Page 9 of The Rat

“Way to piss on myparade,”Ollie mumbled.

“Thought we could go to thegym after breakfast, start training you up.”

Rory nodded. “Sounds good.”

“And you’re looking good,sweetheart!”

Rory dropped his gaze tothetable andignored Pauly’s taunt.

“Don’t pretend you can’thear me…”.

Captainbreathedharshly through his nose, then turned around. “He can hear you, andhe’s not interested.”

“How does he know he’s notinterested? He’s not given me a chance, hear me out…”

Rory looked up. “What do youwant?”

“You.”

“No, thanks.”

“Your body, in exchangefor myprotection.”

“He doesn’t need yourprotection.” Captain mumbled.

“You’re a big guy, but youcan’t watch your girls all the time…”

Captain snorted. “Mygirls?”

“Yeah, let metake one offyour hands, he’ll be safe, and all he’s got to do is get down onhis knees once a day.”

“Not gonna happen.” Rorymumbled.

“If you know what’s goodfor you, it will.”

Rory spotted Teddy comingtowards them. He held a tray of breakfast in eachhand andplaced one on the table in front of Ollie. Rory widened his eyes athis porridge serving, a mountain in comparison to his, and alsosomething on top that looked like brown sugar.

“You—you didn’t have to dothat.”

He grinned, but Teddy didn’treturnit, hegrunted instead. Rory looked at the tray Teddy held and could seewhere he’d sacrificed half of his own porridge. He remembered whatSebastian had told him. Teddy felt responsible, he gotattached.

Teddy moved towards his emptytable and atehis breakfast while staring at one of the many gates. He looked atthe bars like they were his enemy, not the justice system or theguards dotted about, but the metal bars of restraint.

“You don’t think he’s doneanything to the porridge, do you?

Rory frowned.“Likewhat?”

“I dunno. It looks like sugar, but what ifit’s not.”

Captain reached across the table with hisspoon and tried some.

“It’s sugar.”

The whole prison went deadlysilent, and Rory darted looks around for the source. Their tablehadattractedeveryone’s attention, even Sebastian’s who looked over withamusement clear to see on his face.

Rory heard growling, it soundedlike a revving engine, getting louder and louder. Teddy was makingthe sound, and his furious expression wastargeting Captain. He remembered whatelse Sebastian had said—Teddy got protective over hiscellmates.

“Guess I shouldn’t have triedyour sugar,”Captain muttered.

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