Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
GHOST
The Code: Rule #12
To kill another Mask without a direct order is the highest form of treachery. Protect your brothers at all costs.
I wait until I see Brett on her home video camera to call Orion to bring the truck. I should be thinking about how I will extract information from Xander, but the only thing that preoccupies my mind is the look on Brett’s face earlier.
She hates me. Really, truly despises me. There’s an aching in my chest I haven’t felt in so long, and I don’t know what to do about it. My bottle has been licked clean, and there’s nothing left of her to calm me down and make this horrible ache go away .
A ragged cry tears from my chest, and I slump to my knees, holding my head in my hands. Why won’t she see me? If she could only understand. I don’t want to hurt her—not anymore. I need her now more than ever. The fact is so apparent, it’s sickening.
And she doesn’t fucking need me back.
I take a deep breath as screeching tires alert me to Orion’s arrival. Straightening, I glide over to the crime scene while I wait for the truck to appear. Xander’s blinding blue eyes glare with all the words the gag won’t let him. His partner—Tate, I think—lies dead at his side, ruddy brown eyes staring lifelessly at the ceiling.
I just shake my head, a low chuckle rumbling in my chest as I stare at Xander’s bare face. I’m sure he misses his mask sorely, but he won’t need it where we’re heading.
He yells nonsense through the gag, and I sigh, reaching down to pull it from his mouth.
“What is it?” I tap my foot impatiently against the concrete. “You want to speak? Do so.”
“Rot in hell, traitorous bastard.” Xander spits at me, but his aim is off, and it flies somewhere off to my left.
How embarrassing. I sigh tiredly, putting the gag back in place. “You can’t even spit right. What kind of a Disposer are you?”
The man’s eyes shoot fire at me, and I can’t help but let out another laugh. “I can’t wait to see how long you keep that look after Orion gets to you.” For a moment, he frowns, his eyes seeming to ask, who’s Orion?
On cue, Orion's rusted blue truck pulls around the corner, aiming straight for Tate’s head. In slow motion, the massive wheel rolls over his head, sending brains and blood spewing all over Xander. Xander’s face pales, looking like he’s going to lose his lunch. He doesn’t even blink—just stares at the headless body of what used to be his partner.
“Yee-haw!” Orion whoops, holding his head out of the window like a damn dog. Jesus Christ, the kid is twisted. “Did you see me, Ghost? Damn, I wish I got that on video.”
Little fucking psychopath. “Couldn’t miss it. Now park the damn thing and help me get these bodies in the trunk.”
Orion grins like he just won the lottery, pulling up next to Xander and hopping out next to us. “You left one alive.”
I try to ignore the excited sheen in those baby blues. “Yes. I need some… information. Answers, really.”
Orion stalks toward Xander, rubbing his hands together like a greedy little fly. “We’re gonna have fun, you and I.”
Xander looks from me to the murderous glint in Orion’s eyes and seems genuinely terrified. He shakes his head wildly at me, his eyes screaming please just kill me.
I roll my eyes, jerking my chin toward the bed. Orion helps me throw Xander into the trunk, and then we toss Tate on top of him. Something about the wind resistance, Orion said. If there’s something to hold him down, there will be less drag. It’s science, man.
It doesn’t sound too plausible to me, but what the hell do I know? I’m certainly not going to argue with Orion when he gets that bloodthirsty look in his eyes. I taught him, after all. If he wanted to, I’m sure he could find some way to kill me if he put a sliver of effort into it.
It’s a good thing he’s lazy as fuck. A lazy lion, content to have someone else bring him his prey.
“Absolutely not. You are not driving,” I say, slapping Orion's hand away from the driver's side door handle. He pushes his lower lip out, and I almost want to remind him how ridiculous it looks on him. Yes, he’s a teenage boy, but he’s also a murderous, narcissistic psychopath. It’s just plain silly at this point.
“Go on. Get,” I shoo him away, rolling my eyes at the glare he sends my way. “Yee-haw motherfucker. I’m the captain of this ship.”
Orion rolls his baby blues, jumping into the passenger seat. “You’re so lame .”
“One more word, and I deal with Xander myself.”
Orion gasps, jerking back like I heavily offended him. “You wouldn’t.”
“I would.” I glance over at Orion as I pull the truck into drive. “And put on your seat belt, for fuck’s sake.”
Orion grumbles but does as he’s told. After all, you get more with sugar than vinegar—and there’s a Xander-sized dessert waiting for him.
Sometimes, dealing with teenagers isn’t so hard.
Dealing with teenagers is fucking impossible.
“Orion, you’re not supposed to kill him before I get my information,” I remind him, placing my hand on his shoulder. Orion wheels around with a wild look in his eye, holding his bloodied knife to my throat like I taught him.
“Make one move, and I’ll gut you. Calm. Down. ”
The fog in Orion’s eyes clears, and he blinks down at my dagger tip pressed against his sternum. “Shit. I didn’t realize that was there.”
I roll my eyes, pocketing my dagger as Orion lowers his arm. “That’s because you let your emotions get to you. You’re not thinking. You need to breathe. Do not let the bloodlust win.”
Orion nods, rubbing his nose with the back of his hand. “Sorry. Let me try again?”
I look over his shoulder at Xander, barely holding on by a thread as it is. “Maybe later. He can’t go through much more.”
Orion sighs, throws down his blade, and storms from the room. I roll my eyes, picking the blade up off the ground and walking over to Xander. I crouch in front of him, looking up at the mutilated mess that remains of his face. His ears and nose have been cut off, leaving several gaping holes in place of what were once handsome features. Blood oozes from several deep gashes along his torso and extremities, and with every small movement, more red drips to the concrete floor.
“Have you had enough, Xander?” I whisper, tilting his chin up so I can look him in the eyes. He peeks through flesh swollen to thin slits, and I know—I know I’ve broken him. He heard me and the boy talking. He knows Orion will keep coming back until he’s nothing but a useless, bloody stump. His last moments will be nothing but pure agony, whereas I can offer him salvation.
I can offer him a swift death.
Xander closes his eyes and nods, his shoulders slumping inward.
“Good,” I murmur, standing back up. “Who ordered you to kill the girl?”
Even now, it looks like Xander will resist. But after another moment of thought, he sighs dejectedly. “We got the order from high up.” He raises his head, struggling to open those slits. “Madam herself.”
My heart skips, but I keep my posture rigid, refusing to show emotion to this slug. “Why? What’s so important about Brett?”
Xander throws his head back, hacking a wet, rattling laugh. “And I thought Phantoms were supposed to know everything. You guys are a bunch of frauds.”
I shake my head, clenching my fist around the hilt of my dagger. “ Tell me, Xander.”
He lowers his head, a nasty smile on his mouth showcasing the bloodied stumps he has left of his teeth. “It’s because of you, Phantom.” He spits—again, missing me entirely. “She thinks you care for her, that she’s a distraction. Madam wants her gone, even if you won’t do it. Especially if you won’t do it.”
My shoulders tense. I should have realized. Why didn’t—why didn’t I notice this sooner? Of course she didn’t buy my act at our last meeting. I questioned a direct order from the Madam. No, it's worse than that. I disobeyed.
The Disposer cackles like he can read my mind. “So it’s true? You do care for her. God, that’s fucking pathetic.”
“Don’t you fucking say that,” I whisper, taking a step closer. “Don’t you dare fucking say that.”
“Why?” he mocks. “It is. You think she’s going to love you back? You think she’s going to let you of all people come near her? Touch her?” He hacks another laugh. “I’ve heard stories about you, Phantom. How your skin looks like melted candle wax from all the times you accidentally hurt yourself. How your eyes and hair are white like some Phantom freak. ” Xander grins his toothless smile, what’s visible of his eyes taunting me. “She’s going to take one look at you and scream. Or, better yet, shoot you in the fucking face. I bet you’d look better like that if the stories are t?—”
I don’t realize I’ve slit Xander’s jugular until his head falls onto his chest and that awful red pours from the deep gash in the side of his neck.
Fuck.
I sigh, wiping the blade on Xander’s pants leg before pocketing it. I wanted to get a few more answers out of him before I did that, but I suppose now is as good a time as any. After all, he told me the main thing I needed to know.
That Brett is in danger. Horrible, awful danger.
A growl sounds deep in my chest as I storm from the room, taking the steps two at a time to get back to the main level of the house. Orion gives me a strange look as I pass by where he’s seated at the kitchen island but otherwise says nothing. As angry as Orion can get, he’s got nothing on my lifetime of hurt and anguish.
I’ve already had enough taken from me. I won’t let them have Brett.
With that thought, I jump into the truck and peel off into the mouth of the forest. Toward Brett Evangeline’s apartment.