Page 176 of Villainous Rise

“Then our deal is off. If you can’t meet my expectations, I’ll terminate our arrangement.”

Havoc’s eyes flicked to me, then back to the screen.

“You don’t understand what you’re asking,” he said, his voice uncharacteristically quiet.

“I understand perfectly,” Wraith countered. “Bishop stays, or I go. Your choice.”

Havoc’s hands clenched into fists at his sides and he closed his eyes briefly, looking suddenly older than I’d ever seen him. When he opened them again, all they held was resignation.

“Fine,” he said finally.

“I’ve analyzed all the documentation,” Wraith continued. “Alexander Mercer doesn’t exist. The identity is fabricated, sophisticated enough to fool most systems, but still fake.”

“I know who Mercer is,” Havoc said, his voice grim. “Or rather, who was using that identity.” He paused, his jaw working as if the words themselves were painful to form.

Wraith’s silhouette remained perfectly still. “Go on.”

“It’s an alias for someone known as Halcyon.”

My lungs seized, refusing to expand. The edges of my vision darkened as blood rushed in my ears, drowning out everything else.

Halcyon.

“What?” I managed, my voice a strangled whisper.

Havoc was at my side instantly, his hand on my shoulder. “Annie, breathe. He can’t hurt you. He’s locked up.”

But his words seemed to come from miles away, distorted and meaningless. All I could hear was that name echoing in my head, all I could see was a face I’d spent years trying to forget.

Halcyon.

The man who’d murdered my parents, my brother. Who’d tried to murder me.

My cuff felt too tight, the metal burning against my skin. The power I’d absorbed from him, the ability I’d spent my entire life suppressing, seemed to pulse beneath my skin, responding to the mere mention of its original owner.

“Annie, focus on me,” Havoc was saying, his voice urgent. “You’re safe.”

I wasn’t safe. None of us were safe. If Halcyon was back, if he was behind the murders⁠—

The screen flickered and Wraith’s silhouette vanished, replaced by Cipher’s masked face.

“Annie,” he said, his voice no longer digitally altered. “Look at me.”

Havoc’s head snapped toward the screen, shock replacing concern. “What⁠—”

“Annie, breathe,” Cipher commanded. “In through your nose, out through your mouth. Focus on my voice.”

I tried to follow his instructions, but my chest felt like it was being crushed by an invisible weight. If Halcyon was back—if he knew I was alive⁠—

“I’m coming to you,” Cipher said. “Five minutes.”

The screen went dark.

“Annie,” Havoc said. “I need you to listen to me very carefully. Halcyon is still contained. He’s still in the Vault.”

“How can you be sure?” My chest was so tight, forcing the words out hurt.

“Because I check on him. Every single day. I have direct access to the security feeds. I’ve made it my personal responsibility to verify his containment since the day they locked him away. I check every morning, every evening.”