Page 149 of Trapped Truth

REMEMBER THE NAME - FORT MINOR & STYLES OF BEYOND

Nolan Madden’s newly acquired countryside estate truly lives up to its name. I have no idea how he secured such a vast display of wealth. There’s no question that selling skin comes with a hefty price tag. But this? It’s grandiose. Sickeningly so. I want to see it fucking burn.

From our crouched position behind a tall, red brick wall leading to what would’ve been the staff entrance a century ago, we have the perfect vantage point to see our mysterious contact emerging. I didn’t know what to expect of some rogue mercenary. A tattooed, glaring beast with more visible guns than sense lives up to the stereotype.

“Fuck me.” Axel voices my thoughts. “Can’t believe this dude is real.”

“You’ve heard of him?” I ask him.

“When I worked for MI-5, we regularly tapped into black-market dealings for intelligence purposes. I heard enough whispers about The Angel of Death to wonder what kind of person earned such a title.”

“Stupid name.” Hyland is crouched uncomfortably low. “Fucking Azrael?”

“It’s a code name,” Blaine replies.

“You’d know all about those, Phantom.”

“And I suppose the Anaconda Team is original?” He laughs back without malice.

“At least it’s more covert,” Hyland argues hotly.

“Yeah, sure.”

“Will you lot shut the fuck up?” Hudson rises, his gun at the ready. “Here he comes.”

We all shift into formation, silent and deadly. I seal myself to Ember like superglue. She might’ve instigated this plan, but I’m not about to trust some stranger with a reputation like his. Regardless of his supposed allegiance to Blaine’s mother.

The infamous man himself scans some kind of security pass to swing open the locked gate, his attention fixed on where the CCTV camera ahead winks out of existence. The level of access he has is downright impressive. He’s fully infiltrated Madden’s ranks.

“You gonna stand there or what?” He adopts a slow, unbothered monotone “We’re on the clock.”

“Where is my mother?” Blaine demands.

Azrael’s mouth pinches, drawn into a dark glower. “She was summoned by Madden while I cleared the way. I believe she’s in his private wing now. Third floor.”

“You let her out of your sight?” Ember stamps towards him.

“Easy, I’m balancing a lot of spinning plates here. Angela can handle herself. She knows I wouldn’t leave this place without her.”

“We vowed to get her out.” Ember is practically vibrating with anger. “That’s a little hard to do when she’s in that monster’s clutches!”

Blaine unsheathes a glinting hunting knife. “I’ll get her.”

Before he can march past, Hudson flashes out a hand to halt him. “We all go in together. Stick to the plan.”

“She is my mother!”

“And we’ll get her out. I don’t break my promises.”

Following Ember’s route, I lay a hand on Blaine’s shoulder and clasp it. “She’ll be okay.”

“The minute my father hears our approach, he’ll kill her. She’s expendable to him.”

“She survived this long, Blaine. That doesn’t scream of expendable to me.”

“He’s right.” Azrael’s concession is reluctant. “Nolan has an affection for her that works in our favour.”

Blaine visibly deflates as we file into position behind Azrael’s massive bulk, all armed and prepared for the route ahead. While he may have redirected Madden’s security, I doubt the manufactured peace will last for long once fighting breaks out.