Knight shot me a rueful smile. “You can take the con out of the prison?—”
I chimed in, “But you can’t take the prison out of the con.”
There were a handful of empty tables, but Tex made a beeline for Hollywood. His real name was Hendrix Wood, but with his leading man charisma, he’d picked up the nickname.
Tex loved to give the youngest guy among us a hard time. Maybe a little too much? Hollywood grumbled but slid over to make room.
Ghost—otherwise known as Elias Mann—took a seat at an empty table. He’d gotten the nickname in prison because he’d been there longer than most guys and was unnervingly quiet. Like a phantom, he just seemed to materialize next to you.
I had a nickname too. Dozer, because I was big as fuck.
Most of the cons in the program called each other by their prison nicknames, even if Matteo didn’t. It was a reminder of where we’d been and where we could end up again if we weren’t careful. But the rest of the time, I did my best to forget Dozer and everything he did and tried to be Flynn.
“All right.” Matteo perched on the edge of a table, facing the rest of us. “I wanted us to get started a little early because I’ve got a new guy coming in today. I’ll need to spend more timethan usual at the meeting going over the basics. So, let’s do our rundown real quick. Elias, how’s the new place working out?”
Ghost dipped his head. “Fine.”
“Is this one a better fit?” Matteo asked. “I know customer service wasn’t ideal for you.”
He shrugged. “It’s a paycheck.”
A man of few words, Ghost. Matteo pulled a few more vague assurances from him, then moved on. Ghost had gotten fired his first day at the hardware store for refusing to answer customers’ questions. Then he’d lasted all of a week at a grocery store. This third job, in a greenhouse with fewer public interactions, seemed the best bet.
Tex grunted agreement that his spot on a construction crew was going okay. Hollywood waxed poetic about his new barbershop gig.
“You would love it,” Knight called. “You get to look in the mirror all day.”
We all laughed, because Hollywood was a tad vain. But hell, the kid was a looker. No one blamed him.
One by one, the guys checked in. Knight was over at the tattoo shop, though he mainly swept up and disinfected equipment. With time, he might get to be an apprentice like Gray’s boyfriend, Emory.
Knight had picked up his nickname because he was always looking to rescue the other guys in the pen. Especially the new, green ones who had a target on their back.
You wouldn’t guess it from looking at him, though. He had bad boy biker vibes and a fondness for leather and tattoos, but he was actually pretty laid-back.
“Flynn, how about you?” Matteo asked. “All good at the auto shop?”
I plucked my toothpick out of my mouth and cleared my throat. “Uh, yeah. It’s busier, what with the county contract.”
Matteo nodded. “You keeping up okay?”
“Doing my best.”
He frowned, forehead creasing. Matteo had a vested interest in the place because he’d worked there first. Also, his fiancée was besties with Emory. I didn’t want to let him down.
“It’s good,” I said hurriedly. “I’m adjusting.”
“Good.” He smiled. “I knew you’d do great there. Guys, Flynn is what this program is all about. He’s a certified mechanic now. Even if things don’t work out at Forrester’s, he’s got skills he can take with him. That’s what I want for all of you.”
Why would he say that?Even if things don’t work out. Had Holden said something to him? Shit. My hands started sweating, and I swiped them on my jeans under the table.
Matteo didn’t notice my reaction. The door to the bowling alley opened, and a short, wiry guy made his way toward us.
I knew that guy’s shape. His movements. Familiarity tingled at the edge of my mind.
Then he stepped out of the gloom, joining us at our little cluster of plastic tables.
Shit. It was Snake.
