Chương 38: Chapter 38: Keeping the Peace
With the court date only two weeks away, Cole became hyperaware of everything around him. Every interaction, every movement felt like it could be a trap—a potential slip that would destroy everything he had worked for.
The guards still watched him, but they hadn't made any more moves since the last beating. He knew they were waiting for him to make a mistake, but Cole wasn't going to give them the satisfaction.
Jayden, on the other hand, was a different story.
One afternoon, as Cole sat in the gym, wrapping his hands before a workout, Jayden approached him. He hadn't spoken to Cole since the day he turned down the offer, but now, he stood in front of him, his arms crossed and a smug smile on his face.
"You're really going through with this, huh?" Jayden asked, his voice laced with amusement.
Cole glanced up at him, his expression indifferent. "What do you want, Jayden?"
Jayden shrugged, leaning against the wall. "Just curious. I mean, you're walking away from everything. The fights, the power, the respect. You really think you're going to get out of here and everything's going to be all sunshine and rainbows?"
Cole narrowed his eyes, his jaw tightening. "I don't need your approval."
Jayden chuckled, shaking his head. "No, I guess you don't. But here's the thing, Matthews—you've made some powerful enemies. They're not just going to let you walk away."
Cole's fists clenched, but he kept his voice calm. "I'm not afraid of them."
"You should be," Jayden said, his voice lowering. "These people? They don't forget. And once you're out of here, you'll be on your own. No guards, no detention center. Just you and them."
Cole stared at him, the weight of Jayden's words sinking in. He had known, deep down, that getting out wouldn't be the end. The people who ran the underground fights, the guards who had tried to break him—they wouldn't just let him go.
But Cole wasn't going to let that stop him. He had come too far to turn back now.
"I'll deal with it," Cole said, his voice steady.
Jayden shook his head, his smile fading. "You're a stubborn bastard, Matthews. I'll give you that."
Cole didn't respond, his eyes locked on Jayden as he turned and walked away.
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