“If any of you act out,” Prescott says, “you will be left like this in the staff break room for the day. The men will be free to do with you as they please. Is that understood?”
“Yes, sir,” we say again. Many of the women sniff before or after they speak, and all around I see wet cheeks and drooping heads.
“Good. The rest of you, back to work.” Prescott gives the three of us one last look, then turns to go, followed by Byron.
I shoot Jacqueline and Amber a look, trying not to let the ache in my knees bother me so quickly. Jacqueline stares straight ahead, her expression empty. Amber looks down at the table, trembling.
This can’t be allowed to happen. This has to stop now. If only I had some idea how.
Chapter 27
They leave Amber, Jacqueline and I bound to the tables until the end of the day. After the guards bring the rest of the women back to their cells, Byron releases Amber and takes her with him.
“You go on,” Edwin says to Reed. He pats Jacqueline’s ass with a grin on his face. “The Bitch and I need some private time.”
“No, not tonight. She goes with the others,” Reed orders.
Jacqueline looks up in surprise but doesn’t say anything.
“Dude, are you fucking cock blocking me?” asks Edwin.
Reed takes a deep breath and shakes his head. “It’s protocol, residents have to get some rest.”
“Don’t give me that protocol bullshit,” Edwin snarls, his nostrils flaring. “What about you and Quinn? You’ve been tapping that every night.”
“That’s my job,” Reed shoots back. “Yours is doing what I tell you. Now go.”
Edwin glowers for a beat, but then complies, taking Jacqueline away. She looks back at us, as confused as I’ve ever seen her. Reed watches them go until he’s satisfied they’re headed for the cell block.
“Why’d you do that?” I ask as he takes my arm and starts us walking.
“I don’t know.”
I think I do. “You felt it was wrong for him to abuse her, didn’t you?”
He picks up his pace, forcing me to walk faster. “She doesn’t usually mind. The bitch knows how to get what she wants in return.”
“That doesn’t make it right,” I argue.
“I didn’t say it does. But what I told Edwin is true: she needs to rest, and so do you. Now let’s go.”
He’s right about that — I am exhausted.
Though I normally don’t get much rest when he takes me to the private room we’ve been using, at least I get relief and some privacy. Today, however, Reed sets me down on the bed, unties me and leaves me there. He drags a recliner close to the bed so he can sit near me and massage my back. His hands feel incredible, working my muscles and loosening me up. I could let him do this to me all night, but whether I like it or not, we have to have a talk.
“Reed, this has to stop.”
His hands freeze on my back. “What are you talking about?”
“Edwin and… the bitch. Byron and Amber. You know what goes on between them is wrong. And now there’s Prescott’s expansion to the prison. Do you really think all the women who come from that will be killers?”
Reed sighs. “Quinn, I’ve been thinking about that. You once asked if I enjoy torturing women more if you think they deserve it.”
I nod. “Yeah?”
“I said yes at the time, but it’s not true. I enjoy torturing you, but I know you don’t reallydeserveit. I’m a sadist — women’s pain makes my dick hard. Saying I liked it because the women here are killers was just rationalizing my actions.”
Finally.