't touch me!"

"Feisty!" The third one laughed. "You already got one lover in here. What's a few more? We can keep you safe. All you gotta do is be real nice to us."

Gold Tooth grabbed my arm, his grip bruising. "You're gonna learn real quick how things work. Pretty little rich girl like you? You need protection. And protection costs."

"Let go of me!" Panic clawed up my throat.

"She said let go."

The voice was deep, controlled, dangerous.

Gold Tooth turned. "This ain't your business, new guy."

"I'm making it my business."

I looked past my attackers and saw him. Tall. Dark hair. Intense eyes that felt familiar somehow.

This was Von Castellano. The man who I had an affair with.

"Well, well," Gold Tooth grinned. "If it ain't the lover boy himself. A real love story. The rich bitch and her side piece, reunited in prison."

The inmates laughed.

"How romantic," the shorter one added. "You gonna save your woman, Castellano?"

Von moved closer. "Last chance. Let her go and walk away."

"And if we don't?" Gold Tooth challenged. "What you gonna do? You're outnumbered, new fish. You really wanna start your sentence by getting your ass beat over some murdering whore?"

"I'm not a whore!" I screamed. "And I didn't murder anyone!"

Gold Tooth yanked me forward. "That's not what the news says. Says you and your lover here killed your husband together. Crime of passion."

"That's a lie! I don't even know him!"

Von's eyes flickered to me. "She's right. We've never met."

"Sure you haven't," the third man jeered. "That's why they got hotel receipts and text messages."

"Those are fake!" My voice rose. "All of it is fabricated!"

"Easy story to tell." Gold Tooth pulled me harder.

"I WAS framed!" I turned my fury on Von. "WE were framed! Or did you actually kill my husband?"

Von's expression hardened. "I never touched your husband. I don't even know who he was."

"Christopher Hale! That's my husband, who I loved, and someone MURDERED him and made it look like I did it with YOU!"

"I didn't kill anyone." Von's voice stayed level. "And if I had, I'd be smart enough not to get caught this easily. Someone wanted us both buried."

The logic cut through my panic. He was right.

"Aw, look at this," Gold Tooth mocked. "Lovers having their first fight."

"We're not lovers," Von said flatly. "We're both victims. And you're about to be a problem if you don't let her go. Now."

"Big words from a new fish."

"Walk away. This is the last time I'm asking nicely." Von said again 

Gold Tooth hesitated, then shoved me away hard. I stumbled against the wall.

"Whatever. She ain't worth the trouble." He spat near my feet. "You two deserve each other."

They left. My legs shook.

Von approached slowly. "You okay?"

"Am I okay? I'm in prison for murdering my husband with a man I've never met! They put me in a men's block! My husband is DEAD! No, I'm not okay!"

"Fair enough." He stopped a few feet away. "For what it's worth, I believe you. About being framed."

"Why would you believe me?"

"Because I know what it looks like when someone's been destroyed by people they trusted." His jaw tightened. "My wife filed for divorce yesterday. Said she'd testify against me. The woman I've loved for eight years thinks I'm a cheating murderer.""

The pain in his voice was raw, real. I could see the agony in his voice

"My uncle came to see me," I said. "Wanted me to sign over power of attorney. I almost did it."

"Did you sign it?"

"No. Something stopped me."

Von glanced around. "Someone went through a lot of trouble to put us here. Someone with resources and a plan."

"Who benefits from us being locked up?" I asked

"That's the question." His eyes met mine, and something flickered in my memory. Those eyes. Like I'd seen them before.

But that was impossible.

"We need to be careful," Von said. "Trust no one."

"Except each other? Two strangers accused of murder?"

"It's all we have." He held out his hand. "Allies. Until we figure out who did this."

I stared at his hand. Something about him felt familiar.

I took his hand. "Allies."

 Just then.

Movement caught my eye. Across the yard, a man lowered his phone. He'd been recording us.

In his other hand, something metal gleamed. A shank.

He smiled.

Then he started walking toward us. Purposeful. Eyes fixed on us like a predator.

"Von."

"I see him." His voice went cold

.

The man kept coming. Twenty feet. Fifteen. The shank held low.

Ten feet.

His smile widened.

Five feet.

"Get behind me," Von said quietly.

The man raised the shank.