Page 58 of Broken Surrender
“Your guards must have heard everything,” I said.
“I want to hear it from you.”
What was there to say? Everything that came out of Vaughn’s mouth seemed like complete bullshit, and yet, when it came to what he said about Desmond, I wasn’t so sure.
I deserved the chance to do my own investigation.
“I’ll tell you later,” I said, hanging up. I didn’t give him a chance to retaliate.
But who was Desmond Callen?
***
Desmond
Later, I watched a stranger’s surgery from the observation room, mulling over my thoughts: Everyone makes mistakes.
But not every mistake can be forgiven.
Saving a man’s life because the Marked Blooms Syndicate demanded it? A man who had been linked to sex trafficking? Corinne hadn’t been in the same situation, but it was still too close for comfort.
Perhaps the Board used his services.
I had called one of the best doctors we had to deal with open-heart surgery, even made him clear his schedule for the pathetic man. I should have been happy. Once this test was over, I would only have the sacrifice left, and then I’d be a member of the Marked Blooms Syndicate and could finally get rid of Vaughn. And afterward, I would get rid of this high-end pimp myself. The Marked Blooms Syndicate didn’t interfere with issues between members. But even with those thoughts swirling around in my head, I couldn’t stop obsessing over what Vaughn had said to Lena. I had heard everything he had said, but how had Lena interpreted it?
Once the surgery was over, I took a copy of the report back to Opulent Gates, taking the direct route to the Bloom Estate. I was taken immediately to the sitting room. A glass of lemonade dripped with condensation on a pearl-lined coaster.
Bloom entered with his chest held high. “What can I help you with, Mr. Callen?” he asked.
“Call off your security at Shin & Co Inc.”
Bloom raised his bushy brows. “You’re ordering me to call off my security?”
“Dalton is dead. You have no members there. And I need to destroy his company and Vaughnnow.”
He plopped down onto the couch next to me, running a hand across his cheek. “I’m not here to cast judgment on what can or cannot be destroyed. While you have completed two tests, the final test, the sacrifice, has not yet been completed.” I clenched my teeth, about to open my mouth, when Bloom continued: “But once a member comes forward, vouching for your membership, I will immediately grant you access to the Syndicate. Including stopping security at Shin & Co Inc. But until then, I’m afraid you’re still in the probationary period.”
“John Dalton is dead,” I repeated.
“According to his contract, the security is to stay after his death for one and a half years, to give the new owner a chance to gain membership.” Bloom raised his chest. “I’m sorry, Mr. Callen, but the only way I could break that contract is with a current,livingmember. And you are not a member yet.”
The rage built inside of me. I let out a steaming breath, then shook his hand. “Understood,” I said. And I understood perfectly. I was going to figure this out, with or without the Marked Blooms Syndicate. I had screwed this up, risking my sister’s life again, and had done it for a woman. A fucking woman.
And now, I was stuck.
I stomped into my office, ready to call one of my contractors for another plan. Lena startled, dropping a file to the ground. Her face paled.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“You won’t talk about your past with Shin & Co Inc, so I’m here,” she said, her voice strong. “How can I help you if you don’t let me know what’s going on?”
“I don’t need your help.” I slammed my fists into the desk and she jumped back. I paced, trying to avoid her.
“You’re acting like them,” she whispered. I stopped cold in my tracks, leaning on the wall, glaring at her. “Just like them,” she repeated. “Shoving me aside. Like I’m supposed to be okay with being there, never doing anything beyond myself.”
So she wanted to be my equal, then?
That wasn’t possible. Equal didn’t guarantee her safety. And I couldn’t trust her with anything.
