Does she know what her uncle did? Nolan wouldn’t be tracing her if she didn’t. Great, that means she’s likely in danger no matter where she goes.
As for Arnold, his cover must’ve been blown. I don’t know how else a guy capable of being a one-man squad just up and dies. Arnold Thornton was rumored to be quite the monster in his time in the Dark Forces. It’s been almost twelve years since his time in the trials, though. Who’d have guessed this is where he ended up?
And his niece too.
She didn’t see me earlier that night, thanks to my blacked-out windows, but I saw her clear as day. A woman so thoughtlessly striking and aloof that my cold heart shifted a bit inside my chest. I don’t like her. Not one bit.
Innocent, beautiful things cannot be trusted.
I knew she was the package instantly. I also knew that she wasn’t some trained agent or soldier either. She looked horrified that I was waiting there in the dead of night.
I concluded that the only person who would go out to Thornton’s Farm, unassigned, would be a family member—his death was a pretty big deal in Bane Falls. He knew a lot of the locals and had integrated himself well.
Arnold never spoke with us. I wonder if Nolan even told him we were here. I certainly didn’t know about him until the general explained that he failed his mission.
But what does that hopeless girl have to do with this? Why is Nolan pushing her into our world?
I firm my lips and glance at the clock. It’s already almost nine. We need to hurry up if we want to be at the peak time for the party.
If it were anyone else in that diner, I wouldn’t have had to be so vile. But I was pissed off that she was the thing Nolan sent my way.
It was for the best that she left and stayed out of this shit. The last thing we need is some brave, bratty girl getting in our way. Whatever it is that Nolan intended me to use her for, I’m sure we can find another way.
“You know how I feel about new girls at that diner. Only Sub-Rosa goons go there that late at night. She could’ve been setting you up. For all we know, she’s working with them and they’re on to us,” I snap back at him, aware of how paranoid I sound. “I think you men have been getting a little too cozy in this life. Do you need to be reminded how high the stakes are out here?”
They all dip their heads and furrow their brows.
There used to be six of us.
The county coroner deemed that it was a suicide, but we all know it wasn’t. Leon was our close comrade, the youngest of us at twenty-two. He was missing for a few days; even General Nolan couldn’t track him down because his chip had been removed. Two days later, his body was found in the field behind the diner. The shotgun barrel was still in his mouth.
We don’t know who he was tailing or how they found out he was looking into them. But it’s clear to me that he put his trust in the wrong person in town, someone who convinced him to sneak out late and meet them alone. Nothing came of it in terms of our hideout being uncovered, so I’m certain our soldier didn’t talk, but his loss was heavy on us nonetheless.
If he had just told me he was meeting someone, I would’ve tailed him and could’ve protected him.
“No way. She was so girly and innocent. She’s from the city, just like she said. I’m certain of it.” Taylor’s voice is flat and vexed. God, it’s annoying how much they seem to like her.
I’ll have to tell them about Nolan’s part with her eventually. But it’ll have to wait until after tonight.
“She sounds like the perfect weapon to fool anything with a dick.” My tone is sharp as I pop a piece of gum in my mouth and flip through the playlists on my phone.
We’re lucky we are allowed to have cell service, something that General Nolan only permitted because I convinced him that we’d be weirdos and stand out from the civilians without it. The phones are all chipped, and the Dark Forces IT team constantly checks our messages for security. It was made clear that if we tried to form plans to escape our mission or go MIA, we’d be terminated on the spot.
I primarily use mine for music; I don’t text. I’m especially not going to hand out my number to any of the women in town trying to get in my pants.
“Last time I checked, you have one of those too, Syxx,” John mumbles sarcastically and the others laugh. They’re lucky they can’t see the vexed expression beneath my mask.
I turn on the song “Mask Off” by Future, then give the squad a middle finger. They laugh and follow me over to the vehicles, strapping on their helmets and drowning out their rowdy chatter. I get in my Benz and check it to make sure it’s prepped for the race.
Tonight’s the night we make headway on this mission.
That girl is out of the way.
All I have the capacity for right now is finding this goddamn gate to the underworld.
6
BRIAR
