Page 17 of Dark Reunion

Dean didn’t move. His chest heaved, his pulse thundered. “What do you mean you deployed the Righteous to destroy Alvarez’s warehouse?”

Carlos spread his hands. “Because I did and they are. I thought that was very self explanatory.”

Dean wanted to stomp across the space and wrap his hands around the old man’s throat until he stopped breathing.

“How?”

Carlos sat down at his desk and gestured to the chair across from him. Dean didn’t want to sit, but he crossed the room and took a seat.

“Much better. I was waiting for this to be a surprise for you, but I guess now is as good of a time to tell you as any. I acquired the secret organization a number of years back.”

“That’s impossible, it is a government op, they aren’t going to just sell the group to the highest bidder,” Dean argued.

“Although true…what proof did you have that you were working for a secret government group?”

Dean didn’t say anything. He’d never questioned it before until now.

“In all fairness, they used to be during World War I and II, but they were disbanded.”

Dean knew the story, but thought it was nothing more than a myth. “Lies.”

Carlos chuckled and the hair stood on the back of Dean’s neck. He knew that laugh all too well.

“Is it? The original group was disbanded, but one of the members didn’t take too kindly to being kicked out and told to carry on in the real world like he never mattered. He not only took over and resumed operations, but he also knew that money was going to be needed to keep you outfitted with the best tech, weapons, and backup.”

Carlos stood, as he paused and Dean knew that it was for dramatic effect. The issue was that it was working. He watched his father wander over to the table near the window and despite the early time, he poured himself a glass of whiskey before turning to face Dean once more.

“At first the jobs were all above board and there were rules in place to make sure that the soldiers were only going after those that deserved it. Just like when you were all enlisted, this gave you focus and purpose. He gave you all just enough freedom to do what you wanted but also fed you the odd job. The packages would come anonymously, a message sent to your cellphone with a target. Any of this sounding familiar?”

Dean swallowed but didn’t say anything. Keeping his face passive, he leaned back in the chair and tapped his fingers on the arm as if bored.

“Fine, don’t speak, I know it to be true. I mean who do you think paid for supplies, the weapons, transportation, and everything else needed? You think that stuff is free? Do you really think a the government that wouldn’t give its soldiers the needed equipment, had no issues shelling out millions to keep the likes of you with the very best? Come now, Mercurio, you’re smarter than that.” His cruel smile sharpened. “No, hijo. I saw the value in such an organization, and it fell into my lap.”

“You mean you killed who was in charge,” Dean stated.

“I never said that I acquired it by legal means.”

Dean’s stomach churned. This was how Carlos had found Dean’s family.

“How long?”

“I can’t give away all the surprises in one meeting.” Carlos smirked, sipping his drink while Dean’s stomach churned like it was filled with bile and fire.

“How long?” Dean growled and stood.

“Long enough to watch you grieve your friend and track your great escape across the desert. Ever wonder who leaked your mission?” Carlos smirked.

The floor tilted beneath Dean. Every mission. Every person he watched senselessly die. Every night he thought he was purging monsters. He’d been his father’s knife all along.

“You’re lying.” His voice was rough like gravel. “You wouldn’t have been able to keep from gloating.”

Carlos’s laughter filled the office, deep and mocking. “You see the look on your face? That is why I kept the truth until now. To savor this moment for when you were back under my roof. All that blood you spilled for righteousness…it was my empire you strengthened. My enemies you destroyed. Even Alvarez bled by your hand, though you never knew it. I gave you all just enough horrible targets that you wouldn’t question who was in charge. It was all to make you believe that the ghosts in the shadows pulling your strings were real.”

Dean lunged.

He didn’t think, didn’t measure. Rage detonated in his chest, and he launched across the room, hands reaching for his father’s throat.

But the guards that had been standing in the corners had been expecting it. They hit him from both sides, slamming him to the floor. His shoulder cracked against tile and his breath blasted from his lungs. Dean roared, fought, but more weight piled on, boots pinning his arms, knees grinding into his spine.