Page 156 of Twisted Knight

My brother walks out of my office, his shoulders slumped and his head down.

The problem is I’m so jaded, I don’t know if I believe him or if this is just another act in his smoke-and-mirrors show.

FIFTY

Holden

“How’d they take it?”

“The real estate agent? The owners? Who?” Bob asks as noise clatters on in the background.

“How about all of the above?”

“Furious. Livid. Threatening this and that for reneging on the deal. Their agent has called no less than three times a day begging for you to reconsider on his client’s behalf.”

“Mmm,” I murmur, preoccupied with avoiding whatever altercation is happening in the intersection in front of me. People out of cars. Rough characters looking about to fight.

Welcome to Fairmont, where it’s an everyday occurrence.

But then I stop myself as Rhett’s words ghost through my mind.

It is an everyday occurrence here. Just like it is every-fucking-where.

“You have them where you want them, Holden. They’ve offered to lower the price some just to close the deal. They’re desperate. What about—”

“I just got off the jet. I’ll be in the office later. Call me then.”

“But what do I tell them in the meantime?”

“Nothing.” I proceed through the intersection with caution now that the light has changed.

“Nothing?”

“I believe I made myself clear.”

“Yeah. Okay, boss. I just—”

“Stop questioning me, Bob. It’s all part of the game. You make a move and then you have to sit and wait for its effects to be known. To take hold.” I chuckle. “Then right as they get settled, you make the next one.”

“Keep them guessing.”

No shit.

“Mm-hm. Make them stew on it for a few days. It just makes the knife a little sharper when it goes in.”

I end the call as I pull up to the curb of the old complex. The graffiti is gone on its facade. The rusted wrought iron pickets have been repainted a matte black. The wood on every front porch that faces the street is now a muted brown. The tagging on the cement sidewalks is now covered by crude squares made by gray paint.

He fucking kept his word.

My smile is automatic as I get out of my car and round the hood. I need to see it closer up.

A front door opens a crack at the place where Leo’s bike had been last time. It stays slightly ajar for a brief moment before a woman walks out and shuts the door at her back. She eyes me warily, her gaze steadfast on mine as she makes her way over to me.

“You Three-Piece Holden?” she asks, hand over her forehead as if it’ll make her see me better.

Three-Piece Holden. I smile. Audrey gave enough information for him to know me but not know who I was.

Perfect.