Page 74 of Birdy

I went from negative twenty, stressing out about this damn sweep and that fucking phone, to one hundred and fifty in milliseconds, every drop of blood in my veins boiling over, shifting the main focus of my entire mood.

Rodriguez, Delfino, and Birks all remain silent, their eyes snapping from me to Jordan and back again as Jordan shrugs and shakes his head, holding his hands up like they’re not trying to imply something. “I’m just saying, man. Ryker told the Warden he only started doing this shit a few weeks ago. Timeline adds up to when you came in the picture, and I mean, you’re B Block, he’s D Block. See where I’m going with this?”

Wow.

So because I’m the new guy, it’s okay to assume I’m involved? What about them or the rest of the guys on our squad?

“For one, I’ve never personally spoken to Ryker a day in my life. Two, why would he enlist the new guy, who he doesn’t know, to help him? And three, who the hell do you think I am? I’m not dirty, I don’t ride dirty, and if I knew there was shit coming in, I would’ve been the first one to speak up,” I counter, thankful as all fuck that my tone comes out calm and cool when I’m feeling anything but.

Both Mack and Jordan eye me for a moment longer as if they’re analyzing not only my response but my entire demeanor. Even under their scrutiny, I stand my ground and lift my chin surely. They can examine me all they want; I’m not going down for this bullshit.

But you might go down for that phone if they find it,that little voice chimes, and while, yes, that could very well be a possibility, Benni swore to me she wouldn’t give me up if she got caught with it. I’d like to believe she’d keep her word, especially after what’s happened between us.

My lack of a reaction prompts Mack to circle his gaze around the table. “I doubt I need to say this, but I expect every cell turned inside out. Check every nook, every cranny—someonehasto have something on them. Delfino, you and Birk tear up the bathroom. That’s where Jordan found that one baggy the last time. Check for possible loose tiles in the showers, under the toilets in the stalls…everywhere.”

Everyone nods—except me. I just stand there, staring at Mack with the nastiest taste in my mouth. He gave me bad vibes from day one, more still when I caught him mildly harassing Benni for hugging her bunkie, and now? Well, now, he’s really on my shit list. Let me catch some more shady-ass shit going down around here. I’m gonna question him about it faster than he can blink and see how he likes it.

That is if they don’t nail me for the phone or being involved with Benni first.

?Down in Flames - Ella Vos

That sick feelingroiling in the pit of my stomach? It’s still there over a week later, hasn’t subsided even one bit. In fact, it’s only gotten worse, leaving me paranoid and uneasy all hours of the day and night. Neither Andrés nor I have gotten any indication that we’ve been found out, but I’m terrified it’s coming, terrified they’re finally going to come for me now that the entire prison is buzzing about Ryker’s investigation, and they’ll magically know I let a guard dick me down. It doesn’t help that just two days ago, Kori was randomly escorted out of yard time, and she never came back.

Didn’t come back to the block either.

I’ve been onextrahigh-alert since wondering if they threw her in Seg or perhaps moved her to a different cellblock. Snitches usually ask for a swap when they rat someone out…

“Estas pálida,”Mari comments beside me, jolting me in place.

I hadn’t even realized I was caught up in my head.

“Lunch,” I tell her simply. “Shit is not sitting well with me today.”

Mari gives me this face—the one that says she doesn’t believe me or a single word that just came out of my mouth.“No te hagas la comemierda.” Don’t play stupid.“What’s wrong?”

Folding the shirt in my hands, I set it on top of its matching pants and hitch a shoulder. “I’m worried.”

She sighs knowingly and goes about grabbing another uniform set, tucking it into its appropriately numbered bag. “Me too.”

I can’t help but cringe at her reply. She was another one who warned me not to get involved in this shitshow with Koko, and I did it anyway.I should’ve fucking listened to them.“Lena says not to, that Koko has no evidence, but you know how these girls are. What if there’s something I don’t know about?”

“I doubt it. I mean, what could she possibly have that would point them to you? Can’t say I blame you for thinking that way, though, especially when she hasn’t come back.”

“So help me, God, Mari...if she rats me out, I’ll kill her,” I grit, snatching another pair of pants off the table.

“No, you will not because that’s considered murder, and then, you’ll really never get the fuck out of here,” she argues, bouncing my shoulders through a semi-amused chuckle.

“I don’t mean literally. You know that’s not my style. She’ll regret her whole life, though, I can promise you that.”

“Again, no. I let you do this stupid shit when you first got here because you’re a big girl and who the fuck am I to stop you? Butifshe opened her mouth and you end up paying the price along with her, I’m not going to let you fuck shit up for yourself anymore.La dejas quieta y ya.” You leave her alone, and that’s that.

Not in this lifetime,I think to myself. There’s no way I’m going to lose everything and let that little bitch—

“Ladies,” Delfino’s voice erupts from the doorway, snapping our attention his way. “Leave everything where it is and line up.”

What?

My eyes flick to the clock on the wall. It’s only two in the afternoon. “But we’re not done yet. We still have a couple more hours before—”

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