Page 74 of Cup of Lies

I somehow got recruited to the same team as Koyn and Dragon. Not because I’m some awesome fighter but because of my minimal knowledge of the layout having been here once before and seeing it from Solomon’s yacht.

I’m nowhere near as crazy as Dragon, but I’m also more capable than Bizzy.

“Halo says the yacht is close,” Koyn states, back straightening as he reads a text. “Fifteen minutes or so. Let’s get this shit on the road.”

Cove makes quick work of cutting the fencing with wire cutters and the group of us file in through the small hole. Half of us head toward the main office, whereas the others split off to start checking containers.

Dragon doesn’t waste a second and kicks in the door to a small office. A man cries out inside as Dragon enters. The scuffle is over by the time I make my way over the threshold.

A guy with a fat gut and powdered sugar on his mustache lies in a pool of his own blood, a packet of half-eaten donuts still in hand.

In any other circumstance, information would be nice, but it might take too much time. With Solomon on his way, we need to make sure the threats here are gone so we can enter the yacht without issue.

Eliminating the other scumbag workers doesn’t take long. Every single one is caught off guard. Dragon gleefully does all the work while me and the others search for any useful information.

“Yacht’s here,” Koyn says, checking his phone. “Let’s move that way.”

We prowl through the shipping container yard when Koyn’s phone starts ringing. He pulls it out, answering with a gruff, “Yeah?”

It’s when he jerks to a stop and shoots me a dark look that I feel a sense of dread wash over me.

“What?” I demand as he hangs up.

“We have to move. Now,” Koyn barks. “Bizzy saw two chicks board the yacht.”

“Two random chicks?” I hiss, running to catch up with his long strides.

“No, man, your chicks. Romy and LuLu.” He curses. “What the fuck? I thought they were staying back?”

I give up trying to be stealthy and take off in a full-on sprint to the yacht. Koyn and Dragon and the others can take out anyone bad, but I have only one mission on my mind.

Find my girls.

Keep them away from Solomon.

As I board, I’m keenly aware they’ve been here, but have already been on the move to some other place. Somehow I know where to go. I find the stairwell and take the steps two at a time, going on muscle memory as I find my way to Solomon’s office.

I hear voices. Familiar ones.

Fear burns hot in my gut. It seems like another lifetime ago that I caught Romy hiding in Solomon’s cabinet, witnessing all the terrible stuff I sat back and watched happen. Knowing Romy and LuLu came here without me makes me furious, but I’ll have to ream them out later.

Right now, saving them takes precedence.

I stalk into the room, gun drawn and ready to fire. I’m a little shocked to see Solomon on his knees on the rug, hands up in a placating gesture. Romy watches with her hands on her hips while LuLu keeps a small knife pressed against the side of his neck.

“You thought you destroyed me. That I deserved it because I was broken,” LuLu hisses, voice shaking slightly. “I wasn’t broken. No matter what pain you inflicted, you could never take away who I am. I’m LuLu. Say it. Say my name.”

Solomon’s eyes dart my way and they shine with relief. Like I’ve come to rescue his pathetic ass. I scowl at him and shake my head.Not on your life, asshole.

He turns his gaze back to LuLu. “If I say it, you’ll leave me alone?”

She laughs, high-pitched and slightly crazed. “Leave you alone? No, motherfucker. My face is going to be the last thing you see. It’ll haunt you in the afterlife.”

A groan escapes him as she digs the small blade into the side of his neck. Blood trickles down from the laceration.

“Talk some sense into her,” Solomon barks out to me. “Don’t sit around and watch. Fucking do something.”

This man used to unnerve me, especially when Romy came into the picture and was in his orbit. Now I see him for how truly weak he is. He’s nothing but a sick older man who rapes and abuses the undeserving. At one time, he got away with it. Not anymore. His time is up.

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