Page 13 of The Sharpest Edges

Jaxson only smiles wider, white teeth flashing in his direction, one brow arching up. “Oh, I think I do. But let us assume for a minute that you don’t want the food. That you’re fine living on air sandwiches until you get outta here. That ain’t all we can offer you. The perks, well, they’re too numerous to list. Safety, security, commissary discounts, and plenty of extracurricular activities. Want a cell phone to call up your girl on the outside? We can make that happen. This isn’t available to everyone. Some, well, some are only useful for what they can provide. The resources they offer. But others….others like you, are destined for bigger things. You got balls and I appreciate that. Hard to find in here. Now I know Walt got carried away before, gave ya a nice limp, but that’s in the past. Don’t let it influence your choices.”

“Join you to do what?”

“That’s for the inner circle to know. Are you saying you want to be part of the inner circle?”

Dean’s heard enough already. He dismisses this conversation with a sneer, like he caught wind of a bad smell, and moves to leave again.

Jaxson isn’t so easily deterred, blocking his path with a sidestep. “Not so fast, no need to be rude. I fucking hate it when people are rude.” He lingers, the smile flattening again into something more serious. “The perks are many, but there are consequences for refusing such a generous offer. You think bread and a few nights with the radio is all we got? When I want something, I get it. And I want you.”

He backs up then, waving Dean through and telling him to ponder it a while, prompting snickering laughs from the others clustered behind him.

He wastes no time in going to his cell, huddling in the corner of his bunk and wolfing down the two slices he’s allowed. He’s got several hours until his appointment with Ava later that afternoon. Half of him wishes he wasn’t going at all. He doesn’t want her to see him in even worse condition.

The other half, though, desperately hopes she packed another granola bar and is willing to share.

He can’t go on much longer at this rate and while he has no intention of ever saying yes to Jaxson, he’ll have to confront this situation head on or risk starving to death before he’s set free.

* **

When he sees Ava again, she’s just as pretty as before, as if he had any doubt. The gray top she wears hugs her just right, and those jeans fit perfectly around each curve. For a moment, he forgets how hungry he is for real food and finds himself hungry for something else.

Something Dean has no business thinking about in the first place.

She’d be disgusted if she knew. He’s got zero chance, but that doesn’t stop the tug in his groin from making itself known when she smiles at him, getting close enough to let the scent of lavender shampoo waft in his direction.

Nick is already gone, he barely took the time to mumble out an excuse before he disappeared.

Her smile turns into a frown the moment the door closes.

“You look worse. You still haven’t eaten?” She asks. Her hands are firm on her hips, but her tone is concerned, like half of her is worried about him and the other half wants to hit something.

“Had some bread. It ain’t a big deal.” is what he tells her, even though it’s the exact opposite of what he wants to say.

He wants to lay his problems at her feet and beg for help. For food. For her to tell someone that would make this shit go away, but it’s never that easy. He has a sneaking suspicion that if he does tell a guard things will only get worse instead of better, and outright asking Ava for any sort of help feels wrong even in his own head.

She’s kind enough that he thinks she would agree, but his problems are his alone and she doesn’t need to get roped into them. More than that, she doesn’t need to think for a second that he only enjoys her company because she can offer him something. He’d want to spend time with her regardless ofhow many granola bars she gave or refused him.

It’s then that the smell of food catches his attention. Turkey, or roast beef, or something he can’t put his finger on but it must taste amazing. His nose points him in the direction of a styrofoam container on the counter behind her.

She doesn’t reply to his explanation, only turns away and opens the container, revealing a full Ruben sandwich, coaxing him to lean in closer with how damn good it looks. It takes all his willpower not to tackle it like an animal.

“I brought it for you, just in case this wasn’t resolved yet. Told Nick it was my leftovers from lunch, but I already ate. Go ahead.”

God, he feels bad. Awful. Gutted. Guilty the moment he reaches out and takes half the sandwich and shovels it into his mouth. Not even the taste, as all-encompassing as that is, can make that guilt fade completely.

Ava busies herself with the coffee in her cup until he’s finished and it only takes him a few minutes tops to wolf down the entire thing. It’s the best meal he’s ever tasted in his life.

He’s already thanked her, but the need to explain himself is overwhelming. “I appreciate this. I do, but you didn’t have to. Don’t want you thinking I’m expecting it. I’m not. You don’t have to keep feedin’ me. I keep waiting for Nick to bust in the room and catch us.”

“I know you aren’t expecting it. I wish you’d let me help you. Really help. If you tell me what’s happening I can talk to the guards about it, or the warden. Make sure you get fed like you’re supposed to.”

She seems so convinced that the answer is to tell someone. She has no concept of the fact that it would be a nail in hiscoffin, a target on his back for being a snitch, and an invitation for Jaxson to fuck him over even more. There is no easy way out now that he caught their attention, but her eagerness to do something makes his heart twist. “You can’t help like that. I know that don’t make sense, but…”

“I’ll just make it worse.” She finishes for him, frustration lacing her words and manifesting in a slight pout. “It’s Jaxson, isn’t it?”

Dean looks up with a start, surprised that she knows and afraid that she’ll use that information to do something about it.

“I only know because I’ve seen what he sends to my infirmary. No one else plays games like him. The others have a more basic way to get their point across, but Jaxson takes it to another level. Probably because he’s been here the longest. Over a decade already. That one isn’t playing with a full deck. That group of his is always causing trouble.”

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