CHAPTER 2

VALESKA

After confronting my captain, Captain Scarlet, calling her out for her wrongdoing, she marked me as an enemy, making my life a living hell.

On my second day, she didn’t give me any work, but gave others different tasks to face, completely ignoring my existence. On my third day, an emergency call came in and she was the one who responded, sending out cops to handle the situation. When I made myself present for this assignment, she scoffed at me and said I still had a lot to learn, robbing me of my first ever task.

I was so mad but tried my best to stay calm. Until the day she crossed the line and the commander called me into the office, showing me my work report from just that week alone.

“You haven’t made any attempt to do anything, Miss Cathaway. I had to ask your captain and she said you were refusing your tasks, shifting it to other officers.”

“What?! Sir, that’s a lie! Captain Scarlet is the one who refused to assign me to a task because I called her out on something wrong,” I spoke out angrily, surprising the commander with my attitude.

He hummed over my tone and said, showing me a different report contradicting what I just said, “Your captain said you’re the one who gave her attitude when she corrected you about something offensive.”

“Sir, that’s not…”

“I don’t want to hear it, Miss Cathaway. It’s clear you and your captain aren’t on good terms for a reason. If you don’t want to lose your job, it’s best you go and iron things out with her as soon as possible. Is that clear?”

I was struck by my commander’s words and gave in to his order.

With my head bowed, I apologized and promised to make peace with my captain.

“Good. You may leave,” He said, facing his work.

I left the office with anger in my heart, wishing I had made a report about their disgusting act when I had the chance. But I foolishly chose to let it slide because it was my first day.

Now I regret holding back that day.

“Hey, Valeska. How was your meeting with the commander?” Two officers, one female and the other a male, walked up to me after I stepped out of the commander’s office.

They were on my team. Scarlet’s minions.

I bet they were sent by their Slut Queen to see if I’m crying in the corner.

“What?” I threw harshly, making them sense my rage.

“Relax, girl. We aren’t fighting,” The female cop said, raising her hands in the air like I’m arresting her or something.

Only the male cop spoke sensibly, saying, “We don’t want to offend you in any way. We heard you were called in for not performing any duty this week. It’s your first week with us. Captain Scarlet didn’t have to send in that report. She… she’s the one who refused to give you any work.”

“Don’t let her hear you, John. Otherwise, you’ll be next,” The female cop warned, before throwing me a nasty glare, walking away.

I know why she’s acting like that. She was among the sluts who stripped themselves naked to seduce Dante Cross.

After I called them out for their nonsense, I’ve become the enemy.

Speaking of that creepy man… I haven’t laid my eyes on him after that day. Did he get re-transferred, or is he hiding himself in his cell, minding his own business?

Not that I care. I’m just curious about him, after that weird meeting.

Those eyes gave me the chills. But now, I feel much better.

“Um, I’m heading to the prison cafe to keep watch the inmates I’m in charge of. I thought maybe you’d like to join me since the captain didn’t assign you to any task. So… what do you say?” John invited, acting all shy like it’s his first time speaking to a lady.

I was pleased with this invite and immediately agreed, making him smile.

“Sweet. Well, um… Let’s go,” He said, leading the way.

John and I got into a conversation on our way to the prison block, as he revealed himself as a fan of my heroic act, letting me know how much he had wanted to speak to me.

“I know it’s weird, but it’s exciting. The robber you took down is a well known criminal in Solace bay. He robs stores and gets away like he’s the wind. But you took him down.” He smiled, giving me a friendly bump to the shoulder.

I chuckled, feeling proud of myself.

“Honestly, I just followed my heart and did what I had to do to save those people.”

“And you did well, Officer,” John smiled, making me happy.

“Here we are,” He said, looking up ahead, leading me into the large prison cafeteria.

“This where these scumbags gather to eat their food. My boys are over there, but we aren’t going to walk up to them,” He said, educating me more, as he led me up the stairs above the room, revealing other officers who were there, watching the prisoners.

John went on to tell me why the cops stay up here to watch while prison guards stay below.

In case there’s any form of fighting or outburst, and the prison guards fail to handle the matter, we the cops will tackle the situation from above, from a safe spot.

“I know it sounds unfair, but trust me. It’s for our own good. If any of these bloodsuckers get their hands on a cop who placed them behind bars, it’s going to be rough,” He explained, and I understood him clearly.

Aside from the guy I got arrested, I don’t think I have any reason to be afraid. In fact, that psycho was transferred to another state's police station with no chance of coming back to Solace Bay.

“Thanks to John, I now have something to do. Watching prisoners eat, watching out for any fight outbreak… I think everything is going to be just…”

“Oh God. Not again,” I heard a cop panic from my side, looking over at the west side of the room in worry.

In that section, something crazy was happening.

A prisoner was getting his face punched by a huge fellow, while other inmates pretended not to see this, facing their meal!

I was stunned, waiting for a prison guard to take action and stop this. But no one dared to move.

Not the guards, the inmates, and not the cops.

Everyone turned a blind eye as if they had seen nothing.

The reason?

“Shit,” I hissed under my breath, recognizing the face butchering the poor prisoner.

“That’s Dante Cross,” I uttered his name softly, flashing to his face from the shower room—the so-called search room.

He’s the one beating that poor soul to nothing, and no one is ready to help.

The fellow’s nose was bleeding, as he got tossed into an empty table, getting another blow on the face.

“We have to stop this,” I spoke to John in worry, fearing for this prisoner’s life.

But John showed no sign of moving. He was scared. Scared of Dante Cross.

“Valeska, we… Dante Cross isn’t someone you want to mess with. There’s a reason why he’s called the Prison Boss. It’s… It’s best you act unaware.”

“What?” I was lost for words.

John wasn’t the only one who looked frightened by this man. Everyone in this room was afraid of him and didn’t want to near him.

I turned over to look at the poor prisoner and saw him crying and begging for mercy. He even called out to a guard for help, but no one paid him attention.

He’s on his own, alone with the beast.

And I don’t think Dante is done with him either. He looks like he’s just starting, charging up an inner anger spark by this fellow by accident.

As I feared, I saw Dante grabbing another inmate's spoon, breaking the head off to create a weapon, approaching the prisoner!

The moment I saw this… “HEY!” I roared out loud, gaining everyone’s attention on me, including Dante’s.

He lifted those eyes at me, staring, recognizing my face.

“Drop that!” I ordered, glaring at him.

“Valeska, what are you doing?” John whispered in fear, worrying about my safety.

I could feel everyone’s shocked gaze on me. Their eyes questioning my action, calling me a fool for stopping the prison boss.

But I wasn’t going to let their fear in this man affect me. I refuse to be tied to this nonsense.

If no one will stop him, I will.

“I said drop it!” I ordered again, glaring intensely at this stubborn man, who didn’t want to obey but held on tight to his weapon.

“Are you trying to test me? Alright.”

“Valeska, where are you going?!” John feared, almost grabbing my hand to stop me from climbing down the stairs to confront this beast of a prisoner.

But he was too slow to hold me back.

I moved swiftly, storming downstairs into the room, matching up to this so-called prison boss everyone is so afraid of.

With each step I made, approaching this man whose figure slowly began towering over me, causing my heart to pound as I found my inner thought questioning my boldness.

“Are you okay, Valeska? Did you just walk up to this man to confront him?!” The voice roared in my head, almost making me weak.

But outside, I stood before this man like a warrior lady, grabbed the weapon out from his hand and scolded him in front of everyone.

“You think this is your den and you can bully anyone?! Since you love to fight, you won’t be getting any meal today. Maybe after you starve, you’ll learn to compose yourself.”

My words left everyone gasping out in disbelief.

I just punished Dante Cross for his action and he’s not doing anything.

He didn’t challenge my words but groaned, looking deep into my eyes just like last time.

I wasn't shaken nor did I feel scared of him anymore. My adrenaline was pumping to full max, and I felt stronger than ever.

When I heard the bleeding prisoner coughing behind Dante, I immediately pushed the so-called boss out of my way, rushing up to the fellow to support him.

“Goodness. Your nose is broken. I’m taking you to the medic room,” I said with care, helping the fellow up.

He held me weakly and whispered softly, almost in a cry, “Thank you, officer.”

I felt it in my heart.

Poor guy.

I took one glance at Dante, who watched me help this fellow to his feet, walking past him like he’s a nobody.

I carefully walked away with the prisoner, and on upon getting to the entrance, I saw a guard coming with a fancy tray with a card at the side with Dante’s name on it.

When I saw it, “Take it back, now!” I ordered, leaving the guard confused.

“Ma’am, this meal is for..”

“I know who it belongs to. Mr. Prison Boss is on a diet,” I said, looking back to see Dante’s eyes on me and everyone’s stunned gaze.

I ignored them and faced the guard, telling him to return it or eat it.

He was shocked but chose to take it back instead.

As he made a turn, leaving the premises, I followed from behind, taking the injured prisoner to the medic room.

Just as I was dropping him with one of the nurses, John came rushing in, looking worried.

He pulled me out of the room and questioned my action.

“What the hell was that, Valeska?”

“Standing up to a bully, that’s what it was.”

“Don’t act smart around here. What you did back there was a death sentence. Do you know what you’ve done? You’ve become Dante’s target! He’ll make you pay!”

“I'd like to see him try it. Then he’ll learn,” I spoke confidently, walking away.

One of the reasons behind my zeal to become a cop is because of the bullies I’ve faced in my life.

From my school days, down to my father.

I had to stand up to them by showing them I’m not one to be messed with, and Mr. Prison Boss will not be excluded.

This is not his kingdom.

.

My action at the cafeteria reached both my commander’s ears and my captain.

I was called in by the commander, where I found Scarlet waiting, who was getting praised for stepping forward to save a prisoner from death.

He spoke of how rare it was for a cop to do what I just did and felt I was the right person Dante Cross needed.

“Um, needed?” I questioned, wondering what he meant by that.

Does he mean they need more cops like me or…

“You see, Miss Cathaway, Dante Cross isn’t like other hardened criminals we come across every day, He’s different, wild, strange. When we learned he was being transferred down to our station, we were worried about other inmates and how they’d cope with him.”

“But after your performance today…” Scarlet took over in a joyful tone, sounding suspicious.

“We decided to assign you to Area 4.”

“Area 4?” I repeated, my mind trying to get what was going on here.

I know Area 4 is a floor in the prison block, but I’ve never been there before.

I heard it used to be a mini gathering room for prison guards with only one room available on that floor, but… Wait a minute!

“Area 4?! Isn’t that…”

“Yes, you’ll be in charge of Dante Cross from now on,” Scarlet revealed, shocking me!