“You asked for a word, and I gave you one. No.”

Sebastian chuckled. He got to his feet, his full menacing height, and stood over Rory.

“What did you say?”

“I’m not doing that. I’m not bringing that stuff in here.”

“A drug dealer with a conscience.”

“Something like that.”

Sebastian ran his tongue along his bottom lip and frowned. “Let me get this straight. You’re turning down my protection.”

Ollie kicked him under the table. “No, he’s not.”

“Stay out of this Ollie.” Captain growled.

“You do know what Pauly will do to you, right? You think that blade in your side hurt, wait till he rams it up your as—”

“Hey!” Captain shouted, getting to his feet. “Enough.”

Sebastian held up his hands. “Calm down. I’m not threatening, only stating facts. It’s your choice.”

He turned around, then walked away.

“What the hell, Rory?” Ollie hissed. “You’ve got eight years in here.”

“So, he’d give me nine months protection, then what?”

A growl rumbled in Teddy’s throat, not angry, more of a considering mumble.

“Exactly,” Rory said, pointing to him. “I’m not going to be bullied to bring drugs in here.”

“You sure you were stabbed in the side?” Ollie asked.

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“Only I’m starting to think it went through your thick skull and cut out part of your brain.”

Ollie grabbed his tray and moved to a vacant table. Teddy snorted, then went to join him.

“He’s worried about you.” Captain muttered.

“I know he is. I’m worried about me.”

“No going into dark cupboards or cells alone, understand?”

“Trust me, I won’t go making that mistake again. You’re not gonna bitch at me for turning down Sebastian’s offer?”

Captain grinned. “Nope, you are your own man, own your choices, like I do.”

****

Rory spent most of the day sitting in Captain’s eyeline. He sat outside in the yard and watched football. He sat in the gym and watched Captain teaching Ollie moves. He sat by the pool table and listened to the clink of the balls knocking together.

When roll call arrived, Rory felt exhausted. He trudged after Captain and peeked a look inside his cell. Single bed kept military tidy. He had boots at the end of the bed, the ones he’d come in with, but he never wore them in the wing, he wore his prison grade sneakers.

“Come on.”

He startled at Sebastian’s voice, then continued along the walkway to the last cell. He waited on the bunk bed while Sebastian got ready for bed. “Your balls shriveled up again?”

“There’s not enough room for both of us.”

“There’s plenty of room. Why are you scared of me?” He gestured to his naked self and Rory looked away.

“I’m not.”

Sebastian squinted. “Is it because I’m a killer?”