Page 75 of King of Envy

I’d been the biggest thorn in the Brotherhood’s side for years. I was the one that got away—a living and breathing reminder of their failure.

They were one of the world’s most elite groups of assassins and contract killers, and I was the only person in their hundred-year history to face them head-on and win.

Killing me would restore their honor. Most importantly, the side that succeeded would’ve demonstrated the qualities they valued most: Strength. Skill. Power.

“I stayed with Shepherd. The devil you know and all that. He tasked me with killing you and making it look like an accident. I may have purposely slacked on the job, but it was convincing enough that they didn’t suspect a double-cross.”

“Why?”

The smart move would’ve been to take me out and earn himself a spot in Shepherd’s good graces. Then again, with the Brotherhood at war, those good graces didn’t mean shit if the other faction won.

This was all assuming Roman was telling the truth. I had no way of verifying in the moment, so I had to operate like he was until I checked out his story. Thoroughly.

“The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” He shrugged. “I don’t pledge allegiance to either faction anymore. I want out from under both of them. But I can’t take them on my own, which is why I need your help.”

I waited.

“I provide the intel and inside knowledge. You provide the money and resources,” he elaborated. “I would’ve waited for you to find me first, but circumstances have changed, and your men were taking too damn long. So I left a little clue at the garage to speed them along.”

Roman glanced around my office again. He was either an Oscar-winning actor, or he was genuinely jumpy about the Brothers finding him here. “I haven’t fully earned back the Brothers’ trust after a previous indiscretion. They’re keeping close tabs on me, and I couldn’t risk making direct contact until they were…distracted.”

“Seems like they have reason not to trust you.” It was a bright red flag. First rule of survival: don’t trust a double-crosser. If they could betray their previous allegiances, they could betray you. But if the Brothers were privy to his general whereabouts… “Who’s the ‘they’ from your note?”

Find me before they do.

Roman’s face shuttered. “Someone I crossed paths with while I was hiding from the Brotherhood.”

A world of secrets hid behind those words.

I’d bet my entire company that his “previous indiscretion” was the leaked Sunfolk contract and that was the reason he’d been hiding from the Brothers. What drew him back out, and who had he crossed paths with? Who had the power to unsettle an experienced killer?

All intriguing questions, but not ones I had time to delve into right now. Until I verified what he’d already told me, I would keep things simple.

“If you take out the leaders of both factions,” I said, “you become the new de facto leader of the Brotherhood. Convenient.”

Roman said he wanted out from under both of them; he hadn’t said he wanted out, period.

The organization followed old world pack rules. The strongest rose to the top. The members wouldn’t follow anyone else.

If Roman killed Shepherd and the leader of the other faction, he would be the strongest, and leadership would pass to him unless someone challenged him.

“Smart. I was right to come to you.” A genuine smile touched his mouth. “Yes, I have deeply selfish reasons for why I want the leadership role, but it’ll be beneficial for you too. Once I take over, the animosity between you and the Brotherhood will be wiped. Forever. I’ll make sure of it.”

“You expect me to believe you?”

“Of course not. But my word is better than nothing.” Roman nodded at my gun. “Your truce held as long as the Brotherhood feared you. Unfortunately, that same fear has turned you into their biggest target. The only reason they haven’t made another move on you yet is because of certain…developments in the war. Distractions. Once they sort those out, they’ll be after you again.”

“What developments?”

He let out a soft laugh. “Nice try. I’ve already told you enough. If you want more, you’ll have to give something in return.” Roman studied me. “Your old sources on the Brotherhood have dried up. They’re dead or retired. I’m your only active link to the organization, and I’m the only one who can tell you when they plan to strike again. Shepherd’s faction, anyway, but I’m sure I can infiltrate the other side as well.”

He was careful not to name the other faction. More information he was holding over my head, or a sign of his bullshit?

I quietly dissected my options.

If Roman was lying, and I agreed to help him, he could lead me straight into a trap. However, he’d successfully broken into my house. If he was in league with the Brothers, they would’ve attacked by now. It wouldn’t make sense for them to draw things out—unless, of course, they wanted to make a show of it. Humiliate me first by proving how gullible I was to believe Roman’s lies, then torture me. It was unlikely, but it was possible.

If Roman was telling the truth, this was my best shot at survival. I’d played defense since I found out the Brotherhood was involved in the fire because I had no choice; I was operating in the dark. With Roman’s intel, I could finally go on the offense.

---