Page 70 of Power of Shadow

“The Pact isn’t the secret society it’s made out to be. It’s not a cult either, but it’s definitely an elite brotherhood of the most influential people in the world. People whose existence no one should ignore, but not because they have money or connections. Because each of them is obsessed with playing God. You wouldn’t recognize a member of the brotherhood on the street.”

I hang on his every word, thirsty for knowledge.

He looks down, and my eyes follow his. Holding the flashlight, he points the light at his left wrist, where he normally has tattoos... Thanks to the ultraviolet light, a glowing image of a skull surrounded by ivy appears. It’s beautiful and terrifying at the same time.

A purple masterpiece.

I’ve never seen anything like it.

I stare at it until Ryker turns off the light and the image disappears completely. Poof. As if it had never been there.

“Nothing,” I whisper, enchanted.

“The tattoo is only visible in this light. Under any other circumstances, you won’t even see an outline on the skin. Won’t bore you with the details, but this is the only way an outsider can know if a person is a member of the Pact,” he explains, tossing the flashlight aside.

Our eyes meet again.

It’s no longer just an underground legend. It’s a mark on his skin. A mark of people who can crush Zoe and me with a single finger.

“You’re a member,” I say.

“You already knew that,” he replies, staring deeply into my eyes.

Yes, I knew.

“What are you in the brotherhood?”

Ryker sighs before answering. Something I don’t understand flashes in his eyes. Like he doesn’t want to mention it, but breaks down anyway. “I’m the son of the highest in the hierarchy.”

I’m not as skilled as he is at not giving anything away, but I hope he sees nothing I don’t want him to see.

I already know who you are, Ryker Elliot.

For Zoe’s sake and more, I need to learn as much as I can about the Pact. Retaliation for the mistake of stealing data could cost us everything.

“You’re next in line for that throne.”

“That remains to be seen,” he says cryptically but doesn’t elaborate.

“Your father is first in the Pact.” He nods. “Your grandfather was too.” Another nod. “And before him, his father.” His confirmation is unnecessary. “You’re the next generation, Ryker, and the successor to the highest rank in the Pact.”

My potential... whatever-he-is-to-me is also the man I should keep as far away from Zoe as possible. The irony of my life.

I don’t know what to think about all this yet. Ryker is attractive to me, but could it be more than that? I doubt it.

“What do you do for the Pact?”

Ryker raises his eyebrows at my question.

He’s right; he doesn’t have to answer. I know what he does. I know about his club, and I know he’s a killer just like me.

“Is that how the Jackal was born? Was he convenient to the Pact?”

His intense gaze pierces me. The low tone of his voice is meant to intimidate me. “Don’t be fooled, and don’t even think for a moment that I don’t like what I do. You know quite a lot about me. You know I love doing this. I love inflicting pain; I love playing with my victims. Don’t try to see me as a good person, because there’s not a shred of goodness in me.”

And yet I don’t quite believe him. Maybe I don’t want to believe it; I don’t know. But I feel that there is a part of him that doesn’t fit into this world.

“No man is completely evil or completely good. It’s impossible.”