approached. “Look, I’m sorry if we started off on the wrong foot or whatever. I don’t plan on being in here for long, but while I am, I could use some friends.”
“That’s not really how things work around here, pumpkin.” Hayden lowered his book and scooted to the edge of the mattress so he could sit up without hitting his head on the top bunk.
“No? Enlighten me then. And my name’s Azara; why do you keep calling me pumpkin?”
He smirked. “The second question is easier than the first.” He ticked his head at my jumpsuit.
I glanced down at the abrasive, rigid orange material and heat blossomed along my cheeks. Because I look like a big orange pumpkin.
He chuckled, and I was surprised at the soft sound coming from such a big guy. “Don’t worry, you’ll get a new one in your survival kit soon.”
“My what?” From the corner of my eye, I noticed Talon hadn’t even batted an eye at our conversation. Rude.
“It’s the supplies you get when you first arrive—the bare necessities: a garbage bag containing a sheet, blanket, pillowcase, a jumpsuit, two pairs of socks, two underwear, two t-shirts, and a Ziploc bag with one bar of soap and a mini toothpaste.”
I gasped. “No deodorant?” I could’ve sworn a faint chuckle slipped from Talon’s clenched jaw but when I glanced up at the top bunk his body was turned away from me, his head facing the wall.
“You can buy that, as well as other semi-useful stuff at the commissary. And if you’ve got a good allowance you can even smuggle—”
“Hayden!” Talon hissed, rolling over. “She’s not one of us, so don’t go spilling our secrets to a pretty face.”
I pierced the insufferable man with my steeliest glare. “Who pissed in your Kool-Aid?”
Hayden let out a roaring belly laugh and drummed his palms across the underside of the top bunk. Talon hopped down with a snarl at his buddy.
“Don’t mind my cellie, he’s pretty ornery before his first cup of brown swill they call coffee at the mess hall.”
“Cellie?”
“Yeah, you know, cell mate, bunkie?”
Right… My stomach growled at the reminder that I hadn’t eaten anything in nearly twenty-four hours. Or at least I didn’t think I had. Everything was still pretty foggy after leaving the Nether Lands. “So when do we get breakfast?” I glanced at my wrist and realized my watch was gone. As were the earrings and necklace I’d been wearing. I wondered if I’d ever get them back.
“Breakfast, if you can call it that, starts at seven but we eat in three shifts.”
“And we’re on the last one today,” Talon interjected.
From the corner of my eye, his dark hulking form practically melted into the wall. For the first time, I noticed his scrubs were a slate gray as opposed to Hayden’s khaki. I added it to the growing list of questions I already had. Hayden seemed kind of helpful, but I didn’t want to push my luck. I needed my most important questions answered first. I dropped back onto my bed and waved at the big blonde. “You never answered my first question.”
“What do I look like the welcoming committee?” Hayden’s words came out harshly, but a faint smile pulled at his lips.
“At least you’re talking to me.” I hitched my thumb at Talon who still hugged the wall behind me. “He won’t even look at me.”
A dark blur sped across the periphery, and a pair of frosty silver irises blotted out my vision. I crab-crawled backward until I hit the end of the bed and the hard wall. Talon mirrored my every move until he loomed over me, his massive body blotting out the rest of the room and his corded arms trapping me against the mattress.
“What the hell?” I squealed.
He inched closer, his mouth a hairsbreadth from mine. “Let’s get something straight, inmate, we’re not friends. We will never be friends. It’s taking all of my restraint not to choke the life out of you, so you’re lucky I’m not looking at you.”
A chill surged up my spine, but I stiffened my upper lip and refused to flinch. “Get off me, you ass.” I planted my palms on his firm chest and shoved. But he didn’t budge.
“Come on, T. It’s not polite to play with your food.” Hayden grinned as he hauled his stupid cellie off me.
I jumped up and straightened out my hideous orange jumpsuit. Pulling my shoulders back, I attempted to look as intimidating as possible which was tough when staring up