Page 135 of Fragments

“It’ll be okay, baby,” I shush him, rocking his trembling body while keeping his face in my neck so he doesn’t have to see them carrying Dash away.

No surprise that Velle instructs Brenner and Peters to bring Dash to the East. Still, it sinks my heart like a fucking stone in the sea.

“Fuck, man…” Kang rasps, dropping his face into his hands and rubbing his eyes hard.

Velle storms off, shouting at everyone on his way out, “Alright, fuckers. Show’s over. Eat your food and shut the fuck up.”

The rest of the inmates go back to their regularly scheduled programming, though the room is much quieter than before, a cloud of gloom covering us all.

“Hey, maybe he’ll be okay,” Kang says hopefully, like he’s trying to convince himself. “Maybe he’ll just cool down a little and they’ll let him come back…”

I nod, but even that movement is a lie. After an outburst like that, there’s no way Dash will be coming back to gen-pop.

Kieran used to pull shit like that, and look at him now.

Lex straightens a little, though he’s still leaning into my side. I know he needs tough right now… Even if it’s just friendly consolation. So I keep my arm around his waist, drawing circles on his hip with my thumb.

“That wasn’t what he wanted.” Lex shakes his head, scraping a palm over his face. “It wasn’t supposed to go down like that.”

“What do you mean?” Kang asks.

Lex looks around, biting his lip as if he’s contemplating telling us something. But then he leans in, and Kang does the same from across the table.

“Last night, Dash told me he’s trying to escape,” he whispers. Kang and I share a look. “I guess he had some plan… I don’t know, something about a guard in solitary.” He shakes his head. “He didn’t give me specifics, all he said was that he’s trying to get out.”

“So that was all an act?” Kang looks baffled.

“No,” Lex hums. “He was only supposed to go tosolitary, not the East. That was definitely… unscripted.”

“Goddamn, man,” I breathe, my head spinning through his words. “This is Toby all over again…” Lex swallows visibly. “You really think he has some connection to a guard downstairs? I mean… who would it even be?”

I can’t help the curiosity overshadowing my thoughts. Dash has some kind of connection, that’s for sure. You don’t just inherit all the fancy shit he has out of nowhere…

Nor do you getMy Officertattooed on your wrists unless you have an officer worth doing it for.

“Honestly…” Lex stares at the table, blinking. “I doubt it.”

There’s more he isn’t saying, but again, I don’t want to pry right now. I just want to make him feel better. He needs a distraction.

A few minutes later, I get up to throw away my trash, playing it coy while I inch over to Rook, who’s guarding the doorway with stress lining his features.

“Hey, Harley,” I hum, extending my leg to tap him in the shin with my foot. “Whatcha doin?”

“What do you want, Ren?” He sighs. “In case you haven’t noticed, today’s not the day.”

“Yea, exactly why I’m over here,” I reply. “Dash is our friend. What just happened was pretty fucked up to witness…”

“I can’t get him out of the East,” Rook says definitively.

“Yea, I wouldn’t think so. All I’m concerned with right now is making Lex feel better.” I lean in a little closer. “You weren’t here for it, but his last cellmate also ended up in the East, and well… we never saw him again after that.” I give him a pointed look, and he visibly gulps. “We’re missing O’Malley… now Dash.” I shake my head. “It’s taking a toll. I’m sure you can understand.”

Rook glances behind me, at the table where Lex and Byron are still seated, staring despondently at their food. “Well, what do you expect me to do about it? Like I told you, I have no control over anything…”

I can’t help but notice an anxious air about him that I’m guessing has to do with Velle. Harley’s a good guy. And I’ve had my ups and downs with Velle, but I also know he’s dealing with his own shit. Being The Ivory’s lapdog can’t possibly be fun.

I think Rook and Velle would be cute together. But who knows if it’s even a possibility, given the circumstances of this island…

“All I’m asking is for you to let Lex come into my cell for a little bit.” I give him my most pleading eyes. “He shouldn’t be alone in his right now…”