All of them were standing around, waiting on him. Vanquish was off to his right. Even with the dark sunglasses on, Jinx could feel his hate-filled glare. While all of them had quirks that had marked them as rebellious to their superiors, Vanquish had taken it one step further.
He’d pierced his nose. The League frowned on them being individuals. If not for the fact that Vanquish was the top of top, they’d have executed him for that alone.
Venom held the same rank he did. Almost his height, Ven had the black eyes and darker complexion of a Ritadarion. His features were well-sculpted, and he always looked as if he needed a shave.
Strife was their shortest member, barely reaching to the middle of his chest. Her blond hair was much golder than his and she was a Third Rank Command assassin. One level below him.
And of course, Savage and Bête rounded out their number.
He still wasn’t sure why Savage had allowed a maroon uni into their group, but this was Savage’s party so he kept his opinions to himself.
“Glad everyone made it.” Savage set up the jammers so that The League would have no idea they were in the midst of a confab. He turned toward Jinx. “You need to watch your ass. Quiakides is hand-selecting us to go after you.”
That declaration took him aback. Was he serious? “How do you know?”
Vanquish pushed his sunglasses up, on top of his head. “I was just given the assignment to take you out.”
Venom laughed. “Feel flattered, kid. They’re only sending out the best. I was told to gut you, too.”
Awesome.
Jinx suddenly felt like a sacrificial goat surrounded by salivating priests.
“Any idea why?” He’d really like to know what he did to piss off his commanders to the point they wanted him dead.
Granted he could be a rank bastard, but . . .
Savage handed him his link. “No idea. As you can see from my orders, they simply want you dead.”
Jinx’s anger built as he read the simple warrant. Kill him, get an automatic rank increase. Which would be the only way for an assassin to live, because if anyone came after him, he would kill them.
His will to live to protect his sister was too strong. It was the only reason he was still alive.
But why come after him?
The ranks above a black uni were administrative. Usually those ranks were closed to assassins. But in special cases, such as a target they really wanted dead, the higher ups would allow an assassin in.
Given that it was the only way for an assassin to escape their enslavement, a kill warrant like his was a massive incentive to First Rank Commanders.
With him dead, his killer would be free.
“Really wish I knew what I’d done to piss them off.”
Venom clicked his teeth. “I’m thinking you were right about them going after anyone they deem a threat to their positions. You advanced too fast through the ranks. Makes the PM nervous that you might be coming after him.”
But that had nothing to do with it. He’d only gone through the ranks for the autonomy. The ability to have some degree of control over his life so that he could make sure his sister wasn’t targeted.
Make sure Tobin didn’t overstep again.
While his brother had sold him to The League for profit, Tobin had never expected him to live.
But Jinx was hard to kill and one day he’d go back for Tobin.
With a vengeance.
“I have no interest in a command position.” That would lock him down and that was the last thing he wanted.
“We know.” Sav put his link into his pocket. “But the PTB is an unreasonable lunatic.”
