“How do you even know that? You didn’t know about Boone’s backstory, and you wouldn’t have without me. You would’ve killed him and gone on with your life.”
His brow creases and he nods. “Yes. That is uncomfortable to acknowledge.”
“Uncomfortable? He’s my fucking brother,Henrik.”
He flinches like I just punched him. “Please don’t weaponize that name against me. Wraith. Please.”
His tone is strained, almost begging, and while part of me wants to twist that knife a little, I can’t bring myself to do it.
I’m quiet for a moment, processing all of this. “How does it work? Your assignments.”
“Shadow gets the request and assigns it to one of us based on our dominant skill set. I’m called Wraith because my style is to stalk first; to haunt, if you will. I’m given targets who are evasive, in hiding, or simply difficult to track. Like Boone.”
“How did you find out he visited home games?”
Wraith shrugs. “Intel Shadow got. Whoever hired us knows more about Boone than I do.”
“And you don’t know who that is?”
“No. Shadow would.” His jaw twitches. “What else do you need to know before we focus on helping Boone?”
I slump, the fight draining out of me. None of what he told me helps or makes me feel better about being with him, but I’m not scared of him, and I might have to trust him. He may be the only way I can help my brother.
“Does it bother you?” I ask. “Killing people?”
He’s not looking at me and doesn’t make any moves to change that.
“Wraith?”
“No,” he says softly. “It doesn’t bother me. It never has. Shadow saw something in me, something he could use, and in a weird way, something I could use too. Because of him, I got off the streets. I never got involved in drugs or trafficking or any of the myriad ways to destroy your life. I had a home and afamily and a mission, dark as it may be. Maybe it’s proof of how fucked up I am that I can make it okay in my head, but we’re not out here slaughtering Girl Scouts and moms. We’re hired by bad people who are usually dealing with other bad people.”
I nod, saying nothing.
“On a positive note, Boone’s done a good job taking care of himself. That’s proof of why we were hired. We’re very expensive because we’re good and we’re discreet. I’m likely only days away from being taken to task on why I haven’t completed this job yet.” He turns and finally meets my gaze. “And I’m fucking glad. Really fucking glad.”
Rubbing my forehead, I lean back on the sofa, trying to sort this confusing storm of feelings in my head. I believe him, which is super fucked up, but what other choice do I have? How else would I help my brother? I’ll get Wraith’s help, then we’ll go our separate ways and never see each other again. That’s the only sane route to take.
“What can you do for Boone?”
“We’ll wait until he calls with the new phone and then maybe we’ll go see him. If you’re with me, he’ll know he’s safe.”
“And is he? You wouldn’t…” I can’t even finish the sentence. I know the answer, but I need to hear it again.
“I wouldn’t do that. I’m a lot of things, Bouche, but I’m not someone who would betray you like that.” He leans forward, resting his arms on his knees. “What I want to do is get more information and details from Boone, take them to Shadow, and plead the case.”
“Plead the case?”
“Ask him to cancel the hit. He’ll know what to do after that.”
“And what if he doesn’t agree? Then what? You’ve exposed yourself and my brother.”
“Shadow’s not a hothead. He’s very reasonable and he’ll listen.”
Wraith looks pale suddenly, which makes me aware that he’svery nervous about this. He’s putting himself on the line with his boss to help my brother. That’s pretty fucking major.
“Okay. I don’t think I have a choice.” I sigh.
“Sure you do. I could leave right now and you’ll never see me again. You and Boone can figure out what to do next, and I won’t interfere.”
