Page 56 of The Rat

“Were you close to yourdad?”

Rory picked at thesheet and didn’tlook Sebastian in the eye. “Yeah. When people find out my mum died,they assume my childhood was terrible, but my dad made sure itwasn’t.”

“He was a goodman?”

“A good man, and a greatdad.”

“How’d he die?”

“Cancer, there wasn’t anythingthe doctorscould’ve done.”

“I’m sorry.”

Rory sighed. “It’s not yourfault.”

“Is thatwhy you lost your way?”

“What?”

“After your dad passed, isthat when you started with the drugs, dealing?”

Rory felt the stinging in hiseyes, and quickly slapped his handsback over his face.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” hemurmured.

Sebastian tried to pry hishands away,but Rory didn’t let him.

“He’d be ashamed ofme.”

“I’m sure that’s nottrue.”

“I’m an idiot, and a liar,and I’ve made a mess out of this.”

“Out of what?”

Rory shook his head. “My life.”

“We’re all in here because we’vemessed up, but most of ushaven’t messed up our whole lives. You’ve goteight years, and then you can think of a way of turning it around,making your dad proud.”

He wanted that more thananything. His dadwould want Rory to do the right thing, he’d want him tohelp bring Sebastian down before he could hurt anyone. Despite hisheart and mind being tugged in all different directions, he knewwhat he had to do, he just hated the thought of doingit.

“And you’ve got your uncle, hevisits like clockwork. Some of the guys in here have no one.”

“Sebastian…can I ask yousomething?”

“Anything.”

Rory removed his hands from his face.“That phone…”

Sebastian checked behindhimself, thencame closer. “What about it?”

“Could I useit?”

Sebastian exhaled through his nose,and grimaced.

“Please.” Rory whispered.

“Okay… can’t stand you sounding so sad.”He bent down, tugged up his pants, and retrieved the phone from hissock. “Don’t worry, they’re a clean pair.”

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