Page 28 of The Rat

“You cheated.”

“You fellfor it.”

He got to hisfeet and went tojoin Einstein and Damon on their table.

“Bastard.” Roryhissed underhis breath.

****

Despite begging and pleadingCaptain to change his mind, he refused to see thepsychiatrist.Rory agreed to meet Captain in the gym, but needed to gethis painkillers from the doctor first. Captain shifted foot to footand postured his chest to all the curious inmatesaround.

“Be quick.”

“I will be.”

Less than five minutes later,with the bitter pills still making their way down Rory’sthroat, hefound himself in the corridor with Pauly. He spied the guard at theend, but she was distracted, chatting to an inmate, one of Pauly’sfriends.

“How youfeeling,sweetheart?”

“Worse now.” Rorymuttered.

“That’s not verynice.”

He pressed his hand onRory’sbadside, making him whimper, and knocked his head back to thewall.

“That idiot thinks he can watch you all thetime, but throw a damsel in distress in his way, and he’sdistracted.”

“What?”

“Right now he’s helping oneof my buddies in the gym.” Pauly pouted. “Twisted ankle, or pulledhamstring, I can’t remember…”

Pauly ran his fingersup Rory’s neck, intohis hair. “So soft…”

“Take your hand away.”

“It’s not hurting, isit?”

“I don’t likeit.”

Pauly dug his nails in, and Roryshuddered. “Look at that, I think you do like it.”

“Get off me.”

Pauly leaned closer. “No.”

“Allow me…”

One second Pauly had his nose practicallyresting on Rory’s and the next he was gone, wind whooshing pastRory’s face. He blinked and looked at the two inmates next to him.He was expecting Captain, but gawped when it was Sebastian with asnarl on his face. Sebastian had Pauly pinned one handed againstthe wall. His right hand, his killing hand, tightened, then relaxedaround Pauly’s neck.

“Don’t,” Rory said, grabbing hisarm.

“Don’t what?”

“You’re out of here in less than ninemonths, don’t mess it up.”

Sebastian’s snarl lessened, then he smirked.“Relax, I’m not gonna kill him. I’m just gonna give him a friendlywarning.”

“Oh, go right aheadthen.”

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