22. Ember
EMBER
ALL OF HUMAN KNOWLEDGE MADE US DUMB – SOFIA ISELLA
It turns out, the Madden family empire holds even more secrets than any of us realised. There’s not just one warehouse that escaped Sabre’s excavation of their infrastructure but a whole host of off-the-record, abandoned haunts.
Staring down at the city, I find myself contemplating the vast wealth and power of the career criminal who has aligned himself with our cause. Blaine’s thugs have sealed off all accessible routes behind a wall of armed muscle.
Only one way in.
And one way out.
After two days of silence, part of me doubted whether Gunnar Slaughter would agree to a meet. The lack of response was deafening. Particularly given Gael’s very real threat against us all. But when his text confirmation finally arrived, our plan was set in motion.
We’re here to drive a new bargain with the devil. Off the record and most definitely beyond the legal confines of Sabre’s operations. None of this is by the book, and if it goes wrong, we will certainly all hang for it.
“Do you think he’ll show?” I whisper to Warner.
“I’d say it’s unlikely.”
“The Hunter wants his brother, and he knows that Axel is with us. Won’t that incentivise him to come?”
“This isn’t on his terms,” Warner disagrees.
“How so?”
“We’re in Madden’s territory, and even if we’re not here in a professional capacity, we still represent Sabre to him. The Hunter may not believe that we’ll keep this meeting quiet.”
“I think curiosity will win out.” I watch the foreboding night for signs of life.
“Perhaps you’re right. But something tells me that Gunnar Slaughter isn’t the type of man to do anything he hasn’t orchestrated personally.”
“Then let’s hope you’re wrong.”
Like me, Warner studies the eerily quiet street. Here in the outskirts, we’re far from Central London’s chaos. This residential area provides the perfect protection for Blaine’s empty bolthole. Despite not being used in years, the old townhouse remained untouched by the authorities.
When I glance over my shoulder, the display of overt force behind us is enough to set my teeth on edge. Each member of our entourage is armed and ready for anything. Even Raye and Spyder, though neither are thrilled to be working beside Sabre agents.
It seems all battle lines have dissolved in the wake of the brewing storm. If Gael’s out for revenge, no one will be left untouched. Sabre or not. Agent or criminal. We’ve all worked to bring the cartel’s operation down, even from opposing sides. Now we’re all under threat.
“If The Hunter does show up, he won’t walk into a certain trap.” I eye the array of guns holstered in plain sight. “We have to come in peace.”
“This is as peaceful as it gets when meeting an internationally wanted criminal bounty hunter.”
“Warner… he’s our one shot at locating Gracie before Gael has her killed.”
“And we have no guarantee that he’ll help at all.” He heaves an aggrieved sigh. “So excuse me for being cautious.”
At the sound of Axel’s voice echoing behind us, Warner tenses up. He’s been a wall of carved tension ever since the extent of his teammate’s deceit was revealed. Honestly, it’s rare to see him so speechless.
Warner’s the fixer, the steady ship, the glue that binds this dysfunctional family unit together. Without him balancing out the competing forces in this team, I doubt it would exist at all. Now it feels like we’re all teetering dangerously close to an irrecoverable precipice.
“You have to talk to Axel sometime.” I try to remain diplomatic.
“Leave it, Em.”
“It’s been days. You won’t even look at him.”
“How I choose to manage this team is my decision. Not yours.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Drop it.”
His clipped rejection slaps me in the face. I swallow the ball in my throat then turn to peer up at Warner properly, trying to see past his Sabre-approved mask of professionalism.
“I’m trying to help you, but by all means, continue to act like a prick. Push us all away. Punish Axel for being forced to tell a lie against his will as a child. See how that works out for you.”
Warner casts a cold, icy blue shard over me, a riot of conflicting hurt and confusion cracking through his attempt to remain nonchalant. His poker face is shit when it comes to me.
“Why are you pushing this? Axel lied to you too.”
“Because we don’t have time to let the past tear us apart right now.” I grasp hold of his bicep and squeeze. “Be mad at him when we’re done fighting for our lives.”
“I don’t know if he can be trusted,” he lays out. “Until he regains that trust, I will treat Axel the same way I treat Madden. He’s an asset, not a member of this team.”
“How can you say that?”
“How could he lie to us all this time?” A vein pulses in Warner’s neck.
“He had no choice!”
“As a child, perhaps not. But he’s an adult and fully capable of choosing his own path. Instead, he chose to protect a murderer and keep an innocent locked up for a crime she didn’t commit.”
“Right.” I push him away then throw my hands up. “Because life is that black and white. We’re all just good and evil, murderers or innocent. It’s really that simple.”
His nostrils flare, conveying his annoyance. “In our world, it is. That’s how we do this job. We aren’t allowed the luxury of second chances.”
For the love of God, I really hope Axel can’t hear this. He’s unstable as it is—a pacing wreck of nerves, barely functioning or even communicating—so hearing Warner’s dismissal might just tip him over the edge.
“Then what the hell am I doing here?” I hit back at him.
“That’s different.”
“One rule for me and one for him?”
Rather than find a pitiful argument, he merely clenches his jaw shut.
“Just stop and think, Warner. You’re hurt and feeling betrayed. I get it . But don’t let that tear this team apart because I know for a fact you don’t believe it’s that simple.”
“I have nothing to say to him.” He hurls the words at me as if he’s tasted something unpleasant. “That’s all. Will you get off my back now?”
“No.”
“Fucking hell, Em. You can’t fix us all.”
“Axel is your family,” I implore through gritted teeth. “And family forgives each other last time I checked. Grow up, put your hurt ego aside, and be there for him. Else you’re not the man I thought you were.”
Warner looks like I’ve swept his feet out from underneath him when I storm off, unable to deal with his attitude for a moment longer. He’s hurting. I get it. I’m fucking hurt too. That doesn’t mean we give up on each other when shit gets real.
He knows that better than anyone.
Across the top floor of the empty terrace house, our stealth team has set up camp. Hyland looms over Rayna’s shoulder, watching the live video feed of the street. Blaine speaks in low murmurs with a sour-faced Raye and Spyder. Axel lingers, the silent mountain of solitude in the corner.
Not exactly the likeliest of alliances, but we aren’t here to arrest Gunnar Slaughter. No matter how long his rap sheet is. Today, we want his help. Only evil can sniff out its own, and I’m willing to sacrifice all kinds of moral high ground to end this fight.
“Anything?” I stop next to the technical setup.
“Negative.” Rayna twirls a chunk of lilac hair. “No signs of movement yet.”
Grimacing, Hyland rolls back his shoulders, attempting to mask his discomfort. “It’s still early. He’s only half an hour late.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m fine,” he replies. “Just a muscle spasm.”
“You should still be resting. Did you take your pain pills today?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Hyland squints at me.
“Less of the bad attitude, we’ve got enough of it in this room.”
This is precisely how I know we’re in trouble. I was not cut out to be the voice of reason between four overbearing men at loggerheads with each other.
“Nothing from the outpost?” I glance off to the side.
From their huddle, Blaine’s dark head lifts so his gaze can catch mine. He slips out from between his confidantes to approach our workstation, a thumb tucked into his belt loop.
“No, nothing yet.”
“Isn’t this guy known for being punctual?” I huff impatiently. “You know, professional assassin and all.”
“Bounty hunter,” Blaine corrects with an amused grin. “He doesn’t kill all his marks. Well, only the ones that he charges his clients a premium to quietly dispose of on their behalf.”
A cold chill crashes over me, bringing reality into sharp focus.
“Is that why you promised Axel to him?”
The sly bastard is utterly unrepentant as he shrugs like we’re discussing our favourite restaurants.
“I was merely trying to solve a problem for you.”
“By offering up my teammate as bait?” I blink repeatedly.
“His services demand a high price. Fortunately, I had something he wanted. It’s an easy trade.”
“Jesus, Blaine! You tried to have Axel killed!”
“Traded,” he counters. “Not killed.”
“Oh, sure. Because he was only hoping to take Axel on a little family picnic to reunite and reminisce about old times. Nothing more. Right?”
“Now that really isn’t a concern of mine.”
“You’re as bad as the rest of these idiots!”
“Ouch.” Blaine lays on a mock-pout. “Now that I take personally.”
“Ditto,” Hyland grumbles.
While Blaine doesn’t operate with a functioning moral compass, even for him, this situation is beyond belief. I don’t know whether to crash all their collective heads together or just walk away.
“Axel is going nowhere.” I massage the bridge of my nose, trying to breathe through the pain brewing behind my eyes. “Whatever The Hunter’s price, the previous deal is off the table.”
“He won’t like that.” Blaine’s ominous response has my fine hairs spiking.
“Well, if Gunnar Slaughter wants payment, he can bargain with Sabre Security for all the goddamn riches in the world. Members of our family are not for sale, and they never will be.”
“ Your family.” His smile falters, exposing a deep wound. “Not ours.”
Ignoring the multiple sets of eyes watching our exchange, I march straight into Blaine’s personal space to jab a finger in his firm chest.