Page 3 of King of Liars

And why did I feel like I wanted him to see it?

“No, Bozo doesn’t intimidate you. If I’d given that nickname to Kerry or Ryan, they would have been annoyed. That’s why they’re Stupid One and Stupid Two.”

The guy who’d greeted me at the door growled, and Sy’s face tensed up. He turned and snapped, “Did you say something to me, Two?”

Two ducked his head lower. “No, I’m sorry, Master.”

Sy hocked up a wad of spit, shooting and effectively hitting Two. Once he took a breath, collecting himself, he waved to the last member of his crew—a guy with a buzz cut and a thick five o’clock shadow, close to Two’s size. “And then there’s Hole, because it’s the only use I have for Malcolm.”

Sy moved closer to me, until he was right in my face, tilting his head either way like some kind of robot trying to understand what made me human. “Now I just have to figure you out. But I have time. I don’t rush things like this, Boss.”

Why did he keep using Boss for me? His nicknames for the other guys seemed degrading, not like they were designed to make them feel better about themselves.

I wondered if he saw something different in me than he did in the others, or worse, if that’s what he was trying to make me feel like. I had to assume everything this kid did was an attempt at controlling me, the way he had managed to control these guys. But a part of me knew I wouldn’t have been there if I didn’t want him to control me.

“So, what are you thinking?” he asked.

I surveyed the room once again. “Sorry, but I think whatever you guys are into is way over my head.”

“Then what are you doing here, Boss? Why did you come here tonight? What did you expect to see or hear?”

I wanted to be an ass and quip that the Georgia boy in me just wanted to see what North Carolina guys were into, but now wasn’t the time for jokes. “Curious to see what you had to offer.”

His grin twisted into a villainous expression. “I’ve seen the way you look at me. You know you want to try me on for size. Well, I’m a reasonable guy. Why don’t you do just that? No commitment. You get a sample of all I have to give. You get to come here…and come…and experience me for yourself. No harm in a sample.”

“Sample?” Two asked.

“Who the fuck is talking to you, Two?” Sy asked, and Two quieted back down.

“Yeah, a sample. What do you think of that, Boss? You come here, say, next Friday night. You get a taste of this ass, and then decide if you’re interested in investing…mmmm…a little more of your time in our little team?”

Again, he’d hooked me with the promise of something more. Although, I’d figured that’s what today would be about, not this meeting with his entire entourage.

“Just you or your whole crew?”

“Everyone,” Two barked from his kneeling position.

“The fuck, Stupid? Stupid, stupid, stupid!” Sy shouted, his face turning red, the veins in his neck pushing forward.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” Two said quickly, clearly regretting having spoken up, though judging by his tone when he’d saideveryone, he’d felt compelled, as though he refused to imagine Sy messing around with anyone without him.

“You’re out tonight. The fucking bench for you. No watching either,” Sy said.

Two looked over his shoulder to Sy. “No, please, Your Majesty.”

I understood to some degree how Sy had managed to interest these guys, but getting them on their knees, fucking freaking out over him? The hell?

“I won’t say anything else,” Two went on, pleading his case.

“You keep talking,” Sy said through his teeth, “and you’ll be out for the week.”

Two sealed his lips and bowed his head, but I could hear him growl.

Stupid One glanced over at him, a sympathetic expression on his face as he seemed to pity his friend’s situation, yet dared not challenge Sy.

It was a horrifying sight, one I wanted no part of.

“Yeah…I think I’m gonna skip out on any of this shit.”

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