Page 117 of Rage

“No thanks. I got way better offers. At least the other dude in here has a respectably sized cock.” The indecent quip is typical of Lock; whip thin, and quick as one too.

“Hey!” From the smile on his face, I sense that Tino isn’t entirely offended by the insinuation. “It’s more than respectable.”

The bound shithead seems offended that our attention has been diverted. “You can’t do this; don’t you know who I am?”

I reply to him, because I know we all do. And I know none of us fucking care, either. “You’re the dick who hurt my wife. That’s all I need to know.”

“I’m an important person in this city; I work for the mayor!”

Lockey snickers. “Funnily enough, I know. I mean, that’s how we found you, right, Tino?”

“Right.”

“He won’t stand for this, I’m his Press Officer!”

I can’t help but huff out a laugh at that, the fucking jumped up, self-important air he’s got. Lockey and Tino are wearing identical smirks, because… Well, we all know exactly who this fuckhead is.

Lock’s the one to tell him though. “We know who you are, Mr. Not So Fucking Important As You Think. But clearly, you don’t know who we are, do you?”

“I don’t care who the fuck you think you are! You can’t do this to me!”

fuck, we can’t. what the hell was I thinking?!

In contrast to my ever rising anxiety, Lockey is a collected picture of calm, hands linked behind his head, one knee bentwith his foot nonchalantly resting on the wall behind. “Oh, but we can, Gregory. We can. So, listen up, ‘cos I’m gonna tell you a little tale, okay?”

“He’ll rain fucking fire down on you when he finds out!” Apparently, Gregory is in no mood to listen.

“Aw, Tino. He thinks the mayor don’t know.”

“Shame.”

The prisoner seems confused by this little exchange. “What do you mean?”

“So, we—that is, Tee and I—work for Enzo Bonetti.”

Tino nods in Greg’s direction, all of us watching as the color drains from his face. “I guess he knows who that is, Lockey.”

“I guess he might. Because Enzo Bonetti donates a lot of money to the mayor’s office every term, right? But of course, you know that, don’t you, Greg?”

EvenIknow who he is. But I didn’t realize that was who Lockey worked for. And that raises a few questions for me as well, because as far as I know, Mr. Bonetti is just a very wealthy businessman who donates a large portion of his income.

Every year.

Without fail.

Damn.

what the hell am i doing here? i’m so fucking naive to all this stuff…

There’s no reply from the chair dweller, however, so Lock continues.

“See, I know you do. And you also know that Enzo likes this town running just the way it does, don’t he?”

Tino grins, chiming in. “He does. But one thing Mr. Bonetti don’t like is problems. Ain’t that right, Lock?”

“It sure is. And you, Gregory, are currently a problem.”

“What the fuck? I’ve only-I only do what I’m told, I-I never—I wouldn’t upset the balance of things!” He looks terrified now, genuine fear in the light of this revelation.

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