“She’s a liability," Layla says, her voice dropping to the dangerous edge I know so well. “Every minute she’s in our block is a minute Dimitry spends thinking of new ways to make us sweat. Literally.”
My vision swims for a second, a mix of the heat, probable-concussion and a sudden, violent urge to defend the girl I just put in a cage. "Careful, Layla. My ribs might be broken, but my temper is just fine.”
“She’s not wrong, though, Boss,” Danny, the fucking douche, snarks. “Let her settle her own debt.”
I look up at the ceiling, staring at the maze of rusted pipes. I need a political solution. Not everything can be settled with fists.
“Tell Dimitry he can have her for service until Heinz and Gleb are out of the infirmary. But under one condition, a Digger goes with her to monitor the situation.”
“A monitor?” Jensen asks. “You’re wasting one of our guys to watch that girl shine Dimitry’s shoes?”
“I’m making sure the Guild doesn’t ‘accidentally’ forget the no-touching rule and spark a riot,” I snap. “I’m not sending out an asset without eyes on it. Jensen, you’re on point. Send two from your incinerator crew for her every shift. They’re the meanest bastards we have. If anyone plays games with her, they shut it down. Immediately.”
He grunts, not happy about the extra work. “Fine. But if she causes a scene, my boys won’t be gentle about dragging her back.”
“Just keep their hands off her skin,” I mutter. “And she’ll keep her teeth off their dicks. Probably.”
I stand up slowly. It hurts like a bitch. “Anything else for today?”
“Yeah, there was another new fish,” Dot says, leaning back. “He’s been in the Hole since intake this morning. Word is he’s fully human, but he took out four guards and bit the ear off a Peacekeeper before he even got through the gates. Do we claim him?”
I’ve got enough problems without worrying about a stray lunatic in solitary. “Leave him to the Warden. If he survives, we’ll see if he’s Digger material. Until then, he’s on his own.”
“Speaking of new Diggers, some of us have been talking,” Jensen says. “We just can’t take on any more. There are no more cots, no space. New fish will have to fight for a spot and kick someone out, or they don’t get in. No more free passes.”
The table nods in unison.
“Fine,” I say. “Membership is capped. Starting now.”
“No exceptions,” Layla growls. “None.”
“Agreed. Now get out.” I raise a finger. “Not you, Clay.”
The room clears. Layla gives me one last distrustful look before heading into the corridor, ushering Imran out before her.
Then I’m left alone with my second.
I slump back into the metal chair and let out a groan.
“You look like shit, Tally,” Clay says. He’s one of two people here I’d call a friend.
“I’ve felt better. Heinz has a fist like a sledgehammer.” I rub my hand over my face, my jaw hot and throbbing in time with my pulse. “Pretty sure he cracked a tooth.”
“You need anything?” Clay asks, his voice dropping. “A smoke? A girl? A time machine to go back and not save that Elite chick?”
I let out a dry laugh. “None of the above. But I’m going to tell you why I’m keeping that Drakeward brat alive. Her brother… he’s the one who helped pull those Ashgrave kids out of the Conclave.”
Clay’s entire posture changes. “What? The ones they were trafficking?”
“Yeah. He got some of them back.”
Thank Gods.
The Conclave is like all the other powerful secret societies throughout history. They think they’re above the law.
And they probably are.
I shake my head then continue. “Word is the Conclave was using them for experiments before selling them off like cattle. Drakeward is working with the Unbound rebellion to find the ones still missing.”
