Excerpt:
The truth, Starks realized back in his cell, was that he’d given little
thought to Bo during his time in isolation, a true case of “out of sight, out
of mind.” Seeing Bo brought something home to him: if the gang leader didn’t
get him, one of his gang members would.
He’d caught Bo by surprise in that attack, and he knew that wouldn’t be
allowed to happen again. The inmate and his followers would be on alert from
now on.
He could feel retaliation following him, waiting for him like something
in the shadows. He was in prison for a long time. They all were. All Bo or
anyone needed was an opportunity—or an arrangement with the right guards.
Sure, he’d demonstrated that he, too, was capable of violence but he’d
never initiated it. He’d always been provoked.
Maybe he needed to make a concession in this case: Kill Bo before the
man killed him. But that solution was fraught with dead-ends. Literally. One or
more gang members would surely go after him, if he succeeded. The idea of
taking Bo out was nothing but wishful thinking, with no basis in reality.
Maybe there were other gangs at Sands that would include him as a
member, protect him? Of course not, he chided himself. No one opposed Bo. Not
if they wanted to live. And especially not if they wanted the contraband he
could provide that no one else could.
Maybe if he attacked a guard, they might extend his time in solitary.
But that didn’t guarantee safety either, including or especially with the
guards who’d probably avenge their own, one way or another.
And he was fairly certain the chance that another inmate would kill Bo,
for whatever reason, was zero. Even if someone else did the job, that wouldn’t
mean Bo’s gang would let him get away with what he’d done to their leader.
Eventually, he’d have to be made an example of.
Every idea that came to Starks’s mind was followed by a reason it
wouldn’t work. The only idea he couldn’t argue with was that he should use some
of his isolation time to build his strength. Letting himself get weak in any
capacity wasn’t a wise way to go. They couldn’t keep him in isolation forever.
And, he decided, he should do something to strengthen his faltering
nerve, as well. But that seemed harder to wrap his thoughts around.
He almost felt foolish for being so edgy. The rest of the week, after
all, had been routine: Meal trays of crappy food were slid into and retrieved
through the slot; all the guards but Ted Landers insulted him; lights dimmed at
night and brightened in the morning; one hour a day to exercise and shower.
It was during that one hour that he went on full alert. He felt somewhat
safer when Ted was on duty, but knew not to trust that completely. Not that he
believed Ted would betray him but that the out of shape CO could be
overpowered, injured, or killed by another inmate.
That thought not only made fear return but intensified it.
He needed more people on his side.
BLURB:
Frederick Starks has it all—a gorgeous wife who was his high school
sweetheart, three beautiful children, a mansion and cars others envy, millions
in the bank, respected in his community, admired by his employees, loved and
respected by loyal friends. He revels in the hard-earned power and control he’s
acquired. As the saying goes, “All that glitters is not gold,” which Starks
discovers when gut-wrenching betrayal by his wife sends him over the edge and
into a maximum security prison. There, Starks is a new “fish,” stripped of
nearly everything he’s always relied on. In that place, where inmates and
guards have their own rules and codes of conduct, Starks is forced to face the
darker side of life, and his own darker side, especially when the betrayals,
both inside and outside the prison, don’t stop. He must choose which path to
follow when the line between right and wrong becomes blurred: one that leads to
getting out of the physical and emotional hellhole he finds himself in or one
that keeps him alive.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Nesly Clerge received his
bachelor’s degree in physiology and neurobiology at the University of Maryland,
and later pursued a doctoral degree in the field of chiropractic medicine.
Although his background is primarily science-based, he has finally embraced his
lifelong passion for writing. Clerge’s debut novel, When the Serpent Bites,
will be available in 2015, with the sequel to follow in 2016.
His debut novel
explores choices, consequences, and the complexities of human emotions,
especially when we are placed in a less-than-desirable setting. When he is not
writing, Clerge manages several multidisciplinary clinics. He enjoys reading,
chess, traveling, exploring the outdoors, and spending time with his significant
other and his sons.
Official site: www.clergebooks.com
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