Page 69 of Cup of Lies

Dragon glances over his shoulder and grins evilly at her. “How do you want him to die, lady? I’m a creative fucker. We could cook him alive in the bonfire.”

Katana doesn’t even grimace, clearly used to his psychotic friend’s antics. I cringe at the thought of what that would smell like.

“Nobody’s cooking him,” Koyn snaps, stalking over to my brother. “Yet. We’ll torture what we can out of him first.”

Theo gapes at Koyn. “Dude. You don’t have to torture me. Why the fuck do you think I’m here? I came to help take my father down.”

This intrigues me, but I don’t necessarily believe him.

“Liar,” Romy spits out. “All you do is lie, Theo. Ever since that night you kidnapped me. I hate you.”

He deflates at her vicious words that he no doubt earned. I feel a little bad for him. Despite everything, he’s my brother. They can’t kill him, at least until I feel like I get to the bottom of why he betrayed me so willingly.

“Let him help,” I tell Koyn. “If anything, we can use him as a connection to my father.”

Theo lifts his chin and defiantly says, “I’ll only speak to Caius. Alone. Without you freaks in the room.”

Dragon laughs as he pulls a tiny bottle of liquor from his pocket. He pours it into his mouth and then sprays it into my brother’s face. Theo curses, rubbing at his eyes. Then Dragon produces a Zippo lighter and flips it open to produce a flame.

“Make another demand, dipshit,” Dragon threatens. “Go on. I want to see you burn up close—to smell your skin as it fucking cooks.”

Theo, with bloodshot eyes, whimpers. “Dude, man, calm down. Don’t set me on fire. Please, man. Fuck!”

Dragon cackles as he brings the lighter within an inch from Theo’s alcohol-soaked cheek. “Will your eyeballs pop or melt? I’ve always wondered.”

“You’ll have to stay in suspense a bit longer, Dragon,” Koyn grunts. “We’re all going to sit in on this chat. I’d like his eyeballs intact in case we need them.”

Theo sends me a pleading look. I simply shrug.

He made his bed. Now he has to lie in it.

Romy

At first, those bikers actually tried to keep me out of their meeting like it was some “no girls allowed” club. Not only did I laugh in Koyn’s face, but I pushed past him, ignoring his grumbling.

I’m every bit as invested in this takedown as they are. The only time I left their interrogation with Theo in the conference room was when Bermuda got me a connection to Eva. After a tear-filled conversation where I assured her me and Kaitlyn were okay and in Oklahoma of all places, we made plans for her to come out here, and then I went back to the room where Theo remained in the hot seat.

It’s late now, pushing midnight, and I can barely keep my eyes open. Still, I refuse to leave my seat and go back to our room in the clubhouse.

So far, they’ve questioned Theo endlessly but have asked me nothing.

Finally, when I can’t stand it anymore, I smack my hand down on the smooth surface of the table. “He’s told you everything he knows and is willing to tell.”

Theo sits up, bleary-eyed but suddenly alert. “Is that it? You’re going to let them kill me, babe?”

“Not your babe,” Caius bites out. “Say it again and I’m going to toss the fucking match myself.”

I smirk at Theo, then I turn my attention to Koyn. “Do you think I’m some useless woman who knows nothing?”

Koyn’s eyes narrow. “What the fuck does that mean?”

“It means you guys have been trying to figure out things aboutmyfake father,myreal father,mycaptivity,mypast treatment, placesI’vebeen to, and have yet to ask ifIhave any information about any of it.”

Caius shoots me a confused look that I ignore, never taking my eyes off Koyn.

“You’ve been withholding information on us?” he asks, leaning forward to pin me with a hard stare. “Stop playing games, little girl, and spill it.”

“I don’t want him to hear,” I tell Koyn, jabbing a finger at Theo.

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