Page 77 of Blood We Steal

“Commissary.”

“And you’re offering to share it with me?” She looked at me through narrowed eyes, her face strangely even more beautiful with the harshness of her expression.

“Yes,” I said.

“And what’s it gonna cost?”

“A conversation,” I said.

She stared at me for a moment longer and then smiled, her eyes radiant. She laughed. “I’ll talk for free, but I’m not gonna turn it down.” She stood and started to walk.

I fell in step beside her, and then she looked over at me. “Where are we going?”

I chuckled. “You stood up. I was just following.”

“Yeah. Well, we can go to my cell, have some girl time,” she said.

I smiled, but was almost taken aback. I hadn’t seen this side of her, but then again, when would have been the opportunity? We made it to her cell, which was drab and depressing.

As if she’d caught me looking, she said, “Yeah, haven’t had much chance to decorate, but we make the best of what we have.”

“I always have,” I said. She gestured toward the bunk bolted to the wall, and I plopped down.

“You have a sister?” she asked.

“No, you?”

“Five. But I’m the baby…was the baby. Am the baby.” She frowned. “I don’t know. I keep telling myself I’ll get back home, and they’ll be there and chew my ass out for scaring them. But I don’t know…” She trailed off, her expression taking on a heaviness that I understood.

“Nobody does,” I whispered.

“Yeah, well, anyway. I say all that to say I am absolutely terrible at hair. Can’t do it. But if you detangle, I can make a French braid.”

I nodded and smiled, and we got started.

We washed, detangled, conditioned, and finished. “That actually is a really nice French braid,” I said a bit later.

“I agree. Not so bad, even if I do say so myself.” She smiled, and I wondered if her face hurt like mine did. I wasn’t sure I’d ever had a better girl’s day out, which probably said more about me than anything, but I wouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth.

“Thanks for this, Veronica.”

“Thank you. You found the goods,” she said, tapping the bottle with the purple plastic comb.

“You know it’s not what I’m talking about,” I said.

She chuckled. “Yeah, whatever.” She went serious for a moment and then met my eye. “Can I ask you a question?”

“Yeah,” I said.

“What’s with you and Marku?”

“I…” I said.

Veronica wore a deadpan face and blinked at me. I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“I mean, nothing. I used to work for him.”

“You also testified against him.”