Page 225 of Fragments

Kang shifts, glancing at me and Ren for a moment before he inches away from us to stand closer to Trevel. And maybe I’m just being paranoid, but it feels like something is happening…

Like he’s choosing this new, hostile presence over us.

Velle nods at Joy, flicking a quick glance at Dr. Love before stalking over to the corner of the room with Rook and Joy scampering after him. Dr. Love brushes his lips in Felix’s hair then joins them, leaving the rest of us, theprisoners, to fidget in place wondering what the hell they’re doing over there.

“What do you think they’re talking about?” Ren whispers to me.

“I don’t know…” My eyes linger on the group of them, the way they’re huddled in a circle, talking about something that’s clearly important and too confidential to be shared with us. “It’s weird, right?”

Ren grabs Felix and drags him closer to us, peering briefly at Trevel before he whispers, “Do you know anything about this?”

Felix’s lashes flutter, and he shakes his head.

“Is your man pulling the double-cross on The Ivory?” Ren cocks a brow.

Felix stares at us for a moment, then whispers, “I can’t talk about it.”

Ren and I share a look. “Okay, dude, you need to be really careful,” I tell him quietly.

“Especially with this one around.” Ren nods in Trevel’s direction. “Something strange is going on… The Warden’s been too quiet for too long.”

“I’m sure Lem knows what he’s doing…” Felix says, though his forehead lines and I can see that he isn’t entirely confident in his words.

“Just watch your back,” I advise, turning to Ren. “Did you know Kang told Trevel about you guys?” Ren’s gaze narrows. “He’s been fucking talking to him… A lot more than he’s letting on.”

Ren’s jaw ticks, and he spins, stomping up to Kang. He grabs him by the arm and Kang whips around, shooting him an irritated look.

“May I speak with you for a moment, please?” Ren is seething, keeping his tone as calm as possible, but I can see it in his eyes, the blue flames of rage just beneath the surface.

“What is it?” Kang grunts, yanking his arm out of Ren’s grasp.

“Getting awfully chummy with that prick, huh?” Ren snaps on an aggressive whisper.

“We’ve been over this,” Kang grumbles. “It’s none of your fucking concern. You don’t own me. I can talk to whoever I want.”

“Bro, we’re just saying… Are you sure you can trust him?” I wedge in closer, taking on a calmer tactic than Ren’s blunt-force approach.

Kang is visibly wound, muscles in his neck straining, fists balled at his sides. He leans in. “You two are un-fuckin-believable, you know that?”

“What the hell is your problem—” Ren starts barking, but I place a hand on his chest to shut him up.

“Byron… you’re our friend. We’re looking out for you, because that’s what we do for each other.” My eyes lock on his, trying to convey sincerity.

“Oh, really? Is that how it works?” He huffs. “Because it seems more like you only needed me to make each other jealous. It’s the fuckingLuthor and Ren Show, twenty-four-seven, three-sixty-fucking-five. You don’t give a shit about me.”

My heart is hammering in my chest, the pain of his words echoing in my brain as he gets even closer, stepping to Ren.

“You let Parker fuckingdiebecause you were too busy with your own narcissistic bullshit,” he growls. “Where were you, Ren?? Off getting railed somewhere, obsessing about Luthor… “

Ren’s eyes widen, brows zipping in visible pain and remorse as his shoulders slump.

“And you.” Kang aims his wrathful glare at me. “How many cellmates have to disappear before you realize you’re just as bad?! You can play innocent all you want, Luthor, but Iknowyou. You’re just as self-absorbed as he is.”

My bottom lip trembles and I bite it.

“You two are so fucking toxic.Bothof you. Egotistical, obsessive fucking junkies for this sick fucking game you involve us all in.” He huffs an unamused laugh with a bite, shaking his head. “You deserve each other. And now you’ve got what you want. So don’t try to pretend you care about anyone else…Especiallynot me. Because we all know it’s a fucking lie.”

I’m stunned into place, solid and trembling as Kang turns away from us. It feels like he just slammed his fist into my chest and ripped out my beating heart. My throat is so dry I can barely swallow, peering at Ren, watching him gnaw on his lower lip with glistening sadness in his blue eyes.