“You’re never too busy for me.” Benny laughs, his Italian loafers clicking against the concrete. “Come on, boss, don’t be like that. I thought we had bonded over Freddy on Upside Down Rock.”
Bonded is a strong word. But Ihadhoped him growing a conscience and helping me save Juliette was him turning over a new leaf.
But a leopard can’t change his spots.
“I brought you a gift.”
“Take it back.”
He laughs again. “Stop it, Lance. This one is Art approved. You’ll like it, promise.”
That gets my attention.
“This is Percy,” Benny puts a hand on the kid’s shoulder. “Percy, this is Lance Calloway. The best fighter we’ve got. You’ll be learning from him.”
Percy gives an awkward half wave.
“I’m not a teacher,” I say.
“You are now. Percy’s found himself in a bit of a bind with Myrddin. Gambling debts.” Benny tsks. “His father tried to help, but, I guess the apple doesn’t fall far, you know?”
“Funny you talk about fathers, Benny. Where’s yours again?”
His face drops. His parents never stayed around to bring him up properly. They stuck him in Rosebrook Prep and let him shack up with his aunt and her husband—the now-dead Marcus Montgomery.
“Probably with yours.”
Touché.
“Percy’s got potential.” He walks a slow circle around the kid like he’s inspecting livestock. “Just needs someone to show him the ropes.”
I wonder if the fear on Percy’s face showed so plainly on mine when I first got dragged underground.
“When?”
He shrugs. “Depends on how generous Myrddin’s feeling.”
“Benny, come on, man, that’s suicide. He’ll get killed.”
“Then you better teach him how not to,” he says. “Unless you’d rather I find another way to occupy your time? I’m pretty sure Freddy left some nice footage of your mostkillerwins. I could hunt those down, make sure they get in the right hands, if you’d prefer.”
My fingers curl into fists.
Benny smiles, and claps Percy on the shoulder again, hard enough to make him stumble.
“Kid, listen to everything Lance tells you. He’s kept himself alive down here for years. A special weapon for us.” He pauses at the door, looking back at me. “That’s no small feat.”
When Benny leaves, Percy doesn’t move.
I should tell him to get out. Tell him he’s dead if he stays. He’s bait, plain and simple.
Instead, I say, “You ever been hit before?”
He blinks. “I—no. Not really.”
Christ.
“First thing. Keep your hands up. Always. Even when you’re tired. Even when you think the other guy’s done. Hands up.”
