Page 100 of Caged In

Love those two.

“I have someone who’s been in my business. Says I owe him money. I don’t care for it. If you would be so nice as to ask Sinn'ous to deal with him, I would be much obliged.” Vince doesn’t mince his words. Straight to the point as soon as they are out of hearing range. “I know you have sway with him.”

What came out of Vince’s mouth is not what Izz had been expecting. Or prepared for. Standing in front of the feminine inmate, he waits for his mind to catch up. To fully grasp what he’d just been asked.

“You want me to ask Sin tokillsomeone for you . . .” He’s so caught off guard he accidently uses the pet name he’s given Sinn'ous, in a sentence with a stranger—not sure Sin will appreciate it.

“Yes, Sweetness,” Vince purrs, placing a hand on Izz’s chest, he’s too stunned to react to the contact. “I can owe you a favour . . . Anything you wish . . .”

Vince is really offering—

For a—

What?

“Ahhh.” What is he supposed to say in this situation? His mind is blanking. He’s doubtful he can remember his own name at this point.

What . . .

“I—ah, need to—I have somewhere I need to be . . .” Where? They’re literally locked in the same cage with the same schedules. No one has anywhere they need to be right now.

“Alright Sweetness. Come find me later.”

Ha, yeah. That’s not happening.

Izz watches numbly, filled with confusion, as Vince swaggers his hips off. Deliberately swaying his ass for Izz to gape at.

The only reason he’s watching Vince walk off is because his mind isn’t connecting with his body to tell him to move. He’s glued in place, going nowhere fast.

“Seriously, did that conversation just take place?” Izz whispers into the wind. No one else is around to hear or answer him, and the wind doesn’t seem interested in answering either.

~~~

Izz’s in a weird mindset for the rest of the day. He ran through his laundry duties on autopilot. He barely remembers any conversation he had with Zidie or the rest of The Gang.

He’s unsure if he’s weirded out by the conversation with Vince or worried about what Sin will do if he finds out.

He decides to skip dinner and wait in the Satanic cell for Sin to return from the cafeteria. He perches on the edge of the thickly cushioned bunk. His thoughts are too erratic to consider eating. He’s way too anxious to try, he may throw up if he does.

“You didn’t show up to eat,” Sin’s voice demands answers without the need to ask.

Does Sin already know? Or is this a greeting to be polite and enquire why he isn’t eating?

Is he reading more into it? And freaking himself out, when Sin doesn’t know anything . . .

Should he breeze over the implied demand or pretend he hasn’t noticed it? Which will be worse? Feigning ignorance or telling the truth. If Sin doesn’t know, he could get away with the lie. But if Sin does know, will the serial killer be angry enough to hurt him?

No, Sin will never hurt me.

Be honest. Lies never stay hidden anyway. It will be worse if Sin finds out from someone else.

“I . . . Um. I have something to tell you . . .”

Where did all the air go?

Sin is a dangerous statue filling the cell’s entrance. Unmoving, save for each deep breath.

Is Sin tense? Sin is tense, isn’t he? He must already know.

---