“No, I could not. Gage watches me more closely than he has in the past.”
“Is he onto you?”
My father shakes his head. “No, but we have to tread lightly while protecting the McKenzie boy.”
“I know.”
He studies me for a moment, as if weighing my words or perhaps searching for a hint of insubordination. “Good. Because letting him die when he is so close to becoming a full-fledged member of the Order would be inconvenient for us.”
There’s an edge to his voice, a sharpness that suggests he’s willing to blame me for any misstep. I keep my response measured, aware of the game we’re both playing. “It won’t come to that. I’ve taken steps to ensure he gets through the Trials.”
Edward nods slowly, his gaze never wavering. “Make sure you do, Xavier. Remember, your actions reflect not only on you but on our family. And our family does not tolerate failure.”
The threat is clear, and I resist the urge to react under his scrutiny. “I understand. I won’t fail. So far, it’s been difficult with the Trials being individualized.”
“I won’t accept excuses, son. However, your concern is unnecessary. The last Trial will involve all the recruits at once without keeping them separated. That’s all I can say.”
“I’ll watch over him.”
Edward gives me a final nod, more a dismissal than an approval, and turns to leave. Then, he pauses at the doorway, turning back to face me with a look that cuts sharper than any blade. “Do you realize that the McKenzie heir is indispensable to us?”
“Of course.”
My father continues as if I haven’t spoken, his voice lowering to a near whisper despite the privacy of the infirmary. “The vault requires his genetic DNA to open. Inside, there are secrets, knowledge that the McKenzie family has kept hidden—revolutionary technology that could change the balance of power not just within the Order, but in the world beyond.
“Once he’s accessed the vault, the heir’s usefulness will be at its end.” My father’s eyes bore into mine, leaving no room for doubt or hesitation. “You know what must be done. He cannot live to disclose our actions or the technology’s existence to any of the other leaders.”
The finality in his directive sends a chill through me. Killing Benjamin had always been part of my father’s plan, a necessary end to secure his ambitions and secrets. Yet, the reality of such an act, the cold calculation of it, is a harsh reminder of the path that has been chosen for me.
“Why do you think I befriended him and earned his trust over the past three years?” I respond, my voice steady. “I understand the stakes. It will be handled precisely as you’ve planned.”
Edward nods once, a curt, satisfied acknowledgment. “See that it is, Xavier. We cannot afford any loose ends. Our future, the future of the Donovan empire, depends on what lies within that vault.”
With that, he exits the infirmary, leaving me alone with my thoughts in the silence that follows. The heir to the technology empire is a young man whose fate has been irrevocably tied to mine for the last three years.
Making Benjamin McKenzie my darkest secret.
As I stepinto the brightly lit hallway outside the lab room, the echo of my father’s departing words still resonate.
Edward’s interest in Benjamin has never been about benevolence. It’s strategic, a calculated move in a much larger plan that involves the McKenzie family’s technology centered around satellite communication, as well as a supercomputer that holds infinite possibilities when constructing supply chains.
This would be a monumental leap forward in our capabilities. This isn’t merely about enhancing the Order’s power, it’s about reshaping our entire operation, particularly the illegal arms trafficking that has bolstered my family’s status within the underground world. The advancements could mean smarter, more efficient, and significantly more destructive weaponry, potentially changing the landscape of power.
However, the cost of this power is steep, and it’s measured in human life—specifically, the life of Benjamin McKenzie, the brother of the woman I’m in love with.
The thought of taking Benjamin’s life for the sake of this mission is a jagged pill to swallow. Not only because of what it would do to Delilah, whose heart would surely break, but also because over the years, I have grown to respect him. Benjamin’s courage, his integrity, and his loyalty to those he cares about have not gone unnoticed. He is not just another recruit in the Order.
He’s a man I’ve called a friend for the past three years.
How would Delilah react if she knew the grim reality of the situation?
The knowledge would drive a wedge between us. An insurmountable one.
It would not only shatter her trust but would sever any feelings she has developed for me. The betrayal would be too deep, too personal. The thought of causing her that kind of pain is more daunting than any physical danger I have ever faced.
And yet, duty calls with a voice that’s hard to ignore. The commands of my father are the chains that bind me, demanding loyalty and obedience, often at the expense of personal happiness and moral integrity. This duality of duty versus desire, of orders versus personal ethics, is a constant battle, raging silently within the confines of my own mind, driving me fucking crazy.
To keep Delilah, to win her heart fully and irrevocably, I have to defy my father.
