A Trap Set in Rome

Rome, Italy.

Carlos's pov:

I woke up in this freezing, filthy cell. Never thought I'd be back in this hell, let alone so soon. I rubbed my eyes and lifted my head to see my perverted cellmate. I couldn't stand him. I'd been so relieved when I left years ago, especially since it meant not having to deal with him again. He was dozing off, smelling like the rest of the inmates.

I sat up and stretched, appreciating the rare moment of peace, given how loud it usually is here. Since the inmates are forced to wake up early, it probably wasn't time yet. Maybe the guards decided to ease up for once and let us get a little more rest.

RING!

A loud siren blared, causing the inmates to groan and roar in frustration. Fuck. When I turned around, I saw that my cellmate was awake. I just wanted to grab his neck and smother him until he stopped breathing. "Good morning, sexy," Donald said with a wink. I shuddered. He made me want to beg the guards to shoot me. "Go to hell," I muttered, turning to see the other inmates swaying at the bars.

The guards arrived and stood in the center, making sure everyone could see them. "Calm down, you scumbags. Have you all forgotten it's wash day?" One of them barked. Wash day only happens once a week, and this week it also happened to be visitation day. I usually look forward to this day because I get to see Kai. He was the last person I saw last week. I'd told Kai I wanted him to come up with a plan to abduct Alliana and bring her back to the mansion to help me with my legal issues.

What made me reconsider? She's smart, bossy, and, well, pretty hot.

I told Kai to start by researching Alliana to see if there's anything on her, any dirt, or anything anyone might know about her, so we wouldn't just abduct her but blackmail her. Kai did ask about Souline, but I decided to decline. Souline would be no use to me. I don't need two annoyancies.

"Everyone's going to be called one by one to the washroom and given a bar of soap," the guard said. "The rest of you will wait until the others are done," another guard explained. "You have only five minutes." The guards started opening the gates from the opposite side. We go in alphabetical order. My cell number is C, so I brush my teeth while the others shower.

As usual, the district provides us with toothbrushes and toothpaste. We also have our own, and we're supposed to write our names on them, like we're in kindergarten. Before Donald showed up, I went to the sink and grabbed my toothbrush and paste. I didn't want him touching my stuff, so I made sure to grab it first. I started brushing while staring at the filthy sink mirror. I doubt that thing's been cleaned since the day I was released from prison years ago. I brushed quickly and thoroughly, scrubbing the gunk off my lips and out of my mouth. Donald just stood there, staring at me from the corner of my eye.

After three minutes, I spat out the mess and rinsed my mouth with water. The sensation of the water made me gag. "Your turn," I muttered, heading back to my bed, waiting for the guard to call my cell number. "Such a gentleman," Donald said, walking over to the sink to start brushing his teeth.

I waited for the guards to call my cell number for what felt like ten minutes. Strangely, I noticed some of the inmates coming out of the shower in new clothes. Since when did the district start letting us wear clothes on visitation days? It had to be a recent change. Kai better have sent me some clothes, because I can't stand wearing this dingy uniform. Orange is neither my style nor my favorite color. I prefer black.

"Cell C!" one of the guards shouted. Another guard entered my cell and grabbed my arms, making sure I couldn't do anything. "How come you don't smell like roadkill?" he asked, his brow furrowed. "I always smell nice," I said, keeping my tone light. To make sure no one touches my stuff, I hide my cologne inside my mattress.

The guards escorted me to the showers, which were surprisingly cleaner than the rest of the cells. "Five minutes. In and out!" one of the guards barked as he shut the door behind me. I quickly stripped and headed straight to the showers, not caring how cold the water was. I glanced at the bucket next to me, then got to work washing quickly. I scrubbed my hair, washed my private parts, and took a quick look at my body, already shivering from the cold.

I'd been in the shower for about four minutes when the siren blared. I'd already wrapped a towel around myself when the guards barged in, pulling me to the back of the bathroom. There were bags with inmate name tags scattered around. "Find yours and change quickly," the guards ordered before leaving. I scanned the bags, quickly locating mine in the center. I tore it open, eager to see what Kai had sent.

I quickly changed into the clothes Kai sent me. It was an outfit that felt comfortable yet had a certain edge. I finished changing, knowing the doors would open any minute. As soon as I was done, I stood still, waiting for the guards to enter. "Hurry up, Mr. Romano," one of them called as the doors swung open.

"I'm done," I said. The guards approached and grabbed me roughly, dragging me back to my cell. I glanced around for Donald but didn't see him, so I assumed he was still in the shower. Once I was back in my cell, I waited for the guards to leave so I could get to my cologne hidden inside the mattress. They left shortly after, heading out to call the other cells. Not long after, Donald returned from the showers in his old clothes, looking disheveled.

"I'm still tired; I'm going to sleep for a while," he muttered, climbing onto the bed and leaving me alone. I wasted no time pulling out the cologne from my mattress and spraying it on myself. I sat down and waited for the rest of the inmates to finish showering, which took about thirty to forty minutes. Just then, a screeching noise made me wince.

I got up and moved toward the bars of my cell, trying to figure out what the hell was going on. I saw one of the guards pushing a cart loaded with trays of food. "What the fuck?" I muttered, intrigued by the sudden shift. "Time to eat, you rodents," the guard called out, passing from cell to cell, handing out trays. This was weird food served in trays, not the usual plastic containers.

When it was my turn, the guard slid the tray through the bars. I looked down at it: chicken tenders, mashed potatoes, corn, and a bottle of water. This had to be some kind of joke. The presentation made it look like something you'd find in a five-star restaurant, but it felt off.

I took a bite, bracing myself for the worst. Sure enough, it was like biting into something that looked amazing but tasted like straight garbage. It was disgusting. Ever had that moment when something seems great but ends up being a complete disaster? That was this meal. I gagged and pushed the tray to the side, letting it sit on the bed as Donald's snoring filled the cell.

The guard reappeared forty minutes later. "Your visitors have arrived; we will begin the visitation. You have forty minutes to speak with your visitor. I'm following the list accordingly," he said. "For Kai Rivera," the guard announced. "That's me," I called out. The guards came in, handcuffed me, and escorted me to the visitation room where I'd last seen Kai. "Forty minutes, beginning now," the guard said as they locked the door behind them and stood outside.

Kai was the only one who could actually make me feel calm, unless, of course, he had bad news. "Nice to see you, man," Kai said as soon as I sat down. "Likewise," I said. "How's Mimi?" "I fed her before I left," Kai explained, "so she's back in her bed sleeping." "Good," I said. "So," Kai began, pulling something from his bag, "AJ, Denzel, and I made the blueprints just in case we don't find anything on Alliana."

"All right," I said. "AJ and Vex will be outside, while Denzel and I will be inside her house," Kai continued. "Have you found out where she lives?" I asked. "That's easy," Kai said. "I tracked Souline's phone. It was at a different house than Alliana's." "Got it," I said. "When do you want us to grab her? Soon? Later?" Kai asked. "Soon. Like, tomorrow," I said. "Tomorrow?" Kai raised an eyebrow. "Yeah. I can't stay in this hellhole much longer," I said. "What do you expect me to do with her after I grab her?" Kai asked. "Hold her hostage until my next visit," I said.

"And when is that?" Kai asked. I wasn't sure myself but told him to ask the guard. He reminded me of the risks involved, mentioning that he could end up in jail for abduction. I assured him that as long as everything was handled smoothly and discreetly, he wouldn't get caught. He reluctantly agreed, and I thanked him for helping me, acknowledging that it was the least he could do after everything. I then warned him not to get involved with Souline, knowing how he felt about her. Kai shrugged it off, assuring me it wasn't something he was planning, but I couldn't shake the feeling that it might complicate things.

As time ran out, the guard arrived with the timer, signaling the end of our visit. "Alright, I'll see you next time," Kai said, standing up. I couldn't help but grin, already imagining the shock and horror that would cross Alliana's face the next time she sees me.