Chapter 1.

         "Chloe!" My mother shouted up the stairs whilst I was putting on my uniform. I stood infront of the mirror and gazed at my new and improved self. My white collared shirt fit my petite body and tucked into the black trousers which clad my legs covered.

I looked the part.

"Coming!" I shouted back down the stairs. My younger brothers and sisters ran across the house in daily routine as they chased each other from corner to corner. I greeted them all good morning as they all excitedly commented on my uniform.

As soon as I was downstairs, my mother pounced on me and hugged me tightly. My family were my everything, they supported me in everything I did, protected me and kept me sane. It was clear to see I had a fun filled childhood with so much love.

"Chloe." My mother started to tear up.

"Mom." I groaned but I couldn't help but smile. "I'm nearly twenty four."

"I know, I know." She sniffed. "I'm just so proud, that's all." I rolled my eyes but I hugged her back tightly.

"Thanks, mom." I breathed. My house was always so over whelming with love and pride but I believed that's what a family was made for.

"Don't let them criminals make a fool out of you." She let go of my body and started to fuss with the collar of my shirt. "You're tough and you're brave, even when you're only five foot two." She giggled slightly and I joined in with her. I was a very small and petite woman but I was fiery and I was tough.

"I won't." I stated. I was going to be working with the most dangerous men and women in the world. Of course, I was petrified to a certain extent but I was mostly excited. This job meant I could get my hands stuck in to the welfare and security of the prisoners.

Just as my mother was about to speak, a horn sounded out which was loud enough for us all to hear. My mother smiled my way and hugged me tightly again.

"Good luck." She wished as I walked to the door. My cab was waiting outside patiently and that's when my heart started to rocket.

This was my first full time job and all of my education before hand had led up to this. I was definitely going to be nervous. I wanted to do well and to make a good impression. It was always hard to get a job like this as a woman but I was determined to prove that anyone could do what they wanted to do, because they were born to do it, not because they were physically made a certain way.

"I'll see you all in a few weeks." I said.

I entered the cab and said good bye to my family. Being almost two hours away from my family home in Green Town Jail meant that I had to live closer to work.

With my suitcases in tow, I was on my way to Green Town where my life would change for the better and for the worst.

I was going to miss my family a lot but starting a new chapter in life overpowered any other feeling I had. I was becoming a new and improved version of myself and was wearing it all with confidence.

The cab driver didn't speak a word as we got on to the road. In fact, he didn't speak the whole way there.

The palm trees that entered my view from the taxi window almost two hours later made me feel a sense of tranquility and serenity. The weather was already humid and I had to open a window wide to get some air in to the vehicle.

As my hair whipped in the heat of early morning California, the taxi finally stopped.

With only one more hour to get to work, I got my room key and made my way to my apartment. I only had chance to freshen up slightly and to drop my suitcases off to my empty apartment before leaving again and jumping in to the same taxi.

The taxi sped off and I was finally on my way to work.

The prison got in to view a few minutes later and I alsmot gasped at the sight of it. It was a huge building with barbed wire around the brick walls. It looked old fashioned and incredibly large and intimidating.

I got out of the taxi and let in a big breath.

I made my way to reception and as soon as I was there, a lady gave me a pack of the things I needed and led me over to a small staff room where somebody would be waiting to show me the ropes on my first day.

The lady there was around her late forties and seemed like she was made of stone. She was a little chubby but her permanent scowl did everything but make me feel welcome.

"Bishop." She shot out, her voice almost as deep as any man's I've come across.

"Collins." I said, stating my last name back. She nodded her head firmly before telling me where everything was around prison, her voice working a mile a minute as her finger pointed to the large map on the wall.

I struggled to digest everything but knew I always had the map back in the staff room.

Bishop got me to work almost straight away. The woman wasn't messing about but I was internally grateful. I worked better when I was allowed to just get on with it, fussing about irritated me greatly. At least we were on the same page.

"Your first job, Collins." Bishop almost threw a ring of keys my way. I grabbed them and looked to her, waiting to set me my first job. "Room 102, I need you to do a thorough check of the room. It is necessary around here because some of the bastards like to take the piss." She rolled her eyes. I nodded firmly.

I walked towards the door but the woman stopped me before I could move any further.

"Welcome to Green Town." She said with a small smile. I smiled back even though her eyes were flashing, almost telling me 'good luck' in her own special way.

I was going to need it.

"You've done your training." She stated. "You're going to do fine." She slumped back in to her white plastic chair in front of the TV and I left her to it.

Trying to memorise the map I just saw of the jail, I made my way to jail cell 102.

Inmates and police officers moved past me during their own daily routines. I was a little nervous as I got straight to work. I just wanted to impress everyone here, I didn't want to be taken for a fool. I could do my job and I could do it pretty well, I needed to show everyone around me that.

But honestly, this jail was bustling with movement. The eyes of inmates followed me as they walked past, it was clear to see they knew who was new here and who wasn't. Some inmates had been here for most of their life, I bet they knew this jail inside and out, including the staff.

I soon found the corridor and I walked over to room 102, my brain working a mile a minute. I was trained in this department now and still training too. I had to go in there, check the prisoners beds for weapons and contraband and the prison cell for anything that would be counted as out of the ordinary.

I could do that.

At cell 102, I grabbed my ring of keys and unlocked the heavy grey cell door. As soon as it was open, I walked in to the cell and locked it back up behind me. The two bodies laid still, one on the top bunk and one on the bottom. The man on the bottom bunk flickered his eyes my way. As soon as he saw me he sat up straight.

The man on the top bunk stayed staring at the wall infront of him. He made no move and I was grateful because I was already fidgeting under the stare of one inmate. I think another set of eyes would trigger a nervous breakdown.

But no, this was my job. These inmates couldn't hurt me, they were human too. Criminals but humans nonetheless. I was tough, I was tough because I went for this job in the first place.

"A newbie." The man's voice came out. He was a tall, lanky man and looked incredibly greasy. I didn't pay him any attention as I worked around the cell, even though I felt his eyes on my body. "The knives are under the top mattress." He laughed and it sent shivers up my spine. It was creepy but something I had to get used to.

I learnt in training that the prisoners here were easily manipulating and would try to play mind games with the person in charge. I was trained enough to not take it personally.

I faced the bed to catch eyes with the man on the bottom bunk. I've always thought that catching somebody's eyes shows power and authority. I was the one here with authority and power and I was going to show it.

"Get up." I demanded. My voice was strong as I spoke to the two prisoners. The one on the bottom bunk got up without a second thought. He stood at the opposite end of the room, his orange outfit in the corner of my eyes. He was so used to the drill now, it worked almost like clock work.

However, the other inmate didn't move a muscle. I didn't know whether he was just an incredibly heavy sleeper or whether he was purposely ignoring me. Well, whatever it was, he had to get up.

I went up to the man on the top bunk and tapped his shoulder gently. His body twitched but he didn't make any other action.

Okay, he wasn't sleeping. He was purposely ignoring me.

"Get up." I demanded again. "Now."

The man sighed but before I could see him, he was off the bed in a flash. He stood behind me as I looked in all of the covers and in every corner of the room. Once their beds were throughly checked, I placed everything back and moved away. As I moved backwards, my body collided with a hard body of its own behind me.

Thinking it would be tall and lanky, I moved away but two hands came out to steady me. My breath caught in my throat at the contact, but I kept my calm. My nervousness made me buzz.

Plus, these hands were huge. They definitely were not owned by Mr Tall and Lanky.

"Steady." A rough voice came out and I almost froze at the sound of it. It was deep and rough and effected me greatly.

Fuck, who was this man? And why did I have goosebumps?

"Sorry." My breath was rushed and heavy, almost as if I couldn't breath. His hands were still on me and I didn't know whether I was nervous or excited.

Probably the latter.

I couldn't feel like this. Also, my voice was giving me away. I couldn't show these inmates that I was weak and that they could take advantage of me. God, I really did need to get a grip.

"Get off me." I demanded. I used a stronger, firmer voice this time and I was grateful. With another sigh from the man behind me, he took his hands off me.

He didn't say another word as he jumped back on to his bunk bed.

I proceeded to open the cell door quickly, wanting to get out of the cell quickly. It felt as if there was no oxygen left in the cell. My lungs felt like they were collapsing and I swear I was beginning to sweat.

Why and what was happening to me?

I didn't even know what the man looked like.

As soon as the door was open, I left and locked the door back up with speed. As the small hole was open on the door, I was able to see through it. I looked in to it to get a look of the man in the cell.

His body was large, muscly and he had tattoos across his skin. It was clear to see he worked on his body, that and the face he had a naturally big frame. He towered over me easily and his physical strength was one that should be scary to the other inmates, especially his cellmate.

However, when my eyes flickered to his face, my breath caught in my throat.

Fuck, he was beautiful. He was so beautiful it hurt. His small nose, his jaw line and the stubble which added to the masculinity that was him really was something else.

It looked as if he didn't belong in a cell.

Then I remembered that this man was a criminal. He was in here because he was dangerous and had done something terrible on the outside.

I didn't want to like the way he looked, not when the heart beneath him was obviously cold. Whatever he did, he was in here for a reason.

But my God, he had the face of an angel.

My heart rocketed in my chest as I took him in, and just as my eyes flickered to him I saw his eyes staring my way.

I couldn't breath as I took in his blue eyes and he took in mine. No expression was on his face as I watched him.

None.

But his eyes on me electrified my body. My skin buzzed and the blood pumping through my veins was enough to make me feel alive in some way.

Knowing I had to close the hole in the metal door quickly, I did so, shutting him in without a second glance.

I let out the breath I was holding as soon as he was out of sight.

On the outside of the room was the two prisoners records. It held nothing but their names, age and gender. I took the record out of its pouch and read the two names on the yellow sheet. I identified the names quickly and my finger ran over a name.

I knew it was him. There was no doubt about it.

Aaron King.