Page 101 of The Rat

“I can give you somepainkillers,something to bring the swelling down. I don’t think anything’sbroken, but if you’re still in a lot of pain in a few days, ask tosee me, and I’ll sort out an x-ray.”

“Thank you.” Rorymurmured.

“I’ll go sortout themedication now.”

Rory looked atthe beds, and thesick or injured inmates that had been assigned to the infirmarywing.

“I heard you in thecorridor.”

Rory frowned, then turnedaround. He didn’t recognize Pauly at first, half of his face was covered bybandages strapping his nose.

“What?”

“Well, technically, I didn’t hear you,someone else did, and then they told me.”

“What the hell are youtalking about?”

“A police officer… tasked withgetting close to Sebastian.”

“No—”

“Yes.”

Rory’s bloodturned to ice and he rubbed hishand over his heart to stop it from freezing over. Pauly smiled,and the bandages on his face rose, squishing his eyes.

“And I’m thinking to myself,Sebastian still doesn’t know, and he only has a week left, whatwill youdoto make sure I keep your secret?”

“What do you want?”

“You broke mynose, and myribs…”

“You wanna break mine inreturn?”

“No, not at first. I don’twant blood getting in the way of us kissing.”

“Kissing?”

Pauly nodded and reached forRory’s face. “Kissing … and the rest.”

“No.”

Pauly tutted. “Then Itell Sebastian, andI don’t think he’ll take it well. The last person who betrayed himgot strangled…”

“I’m not gonna sleep withyou.”

“That’s your decision, andI’ve decided I’m not gonna keep your secret.”

“You won’t have to keep it,” Rorysnapped. “I’mgonna tell him myself.”

Pauly lifted his eyebrows. “Are youcrazy? He’ll kill you.”

“So what if hedoes?”

Pauly backed away. “You’re reallygonna tell him?”

“Yep. I’m sick of beingblackmailed. I’m sick of having no control over any of this.”

“You’ve actually impressed me.”

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