Birdy (Upper Echelon Duet Book 1)

heard you. I’m just trying to figure out why you think selling to Franca is a bad move. Do you not realize that’s more money coming in?”
It could be all the money in the world, but those Southside bitches can’t be trusted. “You must want more time, huh? Those hoes will do whatever it takes to bring us all down and ensure we don’t get to walk free. I don’t care how cool you think Bellini is… At the end of the day, she’s D Block, and she’s not your fuckin’ homie. She’ll turn on you as fast as the rest of them,” I remind her because, clearly, she needs a damn reminder of how things work around here.
“So what do you propose I do then? Kinda too late now. I already told Franca I had more shit coming in next week.”
“Like I said…” I drop another tile. “Sounds like a personal problem to me. Just make sure you figure it out, Koko, and make sure you figure it out real good, ‘cause if Mack comes for me again, I’m coming for you.”
Her sudden outburst takes me by complete surprise. Tossing all her tiles to the middle of the table—which ruins the fucking game—she shoots up from the bench, fists curled at her sides. “Are you fucking serious right now? I haven’t done shit to you!”
Oh no, not at all.
I’m the one with the mass drug charge in B Block, meaning any substance found in here is automatically assumed as mine, hence Mack’s adamant commentary this morning.
I don’t get to respond, though. CO Rodriguez is out of the guard box before I can so much as blink. He doesn’t rush her, but he’s got his sights set on her defensive form from the door, hands clasping his belt. “Better cool it, Kovitz, before you get yourself sent for lights out early.”
“Yeah, better cool it, Kovitz,” I parrot, resting my chin in my palm as Quinn flips over all the tiles to reshuffle. “Or you might find yourself missing a few teeth before bedtime. I am not the one; you should know that by now.”
Kori squares her shoulders and lifts her chin assertively. “I am not af—”
“I’d take her word for it if I was you, Koko.” Selena’s voice comes out of nowhere. Ten seconds later, she’s dropping into the other empty space beside me, steadily eyeing Kori. “Check yourself before you wreck yourself, blanquita.” White girl.
She and Koko have never gotten on too well. In fact, when I told her I was letting Kori bring different shit in from her connect on the outside, she was quick to voice how she didn’t think it was a good idea. And yeah, maybe it wasn’t my best idea, but here’s the thing: old habits die hard, and where there’s a possible profit involved, I’m there. The girl has potential, too, and with her history, she’s got the exact hustle we need to make more than a few bucks.
Besides, it’s not like there aren’t consequences she’s fully aware of.
“Last time I checked, this conversation was between Birdy and me, Lena, so why don’t you go back the way you came and mind your damn business.”
Lena chuckles quietly, scoffing a little laugh through her nose. “I don’t know? Maybe because I don’t feel like it? Contrary to what you seem to be thinking right now, this,” she motions around the table, “has to do with all of us. You weren’t the only one who got swept, and if I’m remembering correctly, your turnout was a hell of a lot easier than ours. So why don’t you settle the fuck down, have a seat, and listen to what B has to say before you end up in medical.”
Silence.
Well, as silent as it can be with other conversations still going on around us. Koko’s stare bounces around the table, mostly between Selena and me. Gia makes a few comments under her breath, tucking a wayward dark strand behind her ear, and Quinn snickers, as do a few of the other girls not too far away. The tension continues to rise, especially as more and more eyes fall on us. Rodriguez is still watching, and I’m more than positive the other guards are, too, from behind the one-way glass.
“Sit the fuck down, Koko,” I grit through my teeth. “You’re drawing unnecessary attention over here for no reason other than you don’t like being called out. They’re gonna start putting two and two together in about three minutes, and then I’ll really be fucked. So unless you’re looking to lose those teeth… Sit. The. Fuck. Down.”
“She might as well let you even that grill out. Shit’s a hot mess in there. Then again, that’s what happens when you like the hard shit,” Selena quips amusedly.
Kori’s reaction is instantaneous. Her cheeks heat in what I can only assume is a combination of rage and embarrassment. Next thing I know, she’s flying at the table, whacking her entire arm across the domino tiles. “Man, fuck you! All of you!”
More than half of the pieces clatter onto the gray silica floor as she whirls around to take her leave, but Quinn’s too quick, taking her by surprise. What’s funny is she’s often underestimated as the quiet chick.
Quinn’s not quiet; she’s selective.
With lithe movements, Quinn flies from her seat and fists the back of Kori’s uniform, yanking her backward with such force, her head smacks against the floor upon landing.
And I mean smacks. 
That shit echoes, painfully so, dotting my skin with ice-cold goose bumps as the other inmates jump onto their feet and authoritative hollers from the guards erupt.
“Holy fuck, she’s out!”
“Is she dead?”
“Damn, Dennings, you didn’t even have to lay a finger, girl!”
That’s just a few of the comments that meet my ears as Rodriguez skids to a stop and hurriedly drops to his haunches beside Koko, pressing two fingers to her neck. “She’s alive. We need to get her to medical, though. She’s definitely going to have a concussion,” he