Novels by Esther Ernest

The next few days passed by with the rigid routine of Rikers prison. But Isaac was able to send a kite as usual to his sources on the outside with instructions to look into the judge just as Bradley had advice and soon words reached him through his lawyer that his haunch was correct.The judge presiding over his case had been on payroll of his opponents for a long time, even before his case went public. It was discovered that the plan to put Isaac behind bars was way older than he thought it to be.Even the so-called surgery which the judge was meant to have was also a fuss. He had no medical condition that required surgery nor was there any reason to delay the next hearing proceedings. The conspiracy ran deep. Deeper than any could imagine.But everything was beginning to come to light. The judge had gone AWOL the moment he noticed Isaac was unto him. and the next hear pushed forward with a new, uncompromised Judge to preside over the matter.Isaac rushed to Bradley’s dorm with ex

On the morning of Isaac’s hearing, both Isaac and Bradley sat on their usual spot as they watched some other inmates play the basketball. Isaac was very nervous, any moment now he would be summoned by the guards and would leave Rikers Island for the first time in months.“Any final advice towards my hearing?” Isaac asked, his heart pounding hard against his ribcage.Bradley looked at him, he could understand the tension Isaac was feeling at moment.“If this goes, I could lose my chance of ever returning to politics, or even leaving this god damn place.” Isaac swallowed as he sight two guards approach the yard gate. “Breathe friend, everything will work in your favor. I’m sure the justice system is still effective and would do the right thing.” Bradley said to encourage Isaac, but they both knew that was not entirely true. If the justice system was without compromise, they both would not even find themselves in there in the first place.“Jones, you’re up.” A guard called out from the

Over one week passed with Bradley still in solitary, it became a wonder to him as to why they haven’t sent him back to general pop just like the other times, but he managed to utilize the moment with continued training in the small space. Despite the advantages that came with segregation, disadvantages also followed because there was just so much task the system could assign to him.[Quest Activated: Leave segregation][Objective: Make the guard to take you back to general pop][Reward: Charisma +1, + 100 XP]Almost immediately, a guard came down the corridor, opened the slot and dropped a tray containing Bradley’s meal.“Eat up, Turner.” “Wait….” Bradley grabbed the guard’s wrist before he could pull it out, but the guard was stronger and the grip was not firm.“What the hell, Turner!” the guard raised his voice, “You’ve been here for days, still haven’t learnt a dime.” He closes the slot back at once.“Please don’t leave. I only wanted to know when I’ll be going back to generally

Three weeks had passed since Bradley Turner’s death made the news. The Jordans were already moving on with gala appearances and holiday parties. Even Evelyn’s engagement rumors was swirling in society pages which some sympathetic inmates managed to smuggle into Rikers.But Bradley knew better than to believe that silence meant safety. He felt it coming before the system even warned him.A tension in the dorm that evening created by conversations cutting off when he walked by and glances exchanged too quickly. The three attackers from the second night had been transferred out quietly, but new faces had arrived in the block over the past days. Hard men who seem quiet but their prison ink spoke of serious affiliations.During evening count, the system pinged softly in his mind.[Threat Level Elevated. Multiple hostiles detected. Estimated attack window: Tonight, post-lights out.]Bradley kept his face neutral as they were dismissed back to bunks. He sat on his mattress, rolling his shoul

Days passed by very fast with strict routine at Rikers Island which couldn't by bent by any means.The morning count was every 5:30 a.m. followed by the slop for breakfast and then yard time if the weather allowed, showers under lukewarm water that cut off too soon, endless hours in the dorm with nothing but concrete walls and the low hum of male voices. Bradley moved through it all with deliberate calm, his body was becoming stronger now and his senses sharper. The system had turned him into something new, someone patient, watchful and lethal when needed.The assassination attempts had stopped since other inmates were now scared of attacking him, but there were other means to silent a man without the use of brute force.Word had spread through the block like wildfire: the “dead man” who couldn’t be killed. Six professional hitters down in two nights, and he’d walked away without a scratch. Inmates gave him space and nods of respect in the chow line, some even offer extra dessert fro

The Jordan estate glowed like a jewel against the snowy night, every window lit warmly as if in celebration. Inside the drawing room, a fire crackled in the marble hearth, casting dancing shadows across antique furniture and oil paintings of long-dead ancestors. The air smelled of pine from the massive Christmas tree in the corner and the faint, expensive notes of Victoria’s favorite Chanel perfume.Three crystal flutes stood on the silver tray, champagne bubbling gently. Victoria lifted hers first, the diamonds on her wrist catching the firelight.“To the end of an unfortunate chapter,” she said, her voice smooth as silk.Leo clinked his glass against hers eagerly, wincing only slightly from the movement, his ribs still tender, but the sling was mostly for show now. “About damn time. I thought the bastard had nine lives.”Evelyn stood a step behind them, near the window overlooking the snow-covered gardens. She held her flute but hadn’t drunk yet. Her reflection stared back from the