They Framed Me and Put Me in Prison, But They Forgot My Real Name
Previously: Sentenced to maximum security for a crime she didn't commit, Tessa faced the prison's most terrifying inmate. But what they didn't know was that she was prepared for this exact moment.
Kane’s roar died down, replaced by a tense, heavy silence. His mocking grin vanished, replaced by a look of genuine confusion and rising anger. He wasn't used to defiance, especially not from someone who looked as fragile as I did. He leaned in close, his breath smelling of stale coffee and tobacco.
The Table Turns
"You think this is a game, little girl?" he whispered, his voice dripping with venom. "Julian paid a very high price to ensure you never walk out of these gates alive."
I felt a chill run down my spine, but I kept my face an absolute mask of stone. I took a half-step forward, closing the remaining distance between us so only he could hear my words.
"Julian is a fool, Kane," I whispered back, my voice steady. "And you're an even bigger fool if you think you're getting paid. The offshore account he used to wire your money? I flagged it for federal seizure from the prison library computer this morning. The funds are frozen. You are working for a ghost."
Kane’s eyes widened. For a split second, the terrifying giant looked completely vulnerable. He grabbed the collar of my shirt, lifting me slightly off the ground.
"If you are lying to me, I will end you right here," he snarled.
Before I could answer, the heavy iron gates of the yard groaned open. Escorted by two corrupt guards, a man in a perfectly tailored charcoal suit walked into the dusty yard. It was Julian. He had come to witness my destruction firsthand, a smug, victorious smile plastered on his face. But as he walked closer and saw me standing tall, with Kane looking bewildered and enraged, Julian's smile slowly began to falter.
"Tessa," Julian said, trying to maintain his arrogant composure. "I see you're making friends."
Kane dropped me to my feet and turned his massive frame toward Julian. The ground seemed to shake with his steps.
"Is the money gone, Julian?" Kane growled.
Julian panicked, reaching into his coat pocket for his phone to check the accounts. As he pulled it out, a small, silver USB drive slipped from his pocket, tumbling silently into the gravel. It was the master ledger—the only physical evidence that could prove my innocence.
”It was the master ledger—the only physical evidence that could prove my innocence.