9. Chapter 9

9

D uring the first week, the hardest part about being inside had been the fear. The fear that he’d get found out, the fear that Pauly would corner him. The fear someone would hurt him. The latter had come true, but he didn’t feel fear anymore. Pauly still shot him interested looks, Sebastian still scared him sometimes, but the fear had gone.

Instead, it was the boredom that drove Rory crazy.

Most of the inmates busied themselves with a job, like laundry, servery, kitchen, and washing. It got the inmates pay to spend in the weekly canteen. Association happened for a total of four hours each day, at breakfast, lunch and two at dinner.

Rory tried to train with Captain after dinner, but after ten minutes, he was out of breath and pain throbbed in his side. Captain patted his shoulder, then went to help Zeke lift weights.

Rory ended up limping back to the wing and collapsing on the same uncomfortable chair he had sat in day after day. He read books, he ate, he talked to Captain and Ollie, and he watched the half-hour allowance of TV, all in the same spine-aching plastic chair.

Then Sebastian would come over with the chessboard, and for whatever time of association they had left, they would play. His boredom vanished, his back stopped aching, and it was all about beating the man in front of him.

Rory hated to admit it, but he enjoyed their matches.

He would sit on the wing, eagerly hoping Sebastian would have time for him, before sagging in disappointment on the days he didn’t.

It was a worrying development.

He shouldn’t have craved attention from Sebastian Claw, but he did.

Ollie slipped into the chair opposite Rory—Captain’s chair.

Rory raised an eyebrow. “And you’re sitting there because?”

“I can see the gate.”

Rory glanced over his shoulder. “There’s nothing going on at the gate.”

“Teddy comes back on the wing today.”

“Has it only been ten days?” Rory groaned.

“What?”

“Feels like months have dragged by.”

“You’ve got to get used to it; you’re here for eight years.”

“Kill me now,” Rory muttered.

“I forgot to tell you; I signed us up for art class.”

“What?”

“Art class.”

“Why the hell did you do that?”

Ollie gestured to Rory slumped in his chair. “You’re always moaning you’re bored; I took the initiative. So, we’re doing art class. It’s once a week, Friday after lunch, unless the prison is in lockdown, which is a strong possibility.”

Pauly paused at their table. “Art class, sweetheart?”

Rory sighed. “So what?”

“I know what to sign up for now, that’s all.”

“Do what you want.”

“That an invitation?”

“Go away,” Ollie hissed.

“I will, but I’ll see you at art class. Maybe you can be the nude model, Rory, but for my eyes only.”

He winked, then carried on to his table and sat down with his group of friends. They’d all started wearing red bandanas, and when Rory asked Sebastian about it, he said not to worry.

Rory spotted Sebastian coming down the stairs. He threw a venomous glare at Pauly and walked straight to Rory and Ollie. He placed the chessboard he’d been holding on the table, then sat on the opposite side of the table to Rory.

“What did he say to you?” Sebastian asked.

“Said he was going to sign up for art class.”

“Art class?”

Ollie nodded. “Yeah, I signed me and Rory up. It’s that or another hour locked in our cells.”

Ollie had a point. Four out of twenty-four hours they were allowed on the wing, but unless you had a prison job or went to one of the classes, the rest of that time, you were locked into your cell.

Sebastian sighed. “I guess I’ll be doing that class too…again.”

“Are you going to tell me what the red bandanas are about yet?” Rory asked.

“He’s getting a gang together.”

“To do what?”

Sebastian grinned, but it was crazed, and Rory leaned away.

“To beat the shit out of me.”

“What?”

“Relax, he’s got seven guys, I’ve got the rest of the prison on my side. It’s all about the majority in here. He starts on me, he’ll lose.”

“It only takes one guy to stab you,” Rory mumbled.

Sebastian gave him a considering look, then tilted his head. “True, but think of the positives—if someone sticks a knife in me, you get the cell all to yourself.”

“That’s not funny.”

“You could even wear my clothes.”

Rory looked at Sebastian’s overly tight T-shirt. His hard nipples poking through. His mouth went dry, and he muttered, “No, thanks.”

“Chess.”

Ollie groaned. “Again?”

Sebastian started setting up the board. “Me and Rory get pleasure from it.”

Rory’s neck prickled at the word pleasure, and he shook his head at the odd reaction.

Ollie looked at Sebastian. “I get why you play it; you’re ancient, but Rory…”

Sebastian slammed the pieces down with more force than necessary, and Ollie shot back in his chair.

“I meant no offense,” he blurted.

Rory gestured to himself, then Sebastian. “To me or him?”

“Him, obviously. I’m getting a drink.”

“You could stay and watch.”

“No thanks, it’s far too intimate.”

Rory couldn’t even deny it. Over the past few days, chess had gone from breaking the boredom to intense and exciting. He’d played with his grandad and his dad, but it felt completely different playing against Sebastian.

There were no words. It was all facial expressions, lingering eye contact and fingertips caressing chess pieces before making a move.

The prison was full of inmates, but when they played, it felt like just the two of them, and Rory relished having Sebastian all to himself.

The way Sebastian stroked his pawns as he anticipated his moves heated the blood in Rory’s veins. When he claimed one of Rory’s pieces and smiled possessively, Rory’s heart started thumping, and when Rory finally won the match, relief rushed through him at the triumph, and it made him light-headed.

It was addictive.

“You go first,” Sebastian murmured.

Rory shivered at his low voice and closed his fingers around the top of a pawn.

“Captain…” Ollie breathed, looking at the gate. Ollie leaned against the wall of his cell, mug in hand, as he awaited Teddy’s return, but it was Captain who came back from his appointment first.

Rory released his chess piece and turned around. He grinned at Captain, but he didn’t get one back.

“He had his appointment today, right?” Sebastian murmured.

“Right.”

The gate slid open, and Captain stepped inside. His chest heaved, and his lip tugged back in a snarl, revealing his teeth.

“What are you all staring at?” he shouted.

Sebastian exhaled slowly. “I don’t think it went well.”

Captain approached the table but didn’t sit down. “Never again.”

“Hey, why don’t you calm it down,” Sebastian tried.

“Don’t tell me to calm down.”

Sebastian flared his nostrils, and he glared at Captain with the same terrifying intensity he’d glared at Rory for the first few days.

“What did you say?”

Rory grabbed Sebastian’s arm, and his biceps pulsed under his fingers.

“Leave it,” he whispered.

“No.”

“ Please .”

Sebastian shifted his jaw side to side, then turned away.

Captain looked at the rest of the prison. He held up a small pot and rattled the contents. “Don’t worry, though, you’ll all get a good night’s sleep from now on. I’ve gone from alcohol to drugs. God bless the prison system.”

He walked towards the stairs and didn’t turn back. Rory tapped his nails on the table, then got to his feet.

“Let him calm down,” Sebastian said. “I’m worried what he might do.”

“He won’t hurt me.”

Sebastian snorted. “You’ve been here less than two months, and someone stabbed you.”

“It wasn’t Captain.”

“Maybe he’s got some hero complex, saved you after he stabbed you.”

“It wasn’t him. I’m certain of it. He wasn’t in the queue. He came onto the wing after I’d been hurt, and he helped me.”

Sebastian muttered something else, but Rory didn’t stay around to listen. He rushed up the two sets of stairs to get to the second floor.

“Captain…”

He pushed the door open and peeked inside. Captain sat on his bed, obsessively scrubbing his military boots. Rory took a hesitant step closer.

“Can I come in?”

“You are in.”

“Further in.”

Captain sighed, then nodded.

“It didn’t go well then?”

“The therapist is some posh guy that was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, and probably one up his arse too.”

“Was he patronizing?”

“No, but he didn’t have a clue. People who haven’t done what I’ve done, seen what I’ve seen, experienced what I’ve experienced, they don’t have a clue. They look at me like I’m this big, brave captain who fought off the evil in this world, but it’s not true. I fought the evil, but I am the evil too.”

“You’re not evil—”

“Don’t, Rory.”

Rory hung his head. “Sorry, you’re right, I don’t understand. Maybe you are evil, but so is everyone sometimes.”

“I can’t imagine you being evil.”

Rory snorted, then mumbled, “Give it a few months, and you might change your mind.”

“Won’t happen.”

“Maybe you’ve done evil things, whatever ‘evil’ means, but you’ve been great to me. You helped me when I was stabbed, and you’ve looked out for Ollie and me. Those weren’t evil acts.”

Captain breathed out of his nose, then shut his eyes.

“I messed up.”

Rory frowned. “Messed up?”

“I got defensive when he asked about my dreams. He picked away at them, and I got mad, shouted at him, and he looked scared. It made me feel good at the time, but now I feel like shit about it.”

“He’s a therapist, I’m sure he’s had people shout at him before.”

“But look at me,” Captain mumbled. “How’d you feel if I got in your face and shouted all my anger at you?”

Captain was without a doubt the biggest man Rory had ever seen. Wide shoulders, masculine jaw, huge muscles, and barely contained rage swirling in his eyes.

“Pretty damn terrified.”

“Exactly. The guy was shaking; I scared him so much. I’m such a bastard.”

“Just make another appointment and say sorry.”

Captain snorted. “No way I’m going back, I’m not going to subject him to that again, but don’t worry, Doctor Pichard has given me some pills to sleep, so hopefully everyone will have a better night, but sorry if tomorrow I’m a walking zombie.”

“Doubt I’ll see a difference.”

Captain laughed and dropped his boots to the floor.

“Hey—”

Rory turned towards Zeke’s voice. Zeke stood in the cell doorway with a small smile on his face. His forehead gleamed with sweat, and his towel was draped over his shoulder.

“Wanna go work out?”

Captain nodded. “Sounds like a plan.” He glanced at Rory. “You don’t mind, do you?”

Rory shook his head. “I’ll see you later.”

Sebastian was waiting outside the cell.

“Were you eavesdropping?” Rory asked.

“Yes, yes I was.”

“Why?”

“I told you; I was worried in case he kicked off.”

“You think you could stop him if he did?” Rory asked.

Sebastian flashed a look at Captain and Zeke going down the stairs. “Probably not, but I could get in the way, take the beating for you.”

“And why would you do that?”

“You’ve got a cute face, and I want it to stay cute.”

“You hated me a few weeks ago, why the change?”

“Maybe I prefer your smile to your wide eyes and wobbling bottom lip,” Sebastian said. When Rory came closer, Sebastian looked down at the wing and asked, “You ready for it?”

“For what?” Rory replied.

Sebastian pointed, then smirked. “The reunion.”

The gate opened, and Teddy stepped inside with his bag of clothes clutched to his chest. He froze, and his eyes fixed to Ollie awkwardly standing in the middle of the wing. As soon as Teddy smiled, Ollie rushed forward and wrapped his arms around him. Teddy froze as Ollie buried his face into the crook of his neck, then Teddy’s arms curled around Ollie’s back, holding him close.

“Aww,” Sebastian said. He pouted his lips and said in a forced voice, “Isn’t that sweet.”

“Hope you’re not expecting me to do that,” Rory muttered.

“No. I want you to drop to your knees and scream your thanks at God.”

Rory laughed, shaking his head, and Sebastian’s gruffer chuckle added to the rumbling.

“You know what I hate…”

“What?” Rory asked.

“I hate that I like the sound of your laugh.”

“That doesn’t make any sense.”

“I’ve only heard it a few times, but I like the sound. I wish you had a cackle or that you snorted like a pig, just something to make me hate it.”

“Why…why do you want to hate it?”

Sebastian shrugged. “It would be easier.”

“What would?”

Rory didn’t think he’d say more and smiled when Ollie glanced their way. Rory gave him a small wave. Ollie was full-on beaming, and Teddy was reluctant to let him go.

“I guess I hate it because I don’t want to miss it when I get out of here.” Sebastian pushed off from the railing. “Speak to you later.”

“Yeah, later.”

Rory lay in bed, rubbing the heels of his hands into his eyes. He couldn’t sleep. No matter how hard he tried to force it, it wasn’t happening. The reason for his insomnia lay underneath him, deadly still, not even a slight whistle or snuffle as he slept.

Rory liked being around Sebastian. He liked the way he looked, and the way he smiled, and the way his protection made Rory feel safe.

But Sebastian Claw was a monster.

He was in prison for murder, but he’d done worse. He’d made deals with terrorists and gangs, sold them despicable weapons to torture and kill. Not to mention he seemed hell-bent on getting revenge on Hamish. Hamish, who had rightly locked Sebastian up for murder.

Rory couldn’t wrap his head around it.

Even though he knew Sebastian’s dark side, he couldn’t hate him.

Somehow, against his better judgement, he’d started to like him.