Because it wasn’t only the government, although from what Vale remembered, they were definitely one of their main clients.No, the Organization also worked with the mob and terrorist groups.They worked with anyone who had enough money to afford their services.
The only reason Vale had worked with them was that he’d been desperate.He’d needed money to survive, and that had been the only place he could find it back then.He’d left as soon as he’d been able to, and he’d never looked back, but maybe he should have.
“So, they’re cleaning up,” Artemis continued.“They’ve been killing people left and right, making sure they can’t talk.You’re the next one in a long list, so you’re not special.”
“Who’s in charge?”
“A woman named Helena.”
Vale swore.He remembered her, unfortunately.She was bad news.
“I take it you know her?”Artemis asked.
“I’ve even worked with her a few times.When she’s given an order, she’s like a dog with a bone.She doesn’t let go until she’s consumed everything.”
“And in this situation, you’re the bone, or rather, your death is.”
“I’m sure she’s happy about that.”
“You think she remembers you?”
“I’m sure she does.We might have worked together, but it was never willingly.We clashed more than we got along.”
“So she’d probably take great pleasure in killing you.”
“I have no doubt that she would.”She might even get her hands dirty for him.
“Then you have a lot of problems because she’s not on her own.”
Vale groaned.He wasn’t sure he could deal with more bad news.“What do you mean?”
“She’s assembled a team.There’s very little I could find on them, but what I did find is enough to tell me they're extremely dangerous.They’re like her own personal hit team, and they all travel together.They’re in town right now.”
Looking for Vale, no doubt.“Well, I have a team, too,” he pointed out.There were only three of them plus Cyril, but it was better than nothing.
“You do.The only problem is that your team doesn’t have special abilities.Well, Cyril does, but I don’t know how you could use his necromancy ability against these people.”
Vale’s stomach dropped.“Abilities?”
“It’s been incredibly hard to find any kind of information on these people, but yes.When people talk about them, it’s in awe and fear.They seem like formidable enemies, and unfortunately, right now, they’reyourenemies.”
“Maybe I should just hand myself over,” he mumbled.
“You’ll do no such thing.Like you said, you’re not alone.We’ll find a way to defeat them.”
Vale was glad to hear he wouldn’t face these people alone, but unlike Artemis, he didn’t have a lot of faith in the fact that they would defeat Helena and her team.They’d try, but Vale was sure that at one point, it would be best for them to leave him behind.When that happened, he’d have to make sure Cyril was protected.
Of course, there was no way to know that he and Cyril would still be together by then.The way things were going, Vale stood to lose everything.
And it was his own fault.
* * * *
CYRIL KNEW SOMETHINGhad happened from Vale’s expression when he came out of the bedroom.He was still holding his phone, so there was a good chance that he’d been on the phone with either Russell or Rachel.Since Vale wanted information about what was going on with the Organization, Cyril’s money was on Rachel.
“What happened?”he asked because even though he was angry and confused, he still cared about Vale.
Vale put his phone down on the coffee table.John was getting a shower, so Vale and Cyril had a bit of privacy.It was the first time in a while, and Cyril wasn’t sure what to do with it.He was happy, but also angry, and he still loved Vale.It was an odd mix of emotions to experience at the same time.
