It’s easy to only see the tail end of things, but Erik and Greg must go way back, I would assume, since they’re half brothers.
“Oh God, we would be out here for hours if I had the time to tell you my dreadful story, but to sum it up, we just never really got along. I was the half brother on my mother’s side. My last name is Belerik because I was not a Mavestelli, not by blood. Mr. Mavestelli saw the darkness in Greg, though. He knew that he would all but run the empire into the ground or slowly light the world on fire with the power of it, which is why he put it in his will for both of us to share the empire. Unfortunately, our father grew sick and died relatively young. By that time we were already doing the dirty work and running the show. That’s when Greg thought he killed me and got away with it. I was being watched by a Dark Forces officer, Captain Bridger, but back then he was a sergeant. He brought me in.”
My eyes widen. “Wait. You were an executioner?”
He nods. “It’s a ruthless job, one that I’m sad Emery had to take on.”
She did, and she made it known to the world, but what did it cost? Landing her in this pit of wolves? Trapped in a vicious cycle of violence and drugs?
My chest constricts at the thought and guilt floods me. Because I’m glad she went through all of it. Without it she never would’ve ended up here with me. I’ll never let her go either.
A stretch of silence grows between us as we walk the path. The air is brisk and stings my lungs. We reach the edge of the property,by an old fence post that juts up crookedly from the ground. This is where I’ll be meeting with Reed tonight. I’m slipping him a uniform that matches ours so he can access the building. He’ll be taking out Damian’s and Wraith’s trackers in the lower-level bathroom.
Reed specifically informed me that it had to be tonight because Nolan and Erik will be attending a briefing at the bunker Riøt’s currently occupying. The very idea that they are this close to us sends chills up my spine.
What I really want to know is how Reed knows all of the intel. Does he have a spy on the inside like Mavestelli had Bryce?Who though?I ponder.
It’s still a mystery to me what Reed’s endgame is. He has the pills already. He’s interested in the black syringe, but what’s really urging him on? What does he get out of betraying Mavestelli? From what Emery has told me, he’s been essentially part of their family for over ten years. He must be after Greg’s position in the family. It’s the only thing that makes sense.
I don’t know if it’s pure stupidity that makes me ask, or if it’s because I’m tired of feeling in the dark on everything, but I toss a side glance at the lieutenant and mutter, “How’s Mikah been doing?”
Erik’s pupils expand and his shoulders stiffen before he forces his features to relax as he exhales smoke, dropping his cigarette and stomping on it. My eyes linger on his combat boot pressed firmly in the dirt.
The act seems a bit deliberate, but I might just be reading into things.
“She’s already working on her next assignment.” His voice wavers.
He’s lying. I have to swallow the pain that levels me into a shell of myself.
“That’s wonderful to hear,” I reply smoothly, keeping my eyeson the horizon. I can feel his gaze surveying me for any hidden agendas. “Did you just want to take a walk, sir?” I press him for the reason he called me out here.
He chuckles. “It’s always straight to business with you, Cameron. You need to learn how to make small talk before jumping to the work stuff.”
I offer no emotion. “Everything is work stuff, sir.”
He picks up on my foul mood and gets to the point. “General Nolan is here.” I stop dead in my tracks, staring at Erik like he’s about to put a bullet in my head. “He would like to speak with you. Alone.” He doesn’t look at me as he says it.
I clear my throat. “Sir, the last time I was alone with Nolan he gave me a shot that made me lose my fucking mind. Respectfully, I request that either you or Emery are in attendance with me.”
We continue walking as Erik shakes his head. “It’s not up to me, you know that.” He sounds disheartened, like he knows something bad is going to happen.
“Do you know what it’s about?” I ask, slowing my strides.
He looks over his shoulder at me. “No. You have fifteen minutes, so I suggest you go get dressed and meet him upstairs in the hangar.” My eyes shift above Erik’s head as he says the latter and focus on the windows glaring the sun back at me and hiding the devil within.
I put on one of the generic jackets the guards here use for war room meetings. It’s dark blue and has golden thread throughout. A pressed, sharp collar. It’s very underwhelming compared to the black ones that we have back at home base. It’s odd that I have a longing to return there, but I think it’s pretty unlikely that I’ll ever see the main base or the Under again. Honestly, as long as I have Emery, I’m more than okay with that.
This airplane hangar is unique in that it’s two stories tall and has a basement. The builder had foresight, using a mix of brick and steel to make this fort withstand the harsh winds here. The metal panels that make up the walls rattle as I take the galvanized iron stairs up to the second story.
This floor is almost as plain as the one we’re residing in. One big room that extends the entire length of the hangar. The ceiling is domed and has several paned windows that are spaced out evenly all the way to the end, letting in ample light.It’d make one hell of a studio apartment, I muse.
An old wooden desk sits in the center of the room. Two chairs in its accompaniment. Besides those, there’s only General Nolan standing at the third window with his hands clasped behind his back tightly.
I’ve grown to hate men like him. They hide their humanity so well you’d think they never had a childhood. Can’t they drop the facade for even a moment? One day I’ll make him show me his true face. I can’t even begin to imagine what it looks like.
What do terrible men dream of? Do they dream of peaceful rest and to let their guard down? I ponder the thought as I walk uniformly to the center of the room and stand at attention until he’s ready to address me.
A long, uncomfortable beat of time passes. One that I’m not unfamiliar with when it comes to the general. Nolan doesn’t turn around until I’m certain that the dust falling through the rays of sunlight will suffocate me.
