They Sent Me to Prison to Break Me—But I Was Their Worst Nightmare

A Deadly Welcome

The heavy iron gates of Blackwood Penitentiary slammed shut behind Maya Vance, the resounding clang echoing like a death knell. She stood in the center of the grimy concrete yard, surrounded by high razor-wire fences and looming watchtowers. The overcast sky cast a dreary, gray light over the scene, matching the cold hostility of the inmates who immediately began to circle her. Maya, a former tactical detective who had been framed by her corrupt captain, knew this was no ordinary transfer. She had been sent here to be silenced.

Out of the crowd of orange-clad inmates stepped Brody, the undisputed king of the yard. He was a colossal, heavily tattooed man with a buzz cut, his presence alone enough to make seasoned guards look the other way. He towered over Maya, his massive frame casting a long shadow over her slender form. Maya stood her ground, her dark ponytail tight, her dark green tank top and orange pants the only contrast against the bleak concrete. The crowd cheered, eager for the impending slaughter.

"Well, show us what you're capable of," Brody sneered, a mocking grin spreading across his face.

He flexed his massive arms and let out a menacing, animalistic roar, expecting the new inmate to cower or beg for mercy. Instead, Maya stood completely unfazed. Her posture was relaxed, her eyes locked onto his with a cold, piercing intensity. She had faced cartel bosses and armed syndicates; a prison bully was not going to break her. As Brody lunged forward with a devastating right hook, Maya prepared to show the entire yard exactly what a highly trained federal operative could do.