Page 60 of Sin Like the Devil

He nods in understanding. “I will be.”

Before Rae can continue fishing for information, a harsh voice barks, startling us all.

“Silence!”

The guard, Kieran, is one of Elon’s scowling sycophants. He pierces the three of us with a glare until we’re forced to shut up. I catch Noah’s gaze, and he shakes his head, warning me off talking back to this wanker.

“What crawled up your ass and forgot to die?” I snap, disregarding Noah.

Several nearby patients sneak us nervous looks, waiting to see Kieran’s reaction. It’s clear that even the guards are on edge this morning.

“You want to say that again?” Kieran returns, hands on his hips.

“Why? Are you deaf as well as stupid now?”

Laughing under her breath, Rae catches his attention next. His lips curl in a derisive sneer as he takes a step closer to her. She can’t stop laughing at him.

“That’s insubordination, inmate. Let’s go.”

“Go where?” Rae giggles.

“A night in solitary ought to shut you up.”

The colour drains from her face as her laughter dies off. Rae hasn’t experienced that delight yet, and I have no doubt a night in a cell with nothing but her own mind for company will truly end her.

“She’s just laughing,” I defend.

“Enough,” he snaps at me. “You were told to be silent!”

“You’re threatening my friend.”

“Then she should’ve kept her goddamn mouth shut, shouldn’t she?”

Seeing the visceral terror on Rae’s face is the final straw. Regardless of the awful things I’ve enabled her to do to herself, I still care about her. I’ll take this dick’s wrath before letting her suffer.

“You can’t talk to us like that,” I chide. “We still have rights.”

“Not that I noticed,” Kieran sneers.

Consequences or not, I want to beat the shit-eating smile off this bastard’s face. Whatever happened last night has nothing to do with us. He can take his bad attitude elsewhere.

“You all need to learn who is in charge around here!” he rages loudly, his voice causing several patients to startle. “Disrespect will not be tolerated.”

“I’m s-sorry.” Rae is now trembling, her eyes filling with tears. “Please don’t make me go to the hole.”

“I don’t give a shit, inmate. You’re coming with me.”

“No!”

“Enough! You’re out of here!”

When Kieran reaches out to restrain her, I leap into action and step in front of Rae. She ducks behind my shoulder, her cheeks stained with tears.

“Leave her alone. She’s done nothing wrong.”

“You both wanna go down there instead?” His spit flies angrily.

“Gladly!” I shout back. “If it’ll mean I don’t have to look at your ugly mug for a second longer.”

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