The Syndicate Read online

  I make myself comfortable and sit up against the base of a tree with my knife in my lap. Not knowing how long I’ll be here, I decide to take out a power bar and start snacking. Not because I’m hungry or need energy, but because it relaxes me. I don’t like to overthink things, especially right before an attack. I do the thinking beforehand. Now, I prefer to let my instincts take over.

  I’m down to my last bite when I hear the garage door open. Quickly, I stuff the wrapper in my pocket and wrap my fingers around the knife.

  As he makes his way down the driveway, he brings with him the grinding sounds of the trash bin’s plastic wheels on asphalt. I decide to wait until he’s dropped the bin off at the curb and is on his way back.

  I’m taken by surprise when he starts whistling. Either these Hybrids are really evolving, or this guy has really just been changed. But, it can’t be too recent. His spine is already changing. Rosie saw it. He is one.

  He makes his way back up the driveway, and all that’s left between us is the black of night. I make my move. At first, his eyes widen, as he doesn’t know what’s pouncing from the trees.

  He’s unsure whether to scream or shout. I’m intruding on his property. What am I? Is it a deer or a fox? No, I think, the black haze coming for you is your death.

  He’s so shocked, I almost think he’s human. His lips part in confusion. I’m about to hesitate until I notice his incisors advance from his gums. Nearly drooling in preparation for a defense, he prepares himself to do what the Hybrid nature in him wants to do, except it’s too late. I slice my saber across his throat, deep enough to silence any potential noise.

  I swing myself around him, grabbing the top of his hair, being sure to hold his head still so he can’t bite me. He jerks back and forth and tries to growl, but the only sound that comes is gurgling. Wildly, his hands grip at my arms, scratching and digging as his nails extend.

  Wasting no more time, I finish him by severing the base of his neck.

  His body goes limp immediately. I return my knife to my pant-leg pocket and stuff him in a special sack that tonight, ironically, resembles a trash bag. I then hoist him over my shoulder and carry him to the trunk of one of our “family cars.” This one is a dark grey Lincoln, resembling an unmarked police car. All of this occurs within forty seconds from the time I initiated the kill.

  I drive off, leaving it to the police to figure out the mystery of what happened. His family will be distraught at first, I’m sure, but they’ll be better off in the long run—not really knowing what he was.

  Chapter 3

  SECOND ASSIGNMENT

  I pull into the garage as Dani is unloading his own trash bag.

  “Waz up, bro?” he says.

  “Nothing much. You?”

  “Nothing here.”

  We drag our bags over to the incinerator, where the Hybrids disappear from a world we won’t allow them to live in. Neither one of us discusses any details about our targets. The Guard is not about bragging or telling tales. What we do is about upholding a code, not boasting about it.

  It’s just an unspoken rule to do our job. We finish disposing of our assignments, and Dani punches me in my arm.

  “You want to shoot hoops tomorrow?” he asks.

  I punch him back and pivot out of his reach. “Damn straight.”

  It’s eleven o’clock by the time I reach my room. Rosie is waiting on my bed.

  She sits up immediately. “You’re back.”

  I throw my keys on the desk and take off my boots. “You didn’t think I would be?”

  “Well, yes, I did. But I just have this weird feeling. I just wanted to make sure, that’s all.”

  “You’re not a Reader,” I joke.

  She sucks her teeth. “Yeah, whatever. I still have instincts.”

  “And what do your instincts tell you?”

  Without taking even a second to think about it, she answers, “They tell me things are going to get ugly. I mean, that was a public figure you just killed.”

  “No, that was a Hybrid,” I correct.

  “Yeah, but he was a public figure, and his disappearance is not going to go over easy. What if the Hybrids are getting smarter, and what if they notice, and what if they start planning something big?”

  “You’re making my head spin, Rosie. Chill out. What’s done is done.”

  Feeling a need to relax and get out of my blood-smeared shirt, I pull it over my head. She rolls her eyes. I say, “What? Is it too much hotness for you? Does your boyfriend not have these abs?”

  “Oh, please. Maybe if your body was proportionate to your gigantic head, you might actually get a girl to think so.”

  “Funny. Real funny.” I smile.

  “I’m out of here,” she groans.

  Talking about myself is always a good way to get rid of her. She turns before she leaves. “Are you ready for me to work on number two yet, or do you want to do some sit-ups first?”

  I smile at the wittiness. “No, I’m going to shower. You can start on Riley.”

  The next morning, Henri has the dining room table set for a formal meal. All of my Syndicate brothers are already seated.

  “To what do we owe all this?” I ask.

  Alexandru places a napkin in his lap. “We’ve been invited to share our good fortune.” He raises his glass of cranberry juice and takes a sip.

  I look around. I don’t recall the invite, and since when do we come together as a whole to share our fortune?

  “Come on, cuz. I saved you a seat.” Dani is smiling something devious and patting the chair next to him. I take him up on the offer. After all, he’s the only other one wearing sweats. We might as well band together.

  “Where’s Petric and Andre?”

  Henri finally speaks up. “They’re working. Apparently behind on their duties.” Behind? It’s only been a week. “At least behind the rest of you,” he clarifies. “You all have already completed your first assignment for this cycle. I’m so impressed, I wanted to share a wonderful breakfast.”

  I haven’t had a chance to sign off on my kill in the books yet, so I wonder how he knows my first job is complete. Something in me tells me to keep quiet, but my curiosity is killing me.

  “I haven’t recorded my kill yet,” I say.

  Alexandru, Nicolae, Ovidui, and Simon let out a small laugh, as if I’m missing something. I look at Henri.

  “Ah, yes, Vasile. I’m aware of that. But when you’re seen taking a load to the incinerator and leaving empty handed, one must assume. Am I correct?”

  I nod my head slowly. He isn’t wrong, but I wonder who was monitoring the garage at night. Henri must’ve read my expression.

  “You see, Vasile, we are in new, trying times, and I have increased the security by installing more cameras on the exteriors. I simply saw you on the video during my last sweep of the property.”

  He wasn’t kidding when he said things were different. I immediately think that the security explanation is an excuse to hide the fact that he fears an internal breach of trust. He gives me a look that seems to urge me to remember our prior conversation.

  Our kitchen staff brings in trays of food and places them on the table. Dani is the first to dig in. He grabs waffles, eggs, and bacon. I absently take the same.

  Across the table, Alexandru selects a croissant and eggs. Nicolae, Ovidui, and Simon stick with bacon and eggs.

  Spreading peach jam on his croissant, Alexandru calls Henri’s bluff. “You know, Henri, cameras aren’t needed here. This is the last place a Hybrid would want to visit.”

  I can’t help but smile as I bury my face in my plate. Alexandru is one hundred percent correct. Hybrids wouldn’t dare come here. Not only are their worst nightmare assassins inside, but our dogs are too. Karelian Bear dogs roam the property inside and out. They make themselves so much at home here, we almost never see them, relaxing in their own space until it’s time to work or when called on. They’re an extension of us. The Hybrids would have to face about five dogg
y nightmares before even reaching us. Not a good idea.

  Henri finishes eating his own croissant and jam. We all watch as he savors each bite. When he finally speaks, even I’m nearly convinced of the necessity. “True. That has been the case for centuries. But something tells me that these Hybrids are evolving in a way that we couldn’t imagine. And if you’ve noticed, they seem to be multiplying at a rate faster than what we’re used to. So I don’t think you’ll argue that it’s wise to take extra precautions.”

  Nicolae, nearly finished with his eggs, leans back and wipes his mouth with his cloth napkin. “What are you saying, Henri?”

  “I’m saying there can never be too many precautions to protect my family, even if it seems unnecessary.”

  That fizzles everyone’s curiosity. They appear at ease now that Henri has admitted that he is possibly overreacting and not actually thinking a Hybrid would be so bold. I’m not sure what to think. One thing is for sure. Nothing is fizzling in my mind. Henri is keeping a close eye on the place, and I don’t like it. Not one bit.

  I finish the last of my breakfast and excuse myself from the table.

  “But Vasile, I haven’t been able to inquire if you need anything.”

  I turn and look at Henri with both brows raised in confusion.

  “That’s one of the reasons I brought you all together. I want to make sure you all have the resources you need to finish your work.”

  I look around and see that my brothers are all just as taken aback as I am.

  “As in?” I ask.

  “As in, do you need any more weapons or anything I can arrange?”

  Nicolae speaks up. “You really are going overboard, Henri. We have everything we need, and, if we don’t, we can—”

  “Nicolae, thank you for your enlightening comment, but, as I said before, we may be dealing with a new kind. It is my duty to make sure you are prepared.”

  Henri’s eyes are locked on mine. I shift my head a fraction, wondering what Henri knows that I don’t.

  Alexandru stands and casually tosses his napkin on his empty plate. “Did anyone have a hard time killing their Hybrid this time?” We all glance at each other and shake our heads. “See, Henri…relax. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have another Hybrid to kill. I’ll see you at the next Circle.”

  Henri nods, still trying to pretend he hasn’t just doubted our competency.

  After breakfast, I decide to make my kill official and record it in our record book, which is kept where we hold our Circle meetings. I find William Stafford’s initials next to mine and put yesterday’s date next to it. That stands for the day he died. As I make my way out, I pass Andre and Petric entering.

  “Recording?” I ask.

  Petric perks up. “Damn straight. This just gets more and more fun.”

  I pat each of them on the back as I step by.

  “Hey, Vasi, you want to shoot some hoops?” Andre asks.

  “Definitely.”

  Shortly after, I meet them and Dani outside. It’s early fall, so the weather is perfect for playing. I team up with Dani and we beat the socks off of them.

  Dani ends up punching Petric in the arm. “I don’t know why you guys continue to torture yourselves. You can’t beat us.”

  “Keep talking and you’ll eat those words.” Petric can’t hold back a smile as he threatens Dani, initiating a full wrestling match right there on the concrete.

  I shake my head and back my way toward the house.

  Dani grunts and yells after me. “Hey, Vasi, you can’t leave, man. What happened to having my back?”

  “Not for nonsense.” I laugh and leave them to hash it out.

  I elect to shower and eat dinner in my room for the sole purpose of avoiding Henri, which is weird. It’s just easier to eat without feeling like Henri is trying to read me. After watching an old movie, I’m able to block out thoughts of Henri and of mistrusting the loyalty of one of my brothers. But soon my peaceful solitude is broken as Rosie bursts through the door.

  “Oh. My. God,” she pants.

  I jerk up from my bed. “What is it now?”

  She starts pacing the small room, her eyes looking everywhere but at me. I finally grab her by the shoulders. “Rosie, stop. What is it?”

  She blinks a few times and takes a deep breath.

  “I found your Riley.”

  “And?”

  “And Riley Lee Bennett is a she.”

  Chapter 4

  COMING TO TERMS

  “A what?”

  Rosie wriggles free and pushes my chest like she wants to knock some sense into me. “A she, you know, a girl. She is a she.”

  “Yeah, right.”

  “Vasile. Do I look like I’m playing around here?”

  I stare into her eyes. The eyes that look so much like my mother’s. Usually warm, fun, inviting, and happy. Only now, none of those qualities are shining through, because there is no doubt—I see fear in them.

  “You’re serious, aren’t you?”

  She looks at me and turns her head to the side, eyes still on me, with her nostrils flaring. “Yeah, so you better tell me you accidentally got the name wrong.”

  I didn’t keep the paper. We never do. Once we see the names and have all the information, we destroy it. That’s just another way to ensure the Syndicate’s survival. But I don’t forget or mix up names.

  “Riley Lee Bennett of Fairfax, Virginia. I remember it well.”

  She drops her shoulders. “Yeah, me too.”

  “So then maybe there’s another Riley Bennett.”

  “There isn’t.”

  There has to be. For one, we don’t harm women. And two, females can’t be Hybrids. The DNA doesn’t mix. Never has. There can be absolutely no way my assignment is a girl.

  “There’s no mistake, Vasile. I’ve been searching since yesterday. There’s only one Riley Lee Bennett, and I’m positive it is a she. And what’s worse is that she’s not infected. I mean, I know girls can’t be anyway, but when I found out she was a girl, I thought maybe things had changed. But tonight, I saw her. And I’m positive she is not a Hybrid.”

  “Of course she isn’t.”

  “Then what the hell is going on?”

  “I don’t know. Why are you looking at me?”

  “Because you’re the one assigned to kill her. Now what are you going to do about it?”

  I turn around and pace my room a few times, but come up empty. I have no intention of killing a girl, but I also know the Readers wouldn’t make a mistake that big. Something is happening, and there is only one thing I can do. As much as I’m dreading it, I have to pay a visit to Henri.

  After a faint knock on his study door and a few long moments, Stefan opens the door.

  His eyes narrow. “Hey, son. What brings you at this hour?”

  I nod a silent hello. “To speak with Henri, sir.”

  His brows raise and he turns back to the study, prompting Henri to give his acceptance in a calm and melodious voice. “It’s quite all right, Stefan. Bring him in.”

  I hurry past and give Henri an intense, silent stare. He immediately picks up on my mood.

  “Stefan, can you leave us? I’d like to speak with Vasile alone.”

  Backing his way toward the door and casting his gaze between us, he bows and says, “Certainly.”

  As soon as the door closes, I lean over Henri’s desk.

  “Henri, I think there’s a mistake with my assignment.”

  “Why would you say that?” he replies, casually leaning back in his chair.

  I sit down to keep myself calm, but still lean forward and nearly whisper, “Because it’s a female.” I expect a look of shock, but it never comes. “Henri?” I prod.

  He begins slowly rocking in his chair with an unchanged expression.

  I straighten up. “So you know about this?”

  “Sit down, Vasile. Of course I know.”

  “How?” I ask.

  “Because I saw the name.”

 
I’m not letting up that easily. He’s holding something back and I’m sure as hell going to get it out of him.

  “The name is not a girl’s name. How did you know it was a girl?”

  “Oh, come on, Vasile.” He takes out a cigar and lights it. “A name is a name, and that one can certainly be a girl.”

  I lean over his desk again, eyes fixed on him.

  “Henri, I will not believe you knew this was a girl just by the name. And if you think I’m going to kill a female without answers, you are highly mistaken. My father would roll over in his grave.”

  He looks at me and places his cigar in the tray. “All right, so be it. One of the Readers approached me the night before the Circle, just as stunned as you are now. Readers cannot help what they see, and they certainly cannot deny it.”

  “So what did she see? Riley Bennett is not a Hybrid. It’s impossible.”

  He sits up now, taking the tone to the next level. “I’ve tried to warn you, Vasile, that times are changing. These Hybrids are evolving in a way our ancestors never anticipated.”

  “She is not a Hybrid.”

  He slaps his palm on the desk. “How do you know?”

  “Because Rosie saw her.”

  “Rosie only sees things from a distance. You cannot rely on her.”

  Of course I rely on her, and right about now I trust her way more than I trust Henri.

  “Henri, she’s not infected, and you and I both know that, so why don’t you tell me why I’m expected to kill this person and burn her body like some trash.”

  He stands now, leaning to within an inch of my face. I’m taller than he is, but he makes his presence known. “Because the Reader foresees that this girl is responsible for bringing down the entire Syndicate. Down. Gone. No more. No longer able to do our job and protect the people. Do you understand?”

  I lean away, trying to sort it through my mind.

  “Gone? How is that possible?”

  “Vasile, you have already asked more questions than should be tolerable. I am telling you that a Reader saw her as the ruin of everything we stand for and do, and frankly, son, I don’t give a damn if she is female or not. She must be dealt with, and swiftly. Now you have an order, and I suggest you carry it out or everything your father taught you will be for nothing.”