I nod in thanks, accepting the glass. “He does, but I’m worried the… recent challenges… have pushed him too far, and he’s letting it affect his decision-making.”
Prescott downs his bourbon in one shot and pours another. “Is this why you came here, Reed? To badmouth one of my closest friends behind his back?”
“It’s not like that-” I blurt.
He smiles mischievously. “Is this a power move, Reed? Are you angling to be the new warden?”
I shake my head, gripping the armrests of my seat. “The way he disposed of… the problem,” I say, checking that the girl on the couch is still sleeping soundly, “gives me pause. That’s all. It sends a message to the entire staff that they could end up like him.”
Prescott swirls his glass, not taking his eyes off me. “Do the other guards share your concern, or is this just you?”
My forehead warms, sweat starting to bead on my skin. “They haven’t said-”
“So this message is whatyouheard after the incident. You’re worriedyoucould end up like Corbin. Why is that, Reed?”
I cross a leg and lean back, trying to appear relaxed. “I think that violence at the prison is going to get worse.”
I expect Prescott to dismiss me, but he nods. “You could be right. More inmates, especially the ones we’ll be taking, means more potential for problems. But Reed, you’ve been handling violent women for years now. I have trouble believing that’s what you’re really worried about. Isn’t this actually about Ms. Harris?”
“What do you mean?” I say. Of course this is about Quinn, but that’s not the direction I want this conversation to go.
Prescott shrugs. “Corbin’s dead because of her. So’s Lance. Then there’s Jonah. She’s the common thread. They all got careless around her, and they paid for it.”
I’d point out that Lance isn’t really dead, but Prescott’s not finished and, for the first time, I’m not sure he cares. He certainly doesn’t care about Corbin.
“If you get your heads out of your asses and keep that bitch under control, you’ll have nothing to worry about. Have you broken her yet?”
My stomach clenches.
Leave me alone!
Her cry plays in my head for the thousandth time, and my chest tingles where she pushed me. Maybe I have broken her, but I didn’t mean to.
“She’s ready,” I answer. “I could do it at any moment.” It’s the truth.
Prescott laughs, shaking his head in disbelief. “She loves you, after everything you’ve done to her?”
“It’s amazing.”
It really fucking is.
“Is there any particular reason not to pull the plug now?” he asks.
Because I can’t.
I don’t know if I could hurt Quinn like that now — maybe if our lives depended on it, but I don’t know how I would live with myself after.
“The longer they’re hooked, the harder they break,” I say, matching his malevolent expression.
“Come on, Reed. Don’t bullshit me. You can just say it.”
A high-pitched tone sounds in my ears, and all I can hear over it is my heart thumping. “Say what?”
He licks his upper lip. “Quinn’s a hot piece, and you don’t want to stop fucking her. It’s okay, I wouldn’t either.”
Oh, thank god.
“Yeah,” I say, feeling my entire body unclench. “I’m gonna miss that ass.”