Protection has a price.

Damien approaches the Latino gang during yard time, Bobby holding onto his pocket like a lifeline and his eyes darting back and forth as they came closer.

The head Latino gang member (as far as Damien knew) sat sitting, a big Hispanic with wide shoulders , short hair and a strong, body. He wasn’t as big as Damien, but not many were. He did have some well developed muscles that he liked to show off though.

“I’ve come to ask for protection.”

“Fuck off. Charlie will be coming for you. We won’t protect you from Charlie. You’re dead goomba.”

“How about a warning for when he’s coming then?”

“Hah! That I’ll give for free! As soon as he gets transferred to C block, you’re fucking dead. He’s already making the moves. Guards won’t save you either, they’re helping him.”

“So why haven’t you or the other gangs come at me?”

“Because you’re Charlie’s. He wants to stick you.”

Damien stood silently. Bobby fidgeted next to him.

“I didn’t know that the Latinos bent over for a gringo.”

Bobby’s head snapped up. Fuck!! He was going to get them killed!

The gang leader stood. “We don’t bend over for nobody. But Charlie doesn’t require we bend over. Just that we obey.”

“To-mate-o, to-mah-toe”

The big gang member stood and rushed Damien, who turned, pivoted, and dropped him on his ass. The man had been tripped by Damien’s shin and then pushed down hard onto the concrete.

“Who’s the real leader here?”

A slightly older, lighter skinned Hispanic stood. This man seemed ice to the last guy’s fire.

“How’d you know he wasn’t the leader?”

“No control. And the man there,” Damien pointed you a thin hispanic with a droopy mustache, “kept looking at you as he spoke.”

“Clever. But useless. He was right, we can’t help you.”

“I just want to know when he’s in C block. Night before, day of. Just need a heads up. You can do this without betraying whatever it is holding you loyal.”

“And what would we get for this bit of information?

“Free use of my bitch here by you and your lieutenants. He’s got a tight hole and talented mouth. Trained both myself so he’s clean.”

“All of my men. It’s hard to keep morale up in prison.”

“All of your men after I am warned. They can start fucking him as soon as the warning is given but only in my cell right before lights out. I can’t let anyone damage my property.”

“We can fuck him when you’re dead.”

“Naw, you know he will be transferred to another block as soon as his cell mate is found deceased. That’s protocol.”

“You seem to know a lot about the prison system here for a fish.”

“I’m a quick study.”

“We have a deal on one condition.”

“And that is?”

“Until the warning is given, me and my lieutenants can continue to fuck him every day.”

“One a day, same time period and location - my cell.”

“Deal.. I’ll be around later.”

“He will be ready.”