I shrug. “I just wanted to point out that, regardless of who or how, the job got done, and there was minimal fallout and exposure. I’m not saying what Lily did was right in the first place, but she found a solution and the job got done. Can’t you just let it go?”
He holds my gaze for a moment, and then turns back to Lily. “We’re done here. You will be contacted when we have another contract for you. Now leave us.”
She stares at him for a few tense seconds. I can see the anger on her face, but I’m not sure how much of that is directed at Horizon, and how much of it is directed at herself.
She yanks her arm free from his grip and marches toward the door. She glances at me as she passes — her expression is difficult to read. I watch as she leaves the suite, shutting the door gently. I turn back to Horizon, who’s staring at me.
I walk over to him. “C’mon, lay it on me…”
He shakes his head. “You shouldn’t have helped her.”
“Alright, look. She came to me, she asked—”
He holds a hand up. “Don’t talk to me like I’m your colleague. I’m telling you, you shouldn’t have helped her. It’s not always about just getting the job done, Adrian. Some jobs have to be done a certain way to have the maximum impact.”
Don’t lose your temper…
I nod. “I know that. I just—”
“Oh, and you mentioned minimal exposure… Please, tell me, what part of ‘your face appearing on the security footage of twenty-seven separate camera feeds in one of the world’s most famous hotels’ would you class as minimal?”
Okay, I can’t get angry about that one.
I chuckle. “Yeah… funny story about that. My plan was to—”
“Your plan was bullshit. It was reckless, unnecessary bullshit, and it resulted in seven dead bodies no one asked for. Something I specifically remember telling you not to do. Ever. I’m starting to think recruiting you maybe wasn’t in everyone’s best interests.”
I take a short breath. “Finished?”
He stares at me blankly, but says nothing.
“Good. First of all, if you ever cut me off like that again, I’m gonna knock you back in time, alright? Secondly, my plan to get to bin Mawal was sound, but even the best-laid plans sometimes turn to shit. If I hadn’t handled things the way I did, I’d be dead for real, and as grateful as I am to your little group for saving me, I’m not willing to actually die for you. Now, answer me this: did you manage to find a way to delete all traces of me from the security footage?”
He nods, but remains silent, his lips pursed together, almost stubbornly.
“Right, so that’s that problem solved. The prince is dead, so there’s your other problem solved. I completely get why you’re pissed at Lily, and at me, but the job got done. A very difficult job, I might add. So, how about you cut me some slack? First offense, et cetera.”
He looks at me for another moment and then smiles, mostly to himself, I think. He walks over to one of the sofas and picks up a cell phone resting on the arm. He starts typing something.
“Do you have your phone with you?” he asks, still staring at the device.
I take it out of my pocket and hold it up. “Yeah, it’s here. Why?”
He looks up at me. “I’m going to be honest with you, Adrian. Regardless of circumstances, you killed seven people you weren’t asked to, which is a direct violation of our rules. Expulsion from The Order is the bare minimum punishment for such recklessness, but in this case, I would normally have no other choice than to authorize your execution.”
I stand up straight and take a deep breath, involuntarily steeling myself for what might come next.
Behind me, I hear the door open. I look around and see Pierce stride in. He leaves the door open, and I can see his men in the hall outside.
I look back around at Horizon and raise an eyebrow. “Normally?”
He shrugs. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think you’re an outstanding talent. Your skills are largely unmatched, and while your attitude sometimes leaves a lot to be desired, you’re an asset we simply can’t afford to lose.”
“So… what now? A slap on the wrist?”
My phone vibrates and beeps in my hand as a message comes through.
Horizon nods at me. “I’ve just sent you details of a new contract. You will do this one alone, and you will carry it out immediately. Think of it as a way to redeem yourself.”
I frown and open the message. I use my thumb to scroll through the details and—
My eyes go wide. I look over at him. “You’re fucking kidding me?”
On the screen is a full-color image of Lily.
16
Horizon stares at me. “I don’t make jokes, Adrian. I don’t make idle threats, and I don’t bluff. You have your job. It doesn’t warrant justification, before you ask me for any. Failure to carry out this task is not an option.”
I watch him walk away toward the bedroom. He pauses outside the door and glances over his shoulder. “Something you want to say?”
I go to speak, but I can’t think of any words that would be relevant. I’m angry that he’s managed to get one over on me so easily, and that he’s done it brazenly. He smiles at me, steps inside the bedroom, and slams the door shut behind him. I look back at my phone and stare at the image of Lily on the screen.
Shit.
“Let’s go, asshole.”
I turn around to look at Pierce. He’s standing with his arms folded across his chest, smiling at me. I fix him with my coldest stare. “I’m not doing it.”
His smile fades, but the arrogance doesn’t. “When are you going to understand? You don’t have a choice. You belong to The Order now. You owe us your life. You do what we ask without question. End of story.”
I step toward him so our faces are mere inches apart. “I don’t belong to anyone. Not you, not Colonel Sanders back there, not anyone else. This is who I am and what I do, and I’m here purely due to lack of a better option, alright? I’m grateful for them saving my ass, but I’m not gonna change who I am and start blindly pulling the trigger just because they tell me to.”
Pierce raises an eyebrow. “Finished?”
I shrug. “Yeah, I guess.”
He takes something out of his pocket and holds his hand out to the side. I glance at it. He’s got something… It looks like—
“Argh!”
My eyes go wide and I drop to my knees. I cradle my head in my hands. The pain is sudden and blinding. It’s—
“Argh! What… the… fuck?”
I fall to the side and roll on my back. My jaw’s aching from grinding my teeth together so hard, trying to manage the agony. There’s a pulsating sensation of intense burning behind my eyes. I screw them shut and let out an involuntary growl.
What the—?
It’s stopped.
I open my eyes and look around. My vision’s blurry and I have to squint against the brightness of the lighting in the room.
I’m breathing fast. “Holy… shit! What just… happened?”
I sit myself up and slowly get to my feet. I massage my temples, trying to reduce the pounding inside my head.
Pierce grabs me by my collar and shoves me into a nearby chair. “That was a warning.”
I frown and shake my head, still feeling groggy. “I don’t… understand…”
He crouches beside me. “Let me break it down for you, hero. You know that tracking device in your neck? Well, it’s not just a tracking device. There’s an explosive charge embedded in it that can be activated, and detonated, remotely. Normally, once a device like this is active, it’s not uncommon for the low frequency of the electrical pulse in the device to cause some… discomfort. But with it being so close to your brain, the effects are amplified exponentially — which is what you just experienced. The charge itself is obviously small enough to be contained within such a tiny device, but make no mistake — if it’s detonated, it’ll take your head clean off your shoulders. Well… maybe not clean — it’s actually quite messy… So, I will say this to you one more time, Adrian… Brad… whatever you feel more comfortable calling yourself nowadays… You will do exactly what The Order asks of you, and you will do it with no further hesitation or doubt. And if you don’t, I will personally, and literally, blow your fucking head off. Do we have an understanding?”