Gray grinned. “Knew you’d see it my way.” He handed me my lunch bag, along with a cold beer. “Come on. Let’s go sit.”
I followed the brothers into Holden’s office and took one of the visitor’s chairs across from Holden’s desk. Gray sat down beside me, already cracking open his beer.
“So, what’s going on?” Holden asked.
I set my beer on the desk and dug into my sack lunch so I wouldn’t have to make eye contact. “It’s about that guy who was here.”
“Your friend?”
“He’s not my friend,” I said sharply.
Holden looked taken aback.
“Sorry,” I mumbled. “He’s just trouble, is all.”
“Okay,” Gray said. “He’s not your friend. So, what’s his deal?”
I set the sandwich aside and opened the beer. I took a gulp.
“We did time together. You probably guessed that much, Holden. He’s in the Redemption program.”
Holden nodded. “I kind of figured.”
“He wants a job out here, but he’s up to something. He might convince Matteo to place him out at the junkyard. He can be very persuasive. But you need to say no.”
“You don’t think he deserves a second chance?” Gray asked.
I picked up my sandwich, but I’d lost my appetite. I went for another sip of beer instead.
“Matteo thinks he does,” I admitted. “But he doesn’t know Snake like I do.”
“A name like Snake is hardly encouraging,” Holden murmured.
“Prison nickname. A fitting one,” I said.
“Did you have a nickname?” Gray asked.
“Yeah.” I grimaced. “Dozer.”
“Dozer? As in…”
“Bulldozer, because I’m fucking huge.”
“Oh. That tracks.”
I hated that nickname. I became Dozer in prison because it kept people from fucking with me. Mostly, anyway. But out here, I didn’t want to be that guy.
“I prefer Flynn,” I said quietly.
“Of course,” Holden said. “Whatever you prefer.”
“Snake’s real name is Shane,” I said. “That’s what Matteo will call him.”
“You said Matteo didn’t know him like you did?”
“No. He got out of prison before Snake—Shane—transferred to our cellblock. The guy plays games. He’s manipulative. He’s all smiles until he stabs you in the back. He’s working some angle that can’t be good. I don’t know his plans. I don’twantto know. Maybe it makes me a snitch, but it didn’t feel right not saying anything to you guys. If you hire him, he’ll bring trouble with him.”
“Okay,” Gray said. “Thanks for telling us.”
