Page 36 of Cup of Lies

If he starts blasting the whistling music, I think my brain may actually explode this time. I can’t take that shit.

No music.

Someone hocks a loogie and spits. Another person coughs, deep and rattled from years of smoking. Whoever is making these sounds, they’re not from the doctor or his nurse.

Slowly, the events of earlier return. Me and LuLu went to my old home and were about to introduce ourselves to the owners when the motorcycle gang arrived out of nowhere.

“LuLu,” I croak out, voice brittle and dry.

“He’s awake,” a voice states.

Footsteps approach me and then someone rips off my blindfold. A massive man towers over me, gripping the blindfold in his hand. He’s so close, I can smell his cologne. Oddly enough, this biker trash wears the same brand I do. That shit isn’t cheap.

“There a reason why you rolled up to my ex-wife’s house tonight?” the man demands. “Were you planning on taking her like you took that teenage girl?”

I frown and tilt my head to look up at him. The back of my skull throbs with pain from where I’d been hit. “What? No, man. We were just visiting.”

The man snorts. “You visit people you know, you piece of shit, not strangers. You were there to cause harm. Unfortunately for you, she has me on speed dial. You failed, asswipe.”

Confused, all I can do is squint, trying to make out his features. It’s dark aside from what looks like a fire burning from behind him. My clothes are soaked through with sweat, which leads me to believe we’re outside.

“Your interrogation skills need work,” another man states as he comes to stand beside him. It’s the man with the X on his face. His vest says Prez. “Step aside, Copper.”

The other guy—Copper—crosses his beefy arms over his chest. It’s clear he doesn’t like being told what to do, but he relents, stepping back. “Krista doesn’t know him, Koyn. He was up to something shady as fuck.”

“I realize that. I’ll take it from here.”

Despite how roughed up these men look, there’s a sharp intelligence that exudes from both of them.

“Where’s LuLu?” I choke out, tugging at my arms that I’m realizing are bound behind me. I’m sitting in a wooden chair in the middle of God knows where.

“Safe now that she’s away from you,” Koyn assures me. “We have people who will make sure she’s taken care of.”

I don’t believe a fucking word.

These men just assaulted me and then accosted us.

“I want to see her,” I growl, struggling in earnest against my bindings. “Now.”

Koyn snorts. “Awfully demanding for someone who traffics little girls.”

What the fuck?

I glower at him, trying not to let on how confused I am. I’m about to demand even more when I feel a cold, sharp blade against the side of my neck from behind. Lips find my ear and the devil himself tickles a warning into my ear.

“We do terrible things to terrible people. Say goodbye to your pathetic cock.”

“Information first, Dragon,” Koyn says, smirking. This guy is amused by the freak show behind me. “Playtime later.”

If playtime involves the removal of my dick, they can play without me.

“You’re fucking with the wrong guy,” I threaten as fear trickles through my veins. “You have no idea who I am.”

Koyn kneels in front of me so I don’t have to strain to see his face. Behind him, a fire blazes in an old fireplace despite how warm it is. There aren’t doors in this building we’re in, so the Oklahoma summer heat and bugs welcome themselves inside. A mosquito nips at my face as if to say hello.

“Caius Crowne,” Koyn says blandly. “Son of the brilliant, influential Orion Crowne.” He snaps his fingers right in front of my face. “I know you people aren’t the good guys. There’s a whole dark underbelly of CUP. While you slept out here, I’ve been picking apart who the fuck you are.”

It unnerves me that these seemingly rednecks are skilled at obtaining information that’s not easy to get.

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