Iron and Blood: From Ash to Dust

Rainbow Dash sat up in her bed. Her head spun, making her feel nauseous. She groaned as she held her head in her hands. Her wings twitched as she hissed out her breaths. Opening her eyes, she instantly shut them. She regretted opening them. The bright sunlight flooding into her room caused a headache to form.

Letting out a moan, she opened them again, looked down at her bed, and saw Quibble was still sleeping. Their bed sheet lay haphazardly over him, exposing his nakedness to her. She let out a small groan as she covered him up. Fighting back a yawn, she slipped out of bed and walked up to a tattered cedar hope chest and opened it. Finding a clean pair of underwear, she threw them on.

A cold breeze washed over her. Rainbow Dash crossed her arms and looked at her cell door as it opened. Derpy stood under the doorframe and smiled. “Good morning, Dash….” She noticed her sister’s bloodshot eyes and the slight bruising around her neck. Looking around the room, she saw a ladle beside a candlestick and a used needle on the nightstand.

Derpy’s jaw tightened as she glared at Quibble.

Rainbow Dash felt her chest get tight. “Derpy… He wasn’t that rough last night….” Derpy shot her a glare that sent a shiver down her spine. Rainbow Dash cowered as Derpy walked past her to the sink. “Derpy, please….” She said weakly. Another glare from Derpy caused her to shut up and lower her head.

Derpy grabbed a metal cup and filled it. She stormed up to Quibble, who was blissfully unaware of the angry teen filly before him. “Wake up!” She growled as she poured water on him.

Quibble jerked awake and jumped out of bed. “What the fuck?” He looked up and saw Derpy standing over him. He noticed her angry expression and sighed. “Look, I can explain….”

“Explain this!” Derpy threw the cup at his head.

“I wasn’t that rough!” He covered himself with the blanket from his bed.

“I call bullshit!” Derpy huffed as she walked up to Rainbow Dash and picked up an undershirt and her prison uniform. “Get dressed. We need to talk.”

Rainbow Dash shivered at her sister’s tone of voice. “Derpy, I’m okay….”

“Your neck says otherwise!” Derpy glared at Quibble. “And ketamine, you fucker!”

Quibble laid his head in his right hand. “It was a rough night last night….” He rubbed his head. “I thought it would help….”

“If you were craving a high, smoke something natural!” Derpy glared at him with her mismatched eyes.

Quibble glared right back at her. “Maybe you should try ketamine,” He chuckled. “It might help you see straight!” His eyes shrunk to the size of pin needles at realizing what he had just said. Derpy showed her teeth as she stepped up closer to him. “Derpy, I um….” She kicked him in the stomach and spat on him.

“Get dressed!” She barked at Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow Dash shivered as she got dressed. “Derpy, you don’t have to….”

Derpy placed her hand on Rainbow Dash’s lips. “Quiet!” She glared at Quibble. “Stay away from her until Jack says otherwise!” She grabbed Rainbow Dash’s hand and dragged her out of the cell.

Quibble placed his head in his hands. “Fuck….”

Rainbow Dash stared at her sister as they walked to the stairwell at the end of the catwalk. She saw her tense demeanor. She swallowed a lump. She rarely saw Derpy this mad. The last time she did…. She shivered as she pushed that thought behind her. “Derpy…. I’m fine.”

Derpy stopped as she turned around. “You’re fine?” She touched her sister’s neck and pulled back her fur to see her bruised skin. “This isn’t fine.”

Rainbow Dash pushed her hand away. “Come on, Derpy, you know Quibble, he would never hurt me!”

Derpy looked at her sister, studying her posture. “I know that….” She grabbed her hand and headed down the stairs. “But he needs to stop with the hardcore drugs and the rough sex!” As she walked down the stairs, she looked over the railing and saw Jack leaning on the catwalk railing by his cell. “After what you’ve been through…. After what we’ve been through, he knows better!”

Rainbow Dash hung her head and watched her hooves as she walked down the stairs. “I know….”

Derpy squeezed Rainbow Dash’s hand. “Just trying to watch out for my sister….” She let out a sigh as her wings twitched. “I know you love Quibble. I know he loves you, but he’s been acting a bit rough recently with you and us, and he needs to know not to do that.”

Rainbow Dash kept her head down as she walked with Derpy.

Derpy looked over her shoulder as she let out a sigh. Seeing Jack watching them approach, Derpy placed her left hand in her prison uniform’s pockets. “Good morning, Jack.”

“Good morning.” He looked at Rainbow Dash and noticed her disheveled appearance. “Good morning, Dash.”

“Morning….” She mumbled.

“Where’s Quibble?” He looked up at the third-story catwalk.

“Issues,” Derpy stated as she walked into his cell with Rainbow Dash.

Jack looked at the teen fillies and watched them sit at his table. Letting out a sigh, he walked into his cell and up to a table in the far corner with a camping stove and a coffee pot. “Coffee?”

“Yes.” They both stated.

Humming, he filled up three cups. Walking up to the table, he dished out the cups and took a seat in front of them. “How did the two of you sleep?”

“Good,” Derpy stated with a hum. Rainbow Dash just shrugged her shoulders as she put her cup of coffee to her lips.

Jack sighed as he finished his coffee. “Well, I’m glad you two got some rest because it will be a busy day.”

“How busy?” Rainbow Dash wondered.

“I need you and Derpy to collect dues from our cellblock residents.” Jack stood up and placed his cup in the sink. “I need to take them to Kingpin later today, so make it snappy.”

The teens nodded as they stood up. “What else?” Derpy asked.

“That’s it for me.” He looked at Dash and handed her a card. “It's your turn to work the mine today. You know what to do.” He looked at Derpy. “And it's your turn to work the greenhouse.” Both of them sighed as they exited Jack’s cell. “Remember.” They looked back at the man. “We have to do our part for the sake of the prison.” They nodded and left.

“I hate collecting dues.” Rainbow Dash grumbled.

“It's better than working out there.” Derpy sighed. “The guards have free reign outside these walls.”

“True.” Rainbow Dash messed with the worn card in her hand. “But I like the wind blowing across my face when I walk to the mine.” She smiled. “And at least there is someone out there I can talk to.”

Derpy’s ears stood erect. “Him?” She raised her brow.

“What, Soarin is nice, he keeps the guards off of me, and I thank him for that.” Rainbow Dash blushed as she kept her eyes forward.

Derpy smiled as they walked. “Yeah, he is rather nice.” She wrapped an arm over her sister’s shoulders. “Are you sure there is anything else about him you like?”

Rainbow Dash blushed. “No, he’s just a friend like Thunderlane.” She put her hands in her prison outfit’s pockets. “I only love Quibble….”

Derpy sighed as she put her hands in her pockets. “Okay, just asking….” She looked forward. ‘He’d be better than him….’ She told herself as they walked down the stairs to the first floor. “How do you want to do this?”

Rainbow Dash could see her sister was upset, but she put it out of her mind as she looked to her left. “Let’s start here?” She patted her jumpsuit. “I don’t have a bag.”

“I do…. I had to collect dues last month.” Derpy smiled as she walked up to the first cell.

The pegasus mare on the other side noticed them approaching and grumbled. “Dues I take it?” She leaned on the bottom half of her double door.

“Yep.” Rainbow Dash took the bag from Derpy's hand and held it out. “How are you doing this morning, Mellow?”

“I could be better.” She looked over at her three children, who were no older than five, playing on the ground with wooden toys. “I just wish my blasted husband would stop wasting his money at cellblock five!” Her mood soured as she dropped four silver coins in the bag. “Stupid whores.”

Derpy and Rainbow Dash winced at her words. Their ears laid flat against their heads as they gave the mare sheepish smiles. The mare noticed their expression and softened her face at her realization. “I’m sorry….”

“It's fine.” Derpy smiled. “Um, have a great day….” She placed a hand on her sister’s shoulders as they walked to the next cell. “Are you alright?” She looked at Rainbow Dash, who was chewing her cheeks.

“Y-Yeah, I’m fine, just remembered some bad memories, is all.” She wrapped her tail around herself. Her wings twitched as she picked up her pace.

Derpy sighed. “I forgot her husband was frequenting that cellblock….”

“Same.” Rainbow Dash sighed. Coming up to the next cell, she took a deep breath. “Come on, let’s get this done and over with.” Derpy nodded as she knocked on the cell’s door.

“TELL JACK HE CAN GO FUCK HIMSELF!” An angry earth pony slammed the door.

Derpy and Rainbow Dash stared at the door with wide eyes. Rainbow Dash blinked several times before an angry scowl adored her lips. Feeling a hand on her shoulder, she saw Derpy shaking her head. “We’ll let Jack handle it.”

Rainbow Dash looked at the rather full bag and let out a sigh. “Fine…. It’s heavy anyways.” She tied the bag and tossed it over her shoulder. “I’ll race, yeah!”

Derpy flapped her wings and smirked. “You’re on!”

Flapping their wings they flew down to the second story. With great ease, they dodged clothes lines that stretched from catwalk to catwalk until landing on the second-story catwalk with soft thuds that caused its metal grate flooring to vibrate dull thunderous claps.

“I win!” Rainbow Dash shouted.

“No! I won!’ Derpy huffed as they walked up to Jack’s cell.

“You would’ve if you had this bag weighing you down!” Rainbow Dash smirked and stuck out her tongue.

“You girls raced again?” Jack asked as he watched them enter his cell.

Rainbow Dash and Derpy looked over at Jack, sitting at his table with Coco on the other end. “Whatcha working on?”

Jack looked at the busted-up wooden box with wires and gears. “A clock I bartered for during last week’s shipment.” He looked at them. “How was the run?”

“Great!” Rainbow Dash tossed the bag on the floor.

“Shit, that’s a lot of money!” Coco’s eyes went wide as her tail fluffed up.

Jack hummed as he looked at them once more. “Who didn’t pay?”

“Asher from Cell 554,” Derpy stated bluntly.

“I’ll take care of it.” He could see Rainbow Dash had something on her mind by how she was fidgeting with her left wing. “Something wrong, Dash?”

Rainbow Dash shook her head, but her open mouth said otherwise. Finally, she took a deep breath and spoke. “Has Quibble been by?”

Jack nodded as he placed his head in his hands. “Yeah, I have him working with Sam upstairs on the Willow.” He looked at her. “You two keep your distance until the evening, understood?”

Rainbow Dash played with some of her primary feathers. “Understood….” She gave a halfhearted smile. “I’ll see you later on tonight.”

“See you as well.” Derpy gave a wave as she followed her sister out of the cell.

Coco tapped her fingers together. The mood in the room felt heavy. Jack could feel it and looked at the teen feline. “And that’s why I don’t let you date.”

“Why don’t you stop Dash?” Coco raised her brow.

Jack stroked his beard as he placed a delicate piece of the clock into place with a tweezer. “Because she’s stubborn.”

“I’m stubborn….” Coco’s whiskers stood stiff as she puckered her lips at Jack’s expression.

“Coco, don’t you start. Now pick up those tweezers and help.” Coco quickly picked them up and helped the man.

Rainbow Dash and Derpy stood in line for the only exit prisoners were allowed to use. It was a small set of double doors, guarded by two Mourning Hollow prison guards and two others checking to see if prisoners had the proper paperwork to exit.

“Damn…. This is taking forever!” Rainbow Dash sighed. "Feels like it's been an hour!"

“Looks like we’ll be home later than expected.” Derpy messed with her card.

“At least we’re almost there.” She saw the last few in the line exit through the doors. “Finally….”

“Do you have your card, prisoner?” One of the guards asked.

“Of course.” Rainbow Dash handed it over.

The guard looked at the card and saw her name, her prisoner I.D., and the job she was assigned to do. Looking back at her, he handed the card over. “Okay, you’re good to go next!” He saw Derpy and motioned for her to give him her card. She did so, and he looked it over. “The two misfits of Mourning Hollow.” He smirked. “Good luck out there.”

Derpy and Rainbow Dash nodded as they exited through the doors.

Stepping outside, a cold breeze washed over them. Their wings tightened up, and their feathers flexed as they made their way down the hilly landscape of the large island the prison called home. “Damn, I should’ve brought a jacket or something.” Rainbow Dash stuttered as she watched the wild waves crashing onto the rocky shore.

“Looks like a storm is rolling in!” Derpy shouted over the wind.

Rainbow Dash smacked her lips from the salt in the air as she squinted at the cloud-covered sky. Seeing the clouds rolling into themselves, she let out a sigh. “I just hope the rain stops on our way back….”

Hearing a cheerful shout, they looked to the sky and saw a pegasus prisoner flying into the air several yards away. She was cheering with a mad giggle as she flew out towards the sea.

“Oh, shit….” Derpy’s irises shrank as she and Rainbow Dash watched the mare fly in a drunken manner. A shot rang out across the island. Then several more, right after that. Red mist and several feathers puffed around the mare before she fell from the sky onto the rocky coast with a meaty thud.

Rainbow Dash looked towards one of six guard towers across the island and saw a guard aiming her rifle at the spot where the mare once was. “Damn….”

“Do you know who that was?”

“No…. And it’s a good thing we don’t….” Seeing the fork in the road, Rainbow Dash grabbed her sister and hugged her. “See you later.” Derpy tightened her hug before they broke it off and walked down their respected paths.

Nearing her destination, she stared at the metal shack that covered the entrance to the mine. She saw several guards standing around the shack, smoking and laughing the day away. She noticed one of the guards from her youth. She felt her stomach twist itself into a knot as she approached him.

Rainbow Dash grumbled as she put up the collar of her jumpsuit and lowered her head until her chin touched the base of her neck. The guard she recognized noticed her and smiled. “Lookie here, rainbow head is working the mines today!” Some of his fellow guards whistled as she approached.

Rainbow Dash glared at the stallion. “You know I’m underage.”

The guard smirked as he put a hand under her chin. She shivered at his touch. “You’re a prisoner, sweetheart. Out here, we can do whatever we want.” He stroked her chin.

“If you hurt me….”

“Hurt you?” The stallion smirked. “You know I’d never hurt you….” He lowered his head and got eye level with her. “You know I’m gentle.” He whispered in her ear. The feeling of his hot breath on her skin sent unpleasant chills down her spine.

“Look, I just want to get to work!” She showed him her card.

The guard snatched her hand and held it tight as he looked at the card. Rainbow Dash squeaked at the pressure on her wrist. “Oh, fancy that a card. But sweetie, my colts and I are guarding the shack, so there’s an extra step to enter for pieces of meat like you!” He smacked her butt, which caused her to kick his leg.

“Back off!” She growled.

The guard and his posse growled as they neared her.

“What the hell is going on here!” A nineteen-year-old pegasus stallion shouted as he brandished his weapon.

Rainbow Dash looked back and smiled at the older colt.

“Corporal, Soarin!” The guard saluted, “This prisoner was just causing trouble.”

“Causing trouble?” Soarin sighed as he walked up to them and grabbed her arm. “Were you causing trouble?” Rainbow Dash shook her head. “She says she wasn’t causing trouble?”

The guard hissed. “She’s obviously lying!”

Soarin looked down and saw she had a worker's pass. “All I see is she was trying to go to work.” He took the card and looked at it. “And five guards were getting in her way.”

The guard ground his teeth. “You little! You think you educated stuck-ups can tell us how to handle guard duties?”

Soarin gave the stallion a flat stare as he handed Rainbow Dash back her card. “Yes….” He showed off his rank. “I out rank you, Vector, and tell me? What will the warden think when I tell him that some of his guards prevented one of his prisoners from working and instead used her as their personal fuck toy!”

He frowned as he walked up to Vector and bashed him over the head with his rifle. “And what if Kingpin found out you hurt her! If you don’t know or have forgotten, you hollowed brain moron! He is her Godfather!” He knelt down and got in the stallion’s face. “And the warden can’t guarantee your safety once you enter that building.” He pointed at the massive prison in the distance.

Vector stared at the silhouetted behemoth and cowered. “I’m sorry I….”

“Get on your hooves! And do your job!” Soarin shouted as he grabbed Rainbow Dash’s arm. She looked back at the guards helping their comrade nurse his wound. Vector looked at her and showed his teeth as he sent daggers her way. She only smirked and stuck out her tongue as she entered the shack.

“Thanks for saving me!” Rainbow Dash breathed a sigh of relief as she followed Soarin to the front desk of the mineshaft.

“Call it perfect timing.” Soarin rubbed his brow. “I’m going to have paperwork tonight.”

“Sorry….” Rainbow Dash sighed as she stepped up to the desk to show her card. The guard on the other side nodded as he handed her a pickaxe and an oil lamp. “I wish I could give you my side of the story for your report.”

“Even if you could, they wouldn’t let you.” He grumbled as he walked with her to the elevator. “They see you as a lowlife after all.”

“Don’t remind me….” She sighed as she put the pickaxe on her shoulder. “That’s why the emperor sent me here, far away from his perfect empire.” She waited for the lift.

Soarin placed his hands behind his back. “You know I don’t agree with it.”

“I know….” She looked at him and studied his bright green eyes. “Thanks again for helping me.”

Soarin blushed. “Well, you are my friend.” He smiled at her. “Even though we met under less than favorable circumstances.”

The lift groaned as it came to a stop. The door opened, revealing a prisoner operating the controls. Seeing the two of them, the prisoner stared at them with wide eyes. “Um…. How many?”

“Just one.” Soarin helped her into the lift. “How long are you working for?”

“Six hours….” She saw him look at his wristwatch. “You’re going to wait for me?”

“I’ll be back, just in case.” He looked over his shoulder at the shack’s entrance. “Good luck, and don’t overdo it.” Before she could respond, the elevator doors closed.

“Damn, this is heavy!” Jack grumbled as he knocked on the door to a room on the sixth-floor catwalk above the panopticon’s ground floor. The door opened and revealed a pegasus stallion with amber-colored eyes, green-cyan fur, and a yellow mane and tail staring aback at Jack. “Hello, Chaser.”

“Hello, Jack.” He noticed the bag. “Have the dues?” Jack nodded. “Hand them over.”

“Not until I speak with Kingpin.” Jack gave the stallion a stern glare.

“Is that Jack?” Kingpin’s voice called out.

“Yes.” Chaser stated dully.

“Let him in!” Chaser stepped to the side and widened the door. “Jack is always allowed in, given our history.” Kingpin laughed as he smacked the cue ball. “How’s Dashie?” He frowned at his shot. “She didn’t come by to say hi to her Godfather?”

Jack sat the bag of coins down, but before he spoke, he looked over at the couch and saw Feather Gale sitting beside Lighting Dust. A cigarette rested on her lips as she brushed the filly’s mane. Feather Gale shot the man a stern glare. Jack ignored her as he walked up to Kingpin. “She had a rough night.”

Kingpin let out a sigh. “Well, I’ll send for her sometime this week to catch up. I would like to talk with her about some work I need her to do.”

“What kind of work?” Jack felt Lighting Dust sending daggers his way. He ignored the scantily clad teen and kept his eyes on the cue ball as Kingpin sent it flying towards the striped eleven ball.

“Oh, just some errands I need her to run for me at cellblock one and two.” He laughed. “You know she does more than just fight for me, Jack,” He stood up. “I hope your old age is not getting to you?”

“I do, Dusk.” Jack placed his hands on his hips.

“Frist name biases?” Kingpin smacked his cue stick on the ground as he walked up to Jack. “So it's this serious? What is it you need?”

“I want Dash to stop fighting for a month.” Jack frowned.

Kingpin bit his lower lip, showing off his fangs. “Jack, you know our arrangement. I can’t just do that.”

“Why not?”

Kingpin glanced over at Feather Gale, who looked away and kept to her work. “You know we made a deal! Myself, you, Steel Bit!”

“Don’t bring him into this!” Jack huffed.

Chaser, standing next to the door, arms crossed, stood up and stepped towards the man.

“It’s fine!” Kingpin held up a hand to stop him. “Look, trust me, when I see Dash take hits like that, it pains me, but you can’t deny she’s a fighter and loves it!”

“That’s my point.” Jack sighed. “She’s young and needs to spread them out, and she’s not doing that!” He frowned.

Kingpin let out a long sigh. His bat-like wings twitched as he stared at the man. The way humans looked was strange to him. Even after fourteen years in this hell hole, he always found their appearance peculiar. With their small nose and eyes. Their lack of fur on their bodies. Their tendency to be loud, but that could’ve been that most of them were pirates captured by the Pegasin Union’s navy.

“Fine, I’ll let her have a break from fighting….” He fidgeted with his cue stick. “But I want her working for me exclusively in three days, understood.”

Jack let out a sigh. “Fine by me.” He headed for the door. “You better keep your word, Dusk!”

Kingpin held up his arms. “I’ve been, haven’t I?” Jack nodded and left. Kingpin let out a held breath as he turned around and placed his hands on the billiard table.

“How I’m I going to get my dues?” Feather Gale asked, not looking up from her work. Lighting Dust felt the tug on her mane and let off a little squeak as she looked at her master.

Kingpin let out a sigh, “You’ll get your cut from the other jobs Dash will do for me.” He stood up and took a cigar out from his jacket’s pocket. “Don’t you worry.” He stepped up to her and stared at her with his cat-like eyes. “And don’t you dare do anything stupid. You’ll get your money!” Kingpin looked down at his slave and smiled. “She looks beautiful, by the way.”

Feather Gale smiled. “Always happy to make house calls, my dear.”

“So, how was the mine?” Soarin asked as he laid down in the grass near the rocky shores on the island's southern tip.

“Shit….” Rainbow Dash sighed as she wrapped her tail around her for some extra warmth.

“Exciting….” Soarin stared at the sky. The late afternoon sun was trying to break through the thick clouds. Feeling some of the sun’s rays, he let out a pleased hum. “I wish I wasn’t working this damned island.”

“You already getting tired of me?” Rainbow Dash teased, but a part of her worried about his answer.

“No, I just wish we were somewhere else.” His dark-navy-blue mane flapped with the wind. “This stupid war and the emperor’s moronic laws fucken suck!”

Rainbow Dash looked at the young stallion. She studied his posture and saw that it was in a state of calm. She pictured herself with him, Quibble, Derpy, and the rest of her friends on the mainland, freely exploring without a care in the world. A happier life. A happier life indeed. She got closer and laid her head against the side of his chest.

Soaring blushed as he felt her up against him. He was stunned and didn’t know what to do or say. “Um, Dash? If they catch us like this, we’re both fucked.”

Rainbow Dash's short burst of comfort washed away as she opened her eyes and sat up. “You think I don’t know that.” She played with a blade of grass. “Just thanking you for being a friend….” She gave him a smile. “You’re not like the other guards.”

“Because I was forced into becoming a cop.” He stood up and stretched his wings. “To help enforce the emperor’s increasingly unhinged laws.” He looked down at his lap. “Not what I wanted to do with my life.”

“Isn’t that the story of our lives?” Rainbow Dash looked down at her own lap.

Soarin hummed a response as he looked at his watch. “Looks like you need to get back. He stood up and offered her a hand. She blushed as she took his offer.

“When will I see you again?”

“Do you work out here again?”

“Not for another four days.” She placed her hands in her pockets.

“Then I’ll be inside mulling about doing stupid guard stuff.” He gave her a smirk as he led her to the prison. Rainbow Dash giggled as she playfully pushed him and walked by his side.

Entering her cell, Rainbow Dash saw Quibble lying on the top mattress of their bunk bed. “What are you doing up there?”

“In the dog house.” He grumbled as he swung his left leg off the edge of the bed.

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes as she walked up to the bed. “You know I forgive you.” She ran her fingers through the sides of her mane. “We just took it a little too far last night.”

Quibble puffed out a sigh. “Derpy thinks I’m abusing you.”

“She’s just worried, is all.” Rainbow Dash placed her hand on his hoof. “I know you’d never hurt me.”

Quibble lifted his head up. His expression was flat, but his eyes held some guilt as he crawled up to the bedside and placed his hands on her cheeks. “Sorry.”

Rainbow Dash gave him a smirk. “Apology accepted.” She kissed him.

“So, any news?” Quibble asked. “I know you had to stop by Jack's before coming here?”

“Yeah….” She flopped on the bed.

Quibble jumped out of the top bunk and laid on the mattress with her. “What is it?”

“Well, it's official. I won’t be fighting for a month.” Rainbow Dash blew out a sigh.

“What’s the catch?” Quibble crossed his arms behind his back.

“I have to work for my Godfather for the next month.” Rainbow Dash felt a strange sensation wash over her as she thought about the bat pony.

“Shit!”

Jack sat at his table and watched the clock he'd fixed ticking away. Coco lay in the bed opposite his. Her fur stood on end as she dreamt the night away. Hearing her soft purrs, he smirked as he messed with the clock’s dials. “Jack?”

Looking over his shoulders, he saw a human female in her mid-thirties. Her hair was blonde, and her blue eyes showed she was a stern woman who was stubborn as all hell. “I have a message for you.” She held up a letter.

“Place it here, Donna.”

Donna placed the note next to him and gave a salute as she left.

Seeing that Coco was still fast asleep, he picked up the letter and opened it. As he began to read, his eyes narrowed. His lips turned into a scowl as he crumpled up the paper. “Those sons of bitches!” He hissed under his breath.