Page 61 of King of the Cage

“Funny. I’ve heard that about you. Funny and… not known for much else, except being a disappointment to your poor father.”There was an odd delay to the way this guy talked, like he was listening through an earpiece for what he was supposed to say. Interesting.

“I see we’re skipping the small talk portion of getting to know each other. Good, I’ve never cared for it. Since you know everything about me, how about you reciprocate? I’m all ears.”

“You can call me The Sentinel.”

I raised an eyebrow. “The Sentinel, or just Sentinel? Either way, I bet you really hate your parents for that one.”

He studied me, the mask concealing everything.

“I mean, it doesn’t really roll off the tongue, does it?” I asked, glancing around at the audience.

The silence was thick. They weren’t budging.

“Anyway,Sentinel, why have you brought me to this nifty little room instead of letting me continue on to the rest of your tests? Under your rules, or so good ol’ Duncan explained, as long as I have a recommendation, I can pledge.”

“We aren’t a fraternity,” The Sentinel snapped, a hint of annoyance bleeding through the modulated voice.

“If it walks like a duck… quack, quack,” I deadpanned.

The guy next to me sent the cattle prod cackling to life as a reminder to quit the wise-guy act.

I cleared my throat. “In all seriousness, this is exactly what I’m looking for. A way to make Daddy proud.”

The Sentinel was silent.

“I think I could achieve great things in this place, and for your members. I don’t see why I can’t test myself. I already caught the prize in the Hunt… didn’t I?”

“Your skills aren’t in question, nor your usefulness. Whatisin question is your ability to follow our rules.”

Follow their rules. I wanted to overturn the table and beat each of these power-tripping motherfuckers to a bloody pulp with their own masks. But I’d been assured that I’d never find out about the drugs if I messed things up before they trusted me. I needed to play along to get access to the inner workings of this society.

“Are you saying that if I can follow them, I can become a member?”

“That depends on you. You have money. You have power. You have men to command. Honestly, you bring more to the table than a lot of our acolytes.”

I blinked at him, surprised it was so easy.

The Sentinel studied me. “You’re surprised.”

“When you’re always the kid picked last in gym, you keep your expectations low.” I gave him a grin, bullshitting my way through to buy more time to think. These crazy fuckers were really going to consider me. I was going to get into this twisted little group and burn it down from the inside, taking everyone who fucked with Quinn with me.

“You could benefit our members… someone with your areas of expertise, and… waste management capabilities.”

I let out a chuckle at that one. “You want me to bury the bodies for your rich boys? Sure, I can do that… for a price. I scratchtheir backs, they scratch mine. Isn’t that how it works in these kinds of places?”

The man nodded. “Indeed, it is. But there are trials to pass to reach such a trusted position. It’s not for everyone.”

“You think I don’t have the stomach for your tests? You have no idea about the things I’ve done and seen…”

“I believe you. I don’t have any doubt you could stomach the messier side of being a member. My concern, like I said, is if you can be trusted to follow the rules. The Enclave works because its members follow the rules. Without rules, we are animals. Can you follow the rules, O’Connor, or do you want to remain an animal?”

I stared at him, letting the tension mount before I grinned.

“I can follow the rules. Give me a chance to show you.”

I held the man’s gaze, aware that in some other room, someone powerful was deciding whether I’d get the chance.

The man nodded, after his usual delay to listen to the instructions.

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