“Listen to me, Nadine.”I waited until she met my gaze with hers.“Don’t test Grayson.If you see something, go to Roberts or me, but don’t confront him in any way.Don’t go digging.Leave all that to me.”
“I know there are different cliques and groups inside.I know that you sometimes police each other depending on the infraction.But you just got here.Are you sure this is something you can handle on your own?”
I grinned at her.“Are you worried about me, Miss Brentner?”I had to resist the urge to move closer to her.This wasn’t the place or the time.And even though I’d worked in her area the last few months, if I got too close to her physically the guards wouldn’t hesitate to take me out.Not because they’d be protecting Nadine, though that’s the report they’d give.No.They’d kill me because they had an excuse and a very reasonable expectation they’d get away with it.
“Of course!I don’t want you hurt.In case you hadn’t noticed, not all of the guards are as helpful and humane as Roberts.”
“Don’t kid yourself, honey.Roberts is as vicious as everyone else.He simply has a decent moral compass and will do what he’s paid to do, and part of that, at the moment, is looking out for my interests.”
“What?”Nadine’s eyes were wide and she looked more than a little confused, but she’d heard what I said and understood it.She just didn’t want to believe what she was hearing.
“It’s not important.You just need to know he’s as dangerous as any of the guards here, but if you find yourself in a situation and Roberts is near, you stick to him like glue.Understand?”
“No.But I’ll remember what you said.I’ve never seen Roberts be intentionally cruel.More than once, he had just cause to shoot an inmate and managed to talk his way out of it.”
“You have no business working here, Nadine.Go work in a hospital OR.Or a nursing home.Or anywhere there is at least a chance of a good buffer between you and everyone else.You’re too trusting.Roberts has a reason for everything he does.He’s not overly aggressive, but you’re deluding yourself if you don’t think Roberts could kill for even half a reason if he thought it would benefit him.”
She gasped, taking a small step back.“That’s a hell of a thing to say about someone.”
“And when you knew me, I’d never have said it.But you need to hear it because this place will chew you up and spit you out if you’re not careful.”
“I’ve worked here for a couple of years now.I know I’m not going to make a career out of this, but the money is good for now.When I get to where I hate coming to work, I’ll find something else.”
“The problem with that plan is you won’t see it coming until it’s too late.”I kept my voice low, gentle even, but I needed her to understand.“You won’t wake up one morning and decide you hate this place.One day, something’s gonna happen that changes you forever, and by then the damage will be done.”
“You just told me this place changes people.You’ve been in the system a while now.How do I know you’re not trying to scare me away for your own reasons?”
“That’s not what I’m talking about, and you know it.”I kept my voice low, but I could feel the intensity bleeding through.“I’m talking about your physical safety.Not your job satisfaction.”
She crossed her arms, and I could see that stubborn streak I remembered from years ago.“I can take care of myself, Pain.”I thought she was using my road name to remind herself I was a different person and not the man she’d known before.
“Can you?”I stepped closer, just barely within the acceptable distance.“Because from where I’m standing, you’re walking around here like you’re still in some suburban hospital where the worst thing that happens is someone gets snippy about their Jell-O.”
Her gray eyes flashed.“Don’t patronize me, Dr.Raven.I know exactly where I am.”
“Do you?Because Grayson isn’t just some asshole guard with an attitude problem.He’s dangerous, Nadine.Really fuckin’ dangerous.The kind of dangerous that ends lives.And you…” I ran a hand through my hair, frustrated as hell.“You still look at people like you expect them to be good.”
“And what’s wrong with that?”
“Nothing.Everything.Fuck, I don’t know.”I glanced around the infirmary, making sure we weren’t drawing attention.“Look, just promise me you’ll stay as far away from Grayson as you can.Roberts and Johnson are supposed to be making sure he’s never in your area unless one of them is with him, but accidents happen.So keep your head on a swivel, girl.”I bit out the words, harsh and demanding.I hated the fear on her face.It wasn’t like I was going to let anything happen to her.The second I suspected Nadine might possibly be in danger, Knuckles added to the guards he had on me to do whatever I needed.Which I promptly put on Nadine.
“I’ll be careful.Some of the guards have started walking the women to their cars.”
“As long as you always go with either Roberts or Johnson.Understand?”
She cocked her head, her brows drawing in confusion.“Why are you telling me all this?Why do you care?”
How to fucking answer that?“I don’t know, Nadine.Maybe it’s because you’re a link to my former life, or maybe it’s just your innate goodness that draws me in.Whatever makes me care is too strong to ignore.”
I really wasn’t sure she was going to say anything else, but finally, she nodded her head.“OK.I’ll do what you asked me.Roberts or Johnson, and I will not look into Grayson.I’ll bring any concerns with him to you.”
I couldn’t help but beam at her.“That’s my good girl.”
“Don’t push it, Pain.”She pointed a finger at me, but I saw her lips twitch as she fought a smile.
“It’s what I do best, sweetheart.”
Chapter Four
