Page 55 of Blood We Steal

Kane laughed, and I smiled, turned, and he followed. And as one, we both went silent.

“You want to share the joke?” Rubin said.

He was talking to me, but he was looking at Kane.

I’d seen that flat look before when Rubin was calculating who would die and how much it would hurt. My stomach dropped.

Kane shook his head. “Nothing to share.” And then walked out of the cafeteria.

Rubin approached and grabbed his own tray. “Did I give you permission to leave?” he said.

I counted to ten, then counted to ten again.

“Rubin, we discussed this. There’s no reason to get permission to go⁠—”

He was looking at the spot Kane had vacated but the intensity of his focus was centered on me.

“Did I give you permission?”

“Did I need it?” I snapped.

He stared at me, studying me like he had Kane, and I regretted the question.

TWENTY-SIX

Rubin

“Don’t play games with me, Simone,” I said through clenched teeth, and then forced my jaw loose.

“I’m not playing a game, Rubin. I’m asking a question.”

When she’d been with that guard chatting over childhood stories like old friends or new lovers, her smile had been easy, warm, given like it was deserved.

It was gone now.

“Get up, Simone.”

She did and didn’t even stiffen when I took her elbow and walked her out, down the hall, into the warden’s office. She let me lead her the whole way and watched my face with an expression that gave me nothing. I hated it with all my being. When she was like this, there was no anger to push back at me, no softness to fall into. I was just alone. I was used to that. Being krye meant as much. But with Simone, it was intolerable.

I left her there and went back to deliver a message that should have been understood. The guard was where I’d left him, and all conversation died when I stopped in front of him.

He had the good sense to stand.

“Don’t talk to her. Don’t look at her. She doesn’t exist to you, or you won’t exist at all.”

He nodded curtly, and I half wondered if he wanted to salute. And even though his motions were smooth when he sat back down, his hand was unsteady as he hefted the meager remnants of his meal into his mouth.

So not so steel-nerved, after all. I huffed. Even Simone was braver than him.

Aaron, who’d drifted closer to me, cleared his throat. I held the guard’s gaze and then finally looked toward him.

He smiled and scrubbed a palm over his head. He was at least twenty years older than me, and had once looked much younger and had a spirit to match. In a lot of ways, it was that youthfulness that had brought him into my orbit. He’d hung out at the clubs, moved product, and returned my money. He’d known everyone. He’d had a use.

Now he was redundant, worth far less than the precious calories that fueled his body. Simone looked at him like he was the most important person on earth.

He blew out a breath. “Simone’s useful, Rubin. She won’t give you any trouble. Will do whatever you need.”

My jaw ticked as I stared at him, both surprised and pissed at how forward he was being. “I don’t need her for anything, Aaron. Go play your cards and don’t ever speak to me of Simone.”