Page 18 of Bishop

The laughter was the only reason I didn't hear the footsteps trudging in our direction. I would've been more prepared. Maybe I would've been ready for it.

All at once the door swings open and three guards walk in.

The air in the small cell thickens as all of us struggle to get back on guard.

"What do you want?" I speak up first making sure to put myself between everyone else and the guards.

"I wouldn't open that can of worms if I were you. Just get in the corner and close your eyes like a good girl. We didn't come here for you today." The guard brazenly licked his lips at me while he ran the palm of his hand up and down his growing erection.

This is new.

Usually when the guards come for us it's all business. In fact most of them seem to be annoyed that they even have to come for us in the first place. Today they look like they are enjoying their jobs. Like they're going to get something more out of it.

My eyes dart to April and then to Uma. It's the only logical option. Last I heard none of the guards were gay, and April, myself, and Uma are the only ones who are well enough for them to fuck. If they don't want me, they must want April or Uma.

Grabbing hold of April, I pull her behind me and back track toward Uma.

"Leave them alone!" Bishop struggles to get to his feet.

Of course he'd try to protect us through his pain. That's just who he is.

"Them? No. We don't want them either." The guard's smirk widen just as he lets his gaze track down to the only other person sitting in the room.

Willa.

"No. Please no!" Willa sobs instantly and tries to crab walk backward.

The shock is overwhelming as I realize what they're about to do. I lunge forward trying to get back to where Willa is sitting but the guard is much faster than I am. One of them dashes in front of me and without hesitation backhands me so hard I nearly fly into the wall and bounce off the hard structure before crumbling to the ground.

"Stop! You can't! I'm pregnant! The baby! You're gonna hurt the baby!" Willa screams and fights as the other two guards grab hold of her hands and legs. Her rounded belly protruding upwards, shifting from side to side as she struggles to get free.

My head spins and I suck in shallow breaths, listening to the room as it descends into absolute chaos. Uma finally wakes and tries to help but she's only pushed off.

The guards laugh as they basically drag Willa begging for the life of her unborn child out of the room.

The pain is unreal.

Not the one in my head or my body but the pain in my soul.

My gaze lands on Willa just as she's pulled out of the room and as much as I don't want to admit it, I know our last conversation will be her last good memory.

I failed her.

Twelve

Bishop

"Take me instead! Just leave her alone!"

It takes everything to get to my feet. My back screams in pain, and my knees feel like they're going to buckle at any moment, but I can't just sit back and let them do this. Not to Willa. She's a good girl. Hell, no woman deserves to be in danger, let alone one who's about to give birth. I watch as the guards holding Willa swing there clubs at her to get her to stop squirming. Still she fights.

I can't let this happen. Injured or not, I have to do something.

I charge at the last remaining guard in the room just as they pull Willa, screaming, away.

"Stop!" I roar and try to take the guard down.

It's pitiful. He clubs my back once, and I feel the wounds open and ooze as I cry in pain and drop back to the floor.