“I fucked up,” I said curtly, not bothering to lie. “And now I need to unfuck it.”
“I know what you should do,” Mendoza said with mock excitement. “Why don’t you just tell him how you feel?”
After he threw my advice back in my face, he left me alone with my thoughts, which was even worse than talking to him. I was wallowing in self-pity until dinner, putting it on hold whenSkull Crusher decided to visit me. It happened just as I was debating with myself whether I should eat the meatloaf after I found a worm in it.
“Hey there, cutie,” Crusher said, stopping by my table with a grin and a boner. “Did you miss me?”
“Not really,” I replied, taking a sip of water.
“Where’s your scarred pal with a death wish?” Crusher said, scowling. “I have something nice and sharp waiting for him. After I’m done with him, I’m coming for you, but it won’t be a knife you’ll be taking, but something bigger.”
He sneered before leaving, just as I was considering shoving my spork into his eye. It wouldn’t kill him, but maybe it would maim him or at least disable him from locating me or my ass. After I returned to the empty cell, I spent the night sitting on the bunk and counting the minutes. It was probably the longest night of my life, but I deserved every agonizing second of it.
When they finally brought Adam back, it was dawn, at least judging by the piece of the sky I could see through the bars. I swiftly stood up, not knowing whether to feel relieved or worried. Adam looked tired above everything else, which meant he hadn’t slept at all. He had several days’ worth of scruff, reminding me that neither of us had shaved since we came here. His gaze wouldn’t meet mine as the guards uncuffed him, and after they left, he headed to the sink to wash his face.
“I’m sorry,” I squeaked, because my throat wouldn’t cooperate. “I’m so fucking sorry.”
“It’s fine,” he said, drying his face with a towel.
“It was dumb what I did. If I could take it back, I would. You have no idea how sorry I am, Adam.”
“As I said, it’s fine.”
“Why did you take the fall for me?” I asked him, exasperated by his flat tone. “I deserved the hole, not you.”
This time, he remained silent, adding another nail in my coffin.
“How was it down there?” I asked him the stupidest question in the world.
“It was certainly an experience,” he said dryly, finally bothering to look at me. “Are you all right?”
I let out a sigh of frustration. “I’m fine.”
His gaze slid down my body in a way that could be described only as proprietary… as ludicrous as it sounded.
“Did something happen? Did someone hurt you?”
“No. I talked to Mendoza, though. I think he meant it when he said he would help us with Santiago.”
“So, Biancchi came?”
“Yeah.”
“Did you see Crusher?”
I ducked my head as my cheeks turned warm. “Briefly. During dinner.”
Adam’s eyes flashed in anger. “Don’t tell me that asshole dared to try something.”
“No, but you should watch your back. He is on a warpath.”
“Yeah, well, he can go fuck himself.”
When the blue gaze found mine, and an awkward silence ensued, I swallowed with difficulty.
“Um, I…” I paused, hesitating. “I have been meaning to ask you something. Last night was a bit of a blur, and—”
“I’m tired, Jordan,” Adam interrupted me. “We still have an hour or two before breakfast, and I would like to spend it sleeping, if that’s alright with you.”
