A/N: Hey all. Yet another Turn for the Worst, as the chapter is named. Hope you enjoy this chapter and the next and so on. I plan to update weekly now and I have the last eight or nine chapters in mind now so hopefully things will sale a lot more smoothly. Shadow Vampiress: XD The shrimp has been informed and he wishes to give you a run for your money on that threat, but you're right. Why would he do any less? This is Ian. He's only out for himself. Ashley: Trouble? You just wait to see what I've got in store. –evil giggle- grEMLin eVil: Thanks man, for I am the Mistress of Cliffies. XCrAzYxGuRx: Thanks. I was going for something more original. You always see the same types of stories out there these days and it's so hard to find decent ones. And even though, I'm not a Rei/Mariah fan, I actually don't mind Mariah. She's not one of my favourite characters, but she's alright. Plus, it was just to add to the twist. She won't be showing up any time soon. Kit-Kat Caitlin: His problems have only just begun.

Chapter Twenty-Six

She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Already that brilliant white that her face was distributing had turned a major pink as well. Of all the people. Of all the God damn people. Why did it have to be him?

"Well Rei, you're quite a dog, aren't you?" Ian's twisted smile widened.

"It's…it's not what you think," Rei came to stand.

He was still slightly shaken at what the prison officer had done. Had she thought he was talking about her? It couldn't have been. They were just friends.

"Oh…shit!" Salima placed a hand over her face. "Stupid. I'm so stupid."

"Well, I could have told you that one," Ian said.

"Oh, shut up!" Salima barked, coming to a stand also.

"I don't think you should shouting at me, Miss," Ian smirked. "I've done nothing wrong."

She gulped. Technically, he was right. She had made a advance on a prisoner and not only was that not in her job description, but it was against the rules as well. She looked to Rei shamefacedly and then turned back to Ian, who was beaming at her relentlessly. Neither her, nor Rei knew what to say and the room felt like it was closing in on her. She had to get out.

"I'm…sorry," Salima murmured in Rei's direction and then brushed passed Ian and disappeared out the door.

Rei had been about to go after her, but Ian stepped in his way and closed the door. Not only that, but what would be the point? If anybody else found out, she'd surely loose her job and even though, he was not attracted to her in anyway, he wouldn't want that to happen. He didn't hate her for it, but Ian was a different story.

The Russian chuckled.

"So what is it?" He said. "Do you swing both ways?"

Rei gritted his teeth.

"Why don't you get lost?"

"No can do, Rei," Came the response. "I've just witnessed something interesting and I have to make it worth my while."

Rei sighed.

"I should have known,"

"But enlighten me," Ian began pacing around the room in a very menacing manner. "How long have you been stringing her along?"

"I have not been stringing her along," Rei retorted. "She came on to me."

Ian laughed.

"Yeah, I bet she did,"

"This isn't a joke, Ian,"

"Not as much as you are,"

"What are you talking about?"

"Oh I heard, alright," He nodded. "About that woman you're supposed to marry outside this place."

"You were eavesdropping?"

"I prefer to call it 'causal listening'"

"Then you should also, know that I don't plan on marrying her,"

"It makes no difference to me, but I know that Kai won't be pleased to hear about that one,"

Rei swallowed. His face too had suddenly turned white.

"You wouldn't"

"I would," Ian stared wickedly. "But…I'm willing to negotiate."

Rei sat himself down on his bed again. Why was it all crumbling now? He remembered that argument well. The first time Lee had gone off the rails and laid into him. But he didn't want to loose Kai. The man that made him feel amazing. He was supposed to see him later on that day as well.

"What do you want?" The Chinaman heaved another sigh.

"It's simple really," That grin appeared again. "I just need an errand boy. Kevin's disappeared and I plan on continuing our business."

"No way!"

"Okay then, but if you're planning on seeing Kai later, it'd be best to avoid him,"

Rei looked up and met Ian's daring gaze. For a moment, there was silence until Rei broke it off and brought his eyes to his shoes.

"Fine!" He said reluctantly.

"I knew you'd see things my way," Ian ruffled around in his shirt and produced a small plastic container.

He tossed it on the bed next to Rei.

"Get this to Moses on the twos," Was the order. "And I'll be back later."

He didn't watch the Russian leave. Only heard the door reopen and close back, but truth be told, he was trapped in his thoughts. His stomach was doing cartwheels. So much had happened in this short space of time. Salima had jumped on him out of the blue and now Ian stood between the safety of his relationship with Kai as well as his perfect record. Who knew what he was capable of? Rei could be doing jobs for him for years and he could grass on him anyway to the officers and Kai. Ian couldn't be trusted. So he'd have to find a way out of it and soon.

-

There was a skip in his step as he left Rei's cell. Ian was back in business and this time without Kevin's help. He reckoned his partner would have been proud because he sure was proud of himself. Rei was a fool, but he'd have to thank the Chinaman for helping him out. If it weren't for the skeletons in his closet, Ian would have had nothing to go on and the business was have been shot down and buried.

He was still fairly astounded at the prison officer nonetheless. She'd been a weed to begin with and then she had developed a backbone all of a sudden. Perhaps screwing Rei had given her that new confidence, if she was screwing Rei, but again, it made no difference to him. Inmates prided themselves on gossip. It was low and sad, but then they were criminals. According to the world and those middle class snobs like Jurgen, you could get no lower than that.

He jumped down the metal steps two at a time and jumped down the last three when he reached the bottom. Already, the halls were chock full of inmates, who were standing around chatting and waiting for the cafeteria to open. He saw Tyson and Max together with Jermaine, in the heat of discussion. Their togetherness was sickening to him. Tyson clung onto Max like a second skin. Before, the ex-celebrity had some dignity, but ever since he had gotten back with the blond, it had flown out the window. Ian would never understand the foundation of a relationship and he didn't plan on getting into one anytime soon.

He then saw Kai appear from his dorm room looking especially remote as he often did so. He smiled at him as he walked passed, but Kai remained as his face was and said nothing.

Part of him wanted to annoy the stoic character with the news of his boyfriend, but he would not. It would be bad for business after all, but he just had to tell someone. He felt it was his greatest hour. Narrowing his eyes, he scanned the hall and soon, noticed the recognizable flow of lavender hair that could only belong to one person. So he weaved his way through the crowd and soon came face to face with Bryan, who was stood in front of his dorm room with a bored look screened across his face. When he saw Ian coming he rolled his eyes.

"What do you want?" He said flatly.

"I've just saved my business and I've come to celebrate,"

"Well, can you celebrate it with someone else?"

Ian cocked his head to the side.

"What's the matter Bryan? Trouble in paradise?"

Bryan's lavender eyes narrowed viciously.

"Mind your own business," His fist clenched at his side.

"Well Tala's as much a friend of mine as he is yours,"

"Back off!"

"An argument perhaps?" Ian couldn't resist saying.

When Bryan lunged forwards to grab him, he took several steps back and bumped into someone who snapped at him. Naturally, he returned the gesture.

"Why don't you go annoy someone else?" Bryan said. "You're good at that."

"But you're way too easy," Ian chuckled.

Bryan looked as if he was about to throw a punch, but restrained himself.

"Then I won't give you the satisfaction,"

He leant himself off the wall and proceeded to brush past the younger Russian.

"What if I was to say that Rei wasn't such a good guy after all?"

Bryan stopped and shot the other a sceptical look.

"I'm serious," Ian continued. "I just caught Rei in the act…with Yamaki."

The lavender eyes softened slightly.

"Go on!"

"Yeah and not only that, but apparently he's betrothed to some girl from his home town,"

Bryan smirked. He'd adopted the look that Ian often got when an idea was formulating in his mind. He loathed Rei with a passion, almost as much as he loathed Kai and how his ex-friend was carrying on. It would certainly be something to mess with their relationship just as Kai had managed to mess with Tala's head.

"You can't tell him!" Ian immediately piped up.

"Why not?"

"Because it would ruin the business,"

"I never cared for it,"

"Come on, Bryan," He sooner wished he hadn't told him now. "Who says it wouldn't do worse to Tala than good."

Bryan's thoughts circled again. If he told Tala, then it could stir up all sorts and he'd sooner prefer Tala to forget about Kai, then continually go after their former partner in the heat of fury. Nonetheless, it was priceless news and the outcome could prove interesting. But Tala was more important to Bryan. Always had been.

"Fine," He said and turned on his heel into the moving crowd.

Ian followed as they headed towards the now open cafeteria.

"Where's Tala anyway?"

"He decided to miss breakfast this morning," Came the reply.

In actual face, the dorm door had been left ajar in the midst of their conversation. Though the noise of the corridors had been fairly loud, the character behind the door, which had decided to wake after all, had heard everything.

TBC