‘What? With all the sickos and the snitches?’

‘There’s no shame in being a snitch.’

‘Maybe not to you, but on my side of the bars there is.’

Bailey had worked undercover long enough to know that criminals regarded snitches as the lowest of the low. Admitting to being one was tantamount to signing your own death warrant.

‘I’m worried about you,’ said Amber.

‘I can handle myself.’

‘Are you sure?’ Amber didn’t look convinced.

Bailey turned her head away to signal that she wasn’t going to reveal anything more.

Amber sighed and stood up. ‘Just remember, I’m around if you need me.’

She headed to the exit of the ward. Just as she got there, the doors swung open and Toni and Keisha swaggered in. Amber stopped and fixed them with a stern stare. They passed slowly by her, defiantly staring back.

Amber glanced back at Bailey with concern. She seemed to know it was them who were responsible. She must have recalled what had happened in the canteen that time she had intervened.

She stood there for a few moments. Bailey gave her a small nod to indicate that she would be fine. She sighed again and shot Bailey one last anxious look and then left the ward.

Toni sat down on one side of her bed. Keisha sat down on the other side.

Bailey swallowed, her body tense. For a moment she wondered if they were going to finish her off, lying here, vulnerable as she was. Toni could easily slide a shank into her right here in the hospital bed.

Toni held her head poised upright, listening for the sound of the outer swing doors to the ward closing, ensuring that Amber was well out of earshot. Then she looked down at Bailey and broke into a wide grin, her gold tooth glinting.

‘Welcome to our little club,’ she said.

Bailey forced a weak smile. A mixture of relief and joy surged through her, momentarily eclipsing the pain. She was in. Her ploy had worked.

‘You took your beating well,’ said Keisha, nodding in admiration. ‘When I saw Muscles lay into you, I thought you were a goner, but it appears you’re tougher than you look.’

Toni’s smile dropped off her face and she went serious again. She leaned into Bailey, gazing deep into her eyes. ‘Just remember what I said though. Blood in. Blood out.’

‘You never told me what “blood out” meant.’ Although she wasn’t sure she really wanted to know right now.

‘It means that, now you’re in, you can’t ever leave. The only way out is by dying, by spilling your blood. So if you want to leave, just let us know and we’ll be more than pleased to help you out on that front.’

Bailey nodded, trying to look like it didn’t bother her. What had she gotten herself into?

‘Sounds pretty straightforward to me.’

Toni scrutinised her thoughtfully. ‘It’s kind of fortuitous that you joined us when you did,’ she said. ‘Seeing as we’re shy of one member.’