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“Is there a reason I’m here, Warden?” I ask. I’m trying to sound polite, but just sitting in this office makes my hands tingle with apprehension. The warden smiles again, but this one is forced. Fake. I don’t like it.
“I believe, Ms. Taylor, that you could really grow here.”
I sit back in the chair and fold my arms over my chest, scoffing. “Grow a what, Warden?”
She brushes this off with another tight smile. “What I mean to say, Josephine—”
“It’s Joey.”
“Ms. Taylor, is that with a little bit of help from me, you could do well in this prison.” She folds her hands on top of the desk and leans forward, as though she’s about to tell me a twisted secret. “See, I know you’re in A-Block—”
“Didn’t you put me there?”
“—which means you’re with Veronica Lucas’ crew.”
“Hold it right there.” I place my hands on top of the desk, shaking my head. “I’m not in anybody’s crew, Warden, and I don’t intend to be. I’m no one’s bitch. I’m simply here to survive until I’m out. That’s it.”
The warden leans back in her seat, nodding, but that tight smile is still on her lips, and I really want to slap it off.
“If there’s any block in Ashgate Prison that’s safer than A-Block, I must have missed the memo.”
“Safe?” I repeat. “You think anywhere in this prison issafe?”
Warden Flynn ignores this, folding her arms over her chest with a tiny shrug that’s barely noticeable. “You house with Ms. Lucas, is that correct?”
“You think that because Ronnie is the Boss it automatically makes her safe?” I can’t stop myself from laughing. “Veronica Lucas is probably one of the most dangerous inmates in here, Warden. You can’t possibly be naïve to that.”
Warden Flynn shakes her head. “I agree with you, actually.”
“Great.” I fold my arms again and sigh. “So why am I really here?”
“Because I believe you have the skills and intelligence it takes to bring Veronica Lucas down.”
More silence follows. The warden and I stare at each other, unmoving and unspeaking. Even the clock on the wall ticks more quietly than normal, it seems. Finally, I allow my hands to drop into my lap, and I look away.
“By down, you mean—”
“Out of power. I want her out of power.” Warden Flynn reaches to the left of her hand and straightens the line of fancy pens she has sitting there in a flawless line. I watch her do this, biting my lip until I taste blood on my tongue.
“Why?”
“Because…” Warden Flynn sighs. “I know she’s supplying drugs to the girls. And I can’t stand for it.” She falls quiet and meets my gaze again, and I know she’s waiting for me to confirm the drug cartel Ronnie has happening in this prison.
“Whatever Ronnie does or does not do isn’t any of my business,” I say finally. “Frankly, I couldn’t give a rat’s ass if she’s bringing in drugs or not.”
“If? Or is?” asks the warden quietly. I smirk and meet her gaze.
“If. How should I know what she’s doing?”
“So you’re unable to confirm that it’s Veronica Lucas who’s getting the drugs in.” It’s not a question.
“I confirm nothing, Warden. I’m here to serve my time and get the fuck out of here.”
“I see.” Warden Flynn places her hands once more on the desktop, but the tight-lipped smile is gone, and it’s replaced with an expression of disappointment. Anger, maybe. She knows I’m bullshitting her.
“Is there anything else, Warden?” I ask before she can try to talk me down. After a few seconds she shakes her head and signals for Jaxon through the large window from her office to the corridor. He opens the door and steps in, waiting for me to get up and follow.
“Thank you for the visit, Ms. Taylor,” she says. “It’s always a pleasure to get to know our new inmates.”
