Page 96 of The Cult

“Do you know why?” I laced my boots, hoping for more information. I really needed my phone so I could get Archer and Heath here. Right now would’ve been the best time to escape while everyone was out in the field.

“Not a clue.” Sterling shook his head. “I bet it’s something to do with the fight.” He grimaced, his face turning pale, just like it had when we watched the recordings a couple of days ago.

“Hey.” I tapped his cheek, hoping to snap him out of whatever had gripped his thoughts. “Everything’s gonna be fine.”

Sterling met my stare and nodded. “Okay,” he said. “By the way, where were you last night? I was looking for you, but no one was here.” He studied my face.

“Abel and I went to see the rest of the guys at North Compound, but they’re gone,” I admitted. I didn’t want to lie to Sterling. It wasn’t fair on him, especially when I would need his help breaking out of here. “Every single one of the guys is gone. No guards either.”

“What?” His brows furrowed in confusion. “Where did they go?”

“Dunno. The door was wide open, and it was a ghost town out there.”

“Do you think—”

His questions were interrupted by the blaring of an alarm blasting in the hallway. “EVERYONE OUT!” the guard yelled. As if the assault on our ears wasn’t already loud enough, he banged his club on our metal door. “You two. OUT!”

“Let’s go.” I tapped Sterling’s back before joining the rest of the guys running outside.

Sterling and I joined the ranks of guards on the field. The lines were four men wide and seven to eight deep. I studied everyone’s faces—some of the men were unfamiliar to me. The sun had barely risen, and because of the sudden drop in temperature, we were surrounded by fog. It was hard to see past thirty feet. The mist blanketing us hid the secret of this impromptu assembly.

A surge of adrenaline pulsed through my veins, sharpening my senses and guiding my every move. A crunching of tires on gravel coming from my left caught my attention. I cast a glance toward the source of the sound and found three black Suburbans breaking through the haze. Unlike most of the vehicles in The Creed—except for the one that chauffeured Orcus around—these SUVs were in much newer condition. Their black tinted windows served as a veil, hiding whoever was inside.

To my right, four men marched toward us, and at the center of them was Orcus. He was wearing a military outfit, complete with medals embellishing his chest and shoulders. What a piece of work. He positioned himself in front of the vehicles at the middle of our formation, sporting a smug face with dead eyes. I’d heard narcissists were like that. Their eyes always gave them away.

Every guard except me stood straight and directed their attention to him. He fucking ate this shit up. The authority. The pageantry. All of it. He got off on making everyone worship him like a god.

What are you up to? I dissected the scene unfolding before me, analyzing every detail through an assassin’s eye. Never let them know your next move, El Jefe said in my head. I looked back to see if the trainees were out here to join us. And, if I was being honest, I was hoping to see Abel. They weren’t out. It was probably for the best, since his presence would only divide my attention.

Three of the four guards stationed beside Orcus made their way to the back seats of the SUVs. Each one reached for the door handle, ready to open it. Orcus nodded and the first guard pried the door open.

Two men emerged from the SUV. They exuded an aura of strength, with stoic faces and piercing eyes. I knew they were not to be messed with. Their imposing presence loomed over the assembled guards. The two newcomers joined Orcus, standing by his side.

The second SUV followed suit, spilling another pair of men, similar in build to the first duo but noticeably younger. Their faces held a hardness that negated their youth, eyes sharp and alert, their every movement screamed fuck around and find out. Like the first two men, they made their way to Orcus’s side.

The last guard pulled the lever of the Suburban and the final SUV’s door creaked open. Only one man emerged, but his presence was no less commanding than the others. He strode forward and merged with his group.

Then it dawned on me: these were the fighters Orcus had chosen to battle with the trainees. That had to be the only reason why their arrival required such a fuss. But there were only five; there should have been six. A wall of heavy fog rolled in, partially blocking my view of the third vehicle with its door remaining wide open. My anticipation built, coiling like a serpent ready to strike. And then, the sixth man emerged from the vehicle.

As he walked to join Orcus, the fog lifted and he came into view.

My eyes widened in utter disbelief. I blinked several times to make sure I wasn’t imagining it. I knew his face. The Wolf. An assassin from The Firm.

What the fuck is he doing here and how the hell is Orcus associated with a man like him? This was no coincidence; everything was part of a bigger plan. My past had taught me that lesson. The Wolf stood next to a grinning Orcus.

“I wanna welcome you all to The Creed,” Orcus greeted the fighters.

The Wolf didn’t speak. He couldn’t speak. No one in The Firm ever heard him talk. Someone made the mistake of calling him mute during a team hit in Argentina, and El Jefe had to rush the fucker who mocked him to the emergency room to fix the guy’s broken nose and jaw.

I bowed my head when The Wolf scanned the lineup of guards. He would recognize me, and that was bad news because he was still affiliated with The Firm. So many questions flooded my brain. I needed to call Archer. There could only be one reason why one of The Firm’s deadliest mercenaries was here. I’d only met The Wolf a couple of times, but assassins never forgot. Fuck! What if he was matched with Abel?

Orcus cleared his throat and stepped forward, his presence drawing the attention of everyone gathered around him. “As you all know,” he began, his voice carrying an ominous weight, “tomorrow is a big day.” His eyes swept over the assembly; each guard’s gaze was fixed on him. “A special day. The fight that we’ve been preparing for.” His tone was tinged with a sinister edge. “These fighters were carefully selected, and millions of dollars are on the line for the fight tomorrow.” His features hardened, his ruthless eyes gleamed. “Tomorrow, we will show who holds the power. And anyone who dares to stand in our way better watch out.” He raised his fist.

The guards copied his move and cheered like they were hailing a dictator.

An evil smile crept across his lips as he surveyed the mob, each one a pawn in his world. “Tomorrow’s match is not just about victory. It’s about dominance. It’s about showing that we are the ones who decide who lives and who dies.”

With a final nod, Orcus turned on his heels and strode away.

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