Chapter 38

“When were you arrested?” Under the blanket, Dubois’s fingers found his.

“The next day, two bulls dragged me outta my house in chains, right in front of everyone, my mother, Claudine, the neighbors—everybody.” The humiliation of that day was still fresh. Joe could still see his mother’s shocked expression in his mind. She’d always thought he was a good man. A good son. She thought he’d defended her that day. She couldn’t understand why they’d arrest him for trying to protect her. “I was found guilty before I even had a chance to understand what was happening to me, and then they sent me up to Bordeaux.”

Dubois stiffened in his arms. “That place. They hang people there. I’ve heard of that man, that executioner―”

“That place is full of monsters and I hated it there. Then one morning, just like that, they transferred me here.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know…I guess they were looking for men to work the woods and―”

“Big as you are.” Dubois slid his hand up Joe’s thigh, touching his cock.