Chapter 4

Darren shook his head and yanked Matt back down to the bench. Turning around, he shifted his attention to where Matt had been looking, curious to see who this new warden was. A smile slid over his lips the moment his eyes recognized the slate suit and the dirty blond head of the now-familiar man the two guards were escorting down the stairs.

Aiden Kesley.

Who would've thought that the new business teacher was also the substitute warden?

This development could certainly explain some of Aiden's high-and-mighty attitude from earlier, though Darren still wondered why someone so young and prim-looking would choose Horizons over a comfortable desk job with better pay.

"He's the teacher for the business class," Darren told Matt without taking his eyes off Aiden.

"The one from the rumors?" Matt outlined exaggerated boobs again and crossed his hands under his chin.

"Mhm."

"Think he gets paid for both like warden Jefferson did?"

"How would I know?" Darren shot back, wondering himself.

"By putting that peculiar charm of yours to work?" At Darren's roll of eyes, Matt snorted in that particular way he did when he wanted to let you know you were full of shit. "C'mon, Darren, ya think I won't know when ya fancy someone?"

It was Darren's turn to make a disapproving sound, though it was simply ignored by the other man and probably rightfully so, since Matt was indeed adept at picking up on certain things. Besides, Darren was interested, and his mind was already thinking up ways to get closer to the new warden. He didn't know why he'd reacted so sharply, but he couldn't deny that those eyes and that attitude really did it for him.

"Gotta hand it to ya, though. You know how to aim high."

Didn't he know it. A teacher was tricky enough, but a teacher who was also the substitute warden was an even worse idea.

As Darren watched Aiden march across the mess hall to stand by the food counters, he wondered if Aiden even knew how to run things around here. Was he teacher first and warden second, or warden first and teacher second?

"Why's he here anyway?" Matt sounded genuinely clueless.

"To introduce himself, why else?" Darren huffed out a chuckle.

Scrunching his nose, Matt angled his chin at the food counters. "He's staring our way."

Darren swiveled around, positioning himself so that he didn't have to keep twisting his neck to see behind him. He was pleasantly surprised to find that Matt wasn't joking and that two hazel eyes were staring him down with pointed intensity. Evaluating him, because that was what Aiden Kesley was doing, as if this had turned into a game of chess where every move counted.

Was the warden also interested in him then? Surely, that was too good to be true. Maybe he was here for a reason… Did he somehow know who Darren was? Even if everything had remained so hush-hush during his capture and trial?

Flustered anticipation roiled Darren's stomach, heightening that sudden interest he had for the man and summoning a wave of enticing tingles all across his skin. He couldn't look away, etching each and every golden fleck of Aiden's eyes into memory along with that flicker of…

He wasn't sure what it was exactly, but it reminded him of the familiar sense of being lost, of something haunting your every step no matter how hard you tried to escape it or forget it.

And it took his breath away.

"You okay, bud?" Matt said in a voice that sounded far away.

Darren's chest expanded, hungry for air. "Ye—yeah."

Aiden held Darren's gaze for a few seconds—studying his reactions, albeit non-apprehensively and without the authority from earlier—almost offering an unguarded smile. But to Darren's disappointment, before it could properly form, Aiden's eyes moved on, examining the rest of the men in the room.

"Good afternoon, gentlemen. I'm Aiden Kesley, the new warden," he said and crossed his hands behind his back. "I won't be taking much of your time seeing as you are about to have lunch, which, after a discussion with the Board, will include real fruit every day, instead of everyone's favorite jell-o."

Enthusiastic cheers erupted all around and he let them settle before holding up his hand for silence. It came momentarily and without effort, whether because of the unbelievable news or because of the man's undeniable charm.

"My second piece of news is that along with taking over as the warden starting today, I am also teaching the Business and Entrepreneurship class, which will stay open for another week to accommodate late sign-ups. I know that things have been a bit hectic in the past few months, but I assure you, I will do my best to improve the standard of living for everyone."

"How?" an inmate named Peb yelled, here with a life sentence after blowing up a high school on Earth. Like Eddie, he was one of those who didn't give a damn about kissing the staff's asses, even if it meant getting shoved into Isolation more often than not. "By pocketing most of the funding like the previous warden? Some improvement!"

"Shut your trap, Peb!" another prisoner booed, this one evidently sporting more brain cells.

A few others agreed, reiterating their gratitude for the improvement of lunch. Remarks rang across the hall, ranging from suggestions about bigger meals, new mattresses or a quicker repair of the damaged yard, to ridiculous requests for Jacuzzis and weekly strippers. A nasty jibe at Aiden made it through occasionally, like how he would use the money to hire a porn actress for his personal secretary, but those were far fewer even if, ultimately, everyone here lacked trust in the system.

Unless, of course, there was an external inspection. Then the Board could indeed be very generous, if it meant the inmates improved behavior.

Once the excitement died down a notch, Aiden said, "Your cooperation will be greatly appreciated. As I said, I aim to make this place better for everyone." When a new round of reactions threatened to rise up, he quickly continued, letting authority carry his voice. "And to start things off, intensive repairs of the game area and field will commence tomorrow, with an expected completion date by the end of the month. I know it's been a while and you could use the space. All I ask is that you all behave and not give Management a reason to change their mind about expediting the process and installing an entertainment unit."

Darren gawked at the warden, not believing his ears. A gym and a field, a library… that was one thing and fairly standard for prisons, but an entertainment unit? Was Horizons really getting one because of some stupid inspection?

The rest of the inmates looked just as shocked as Darren felt, though it was his eyes that Aiden eventually sought out. He settled into Darren's gaze and didn't prevent the sultry arch of his mouth, nor did he look away when Darren mimicked his smirk. Matt noticed their little game too and wasted no time throwing a jibe at Darren, the ridiculous statement about the new warden being the male version of a gorgon with snakes for hair making it impossible for Darren to withhold a laugh. As a result—and so he could shake his head at Matt—Darren broke eye contact first.

"That's all, gentlemen," Aiden said when the excitement dulled down. "I hope this can become a mutually beneficial arrangement. Now, please, enjoy your lunch."

Retracing their steps, he and the prison guards climbed the stairs and disappeared past the gates. Darren was still staring at the space in front of the metal bars even after Aiden was no longer visible, trying to figure out what was the new warden's game. His goal. Warden Jefferson hadn't been bad per se, but he'd never really come across as someone who was concerned with pleasing the higher-ups so much.

So why was Aiden Kesley?

Matt nudged Darren, shoving his elbow into his side. "Ya know, new warden guy totally has the hots for ya."

"Cut it out, Matt. Too much trouble," Darren scoffed, but even though he'd said them himself, his words carried no weight.

Seducing the warden was a really bad idea, but no matter how Darren tried to convince himself to drop it here and now, he just couldn't bring himself to do so. It didn't matter that the blond fox was the new warden; Darren didn't back down from a challenge, especially one that he was sure would test a lot more than the extent of his charm. He needed the distraction, the single-mindedness that having a goal other than to make it to the next day offered. He could find something else to latch onto… but the smuggling operation had proven to be only so effective, and besides, it was too late to shut his interest down when the shiny prize made it impossible to erase the smile from his face.

Yeah, this was definitely a bad idea.He needed to be careful about what he did next, to thread with extra care, or he risked making his life here even more of a Hell than it already was. But if he succeeded? Not only would he get to fuck the attitude out of Aiden Kesley, but he would reap the benefits of being friendly with the new prison warden. And not just when it came to his and Nyle's little smuggling venture.

"I'm not kidding, man. He was seriously eyefucking ya like a whore at a frat party. I'm positive." Matt fanned his face with an exaggerated wave of his hand. "Shameless little bastard."

Darren didn't say anything back. He stood up and motioned Matt toward the food counters where a long line was already forming.

His friend followed without protest, lacing his hands behind his head. "Just be careful, okay? He is the warden."

Darren smiled to himself. Good thing he loved a troublesome challenge, then, wasn't it?