A Pound of Flesh (A Pound of Flesh #1)(24)

She sat wide-eyed with a hand on her chest. She wanted Ward to receive the message loud and clear. She knew the officer hadn’t been reprimanded, despite his behavior having been caught on the security cameras in her classroom.

“I see,” Ward murmured. “Well, of course we don’t tolerate violence against any inmate. I will look into it.”

“Good.”

With her family’s connections, Kat had big friends in very high political places. It would only take one phone call for them to be all over Ward’s ass. He cleared his throat and pursed his lips.

“If I agree to this,” he offered with disdain and a dismissive wave of his hand, “what makes you think Carter will even go for it? He’s known to be a stubborn pain in the ass, as you well know.”

Kat smiled at that. “I’m sure if you let me talk to him about it and make him see that I’m only trying to help, he may see past his pride and accept it. If not”—she shrugged—“I’ll forget the idea.”

“And this is done on your own time. No payment,” Ward reinforced with a finger pointed at Kat.

“Absolutely,” she agreed, wanting to rip his finger from its socket. “And I’ll give you a schedule so you can arrange the guard. Preferably not the one who assaulted my student,” she added.

“Fine.”

“Great.” Kat smiled with a clap of her palms onto her thighs. “I’m meeting with Jack at two. Can I have access to Carter? I’d like this cleared up before I leave for the weekend.”

Ward huffed and folded his arms. “Have them radio me down and I’ll see he gets to you.”

“Thanks, Mr. Ward,” she said with a saccharine smile before she left, closing the door very quietly behind her.

*

Later that afternoon, Jack Parker listened with rapt attention to the pretty redhead as she relayed her proposal to him in detail. He’d been exceedingly intrigued when he’d gotten a call requesting a meet with Miss Katherine Lane. His first thought was that she wanted to log a complaint against Wes and his behavior—and he wouldn’t have blamed her—so he was shocked as hell when she told him she wanted to help with Wes’s parole application.

Whether Wes would go for it was another matter altogether. His temper was always getting him into shit that Jack had to get him out of, and the incident with the desk was no exception. Wes’s being banned from lessons was a huge blow to his parole application, so Jack was all for hugging Miss Lane to death when she offered to help.

“I have to say I’m amazed Ward went for this.” Jack smiled, sipping from his coffee cup.

Kat laughed. “Well, let’s just say I know how the game is played.”

Jack’s grin widened. It was about time Ward was put in his place. “Is that so?”

Kat smirked behind her cup and said no more.

The door to the bland, airless room opened and a resigned-looking Carter appeared, followed by two guards and a severely pissed-looking Ward.

“Hi, Wes,” Jack offered, standing.

“Hey,” he muttered before his eyes swept to the woman at his side. “Miss Lane,” he offered without inflection.

She sighed. “Carter, would you please take a seat?”

*

Carter observed her defensive stance. She looked f*cking good, he had to admit. He was sure she did it on purpose just to torment him. He slammed down in his seat and smiled at Jack while wiggling his fingers in a give-me-what-I-want gesture. Jack pulled out a box of cigarettes and some matches and threw them on the table. Carter pulled one out, placed it to his lips, lit it, and sucked in the smoke with a slow hiss.