The Syndicate

by Shelena Shorts

  “Now,” Henri continues as usual, “We will give each of you your tools, and we will witness as the images God has shown you come forth onto the paper. Share with us what you see. Share with us what you know. Share with us what needs to be done.”

  This time, I’m watching the Readers intensely, leaning forward with my elbows on my knees.

  Each of the Readers takes their pen and paper and begins to write. Adela, again, writes assertively and is finished first. Only two papers.

  Camelia and Joana write slowly, with their eyes closed. Each only writes on one sheet.

  My eyes lock on Dorina next, who’s writing rather quickly and much more relaxed than last month. Two sheets when she’s done. Lastly is Ramona, who’s sitting with her eyes closed. It’s hard to see her lap from my angle, but it’s clear enough to see that she hands Henri two sheets, bringing the total to eight names.

  It’s a definite drop from last month’s sixteen names, but, then again, I did kill four myself unexpectedly. I’m sure those four would’ve been included this time. Henri quickly collects the rest and stands behind the podium. We’re called to retrieve our assignments. As usual, I’m last, and when I get mine, I put it in my pocket without looking at it. Back at my seat, I scan my brothers for any abnormal reaction.

  Each looks at their names and carries on as usual. Petric, Dani, and Andre, eager as ever. Simon, Ovidui, Nicolae, and even Alexandru appear unbothered by any of their names. I’m about to look away from Alexandru when something catches my eye. His thumb is rubbing the paper in his hand very slowly. I find myself wondering what’s on that paper to make him feel the need to rub it between his thumb and fingers, and that’s when I see it. A second sheet.

  My eyes narrow and a sharp jabbing sensation bounces around in my throat, making it difficult to swallow. He has two sheets. I do the math, and it doesn’t take Einstein to figure out that if the rest of us get one, and he gets two, that equals nine names. I’m sure the Readers only turned in eight names. And now, I’m also very sure that we have a problem.

  Henri dismisses us, and, for the first time since he arrived, Alexandru refuses to make eye contact with me, and I immediately know.

  I head straight to my room, with Rosie nearly stepping on my heels.

  “What happened?” she whispers.

  “Tell you in a minute,” I say, not looking back.

  Once in my room, I start pacing.

  “What the hell happened in there, Vasi?”

  I throw my hands in the air. “Let me see…I watched the Readers turn in eight sheets, and then saw Henri hand out nine. Nine.”

  “What does that mean?”

  Feeling little patience for long explanations, I turn and square up to her. “Rosie, it means Henri added one in.”

  “You can’t be sure—”

  “I’m sure, Rosie. I watched them like a hawk. Eight names. That’s it. He put Riley’s name back in the mix, and I’m very certain he gave it to Alexandru.”

  This is where Rosie’s eyes widen. “Vasi, if Alexandru has her name…”

  “I know.”

  “He’ll kill anyone.”

  “I know.”

  “So what are you going to do?”

  Refocusing for a moment, I take the paper from my pocket. I quickly read the name of some John Major Marshall and hand it to her.

  “Take this, start tonight. Find out everything you can so I can kill him tomorrow. Then, I’ll take Riley somewhere safe to buy time. No one knows any details about her yet, so no matter who got her name, the Scout would need at least a day to relay the intel. That means you need to work fast. Tomorrow, Rosie. I need it by tomorrow.”

  For the first time, Rosie is speechless. Her eyes are wide and all she does is nod. I spin her around and send her out the door.

  After several minutes of contemplating the best course of action, I decide to go out to the living areas and mingle briefly. I think it’s best for Riley if I appear calm, collected, and ignorant. If Henri or Alexandru suspects me of doing anything to interrupt another direct order, then Riley might be in danger even sooner.

  After a couple of drinks and jokes with Dani, I turn in for the evening. Riley works until eleven, and the waiting is eating away at me. I want to meet her there and stay with her, but I wouldn’t put it past Alexandru to put his Scout on her right away. If not to spite me, then just for curiosity alone, and I can’t risk his Scout seeing me with her.

  At eleven thirty, I settle for hearing her voice and force myself to sound relaxed. Not easy when you’re telling a girl to call in sick for the rest of the week and not leave her house for even a second. Surprisingly, she’s calm and gives up no argument.

  “I’ll do whatever you think is best,” she says.

  Good to know, but what I need right now is not something she can do. Then again, maybe there is something.

  What I need is to visit Dorina to find out exactly why she sees Riley as a threat, but I’ll have to wait until she’s back home, away from Henri. I’m no longer going to avoid breaking the rule of speaking to Readers about assignments outside of the Circle. And because I’m certain that she’ll hesitate to answer any questions about her visions when I visit, I’m going to take Riley with me.

  For one thing, I’ll know if Dorina is the right Reader based on her initial reaction to seeing Riley. And for another, I’ll be able to tell whether the vision was genuinely threatening just by how Dorina handles being near her.

  I put my plan in motion by telling Riley I’ll pick her up tomorrow for a little trip. Once we hang up, I think about all of the scenarios until I’m tired enough to fall sleep. The last thought in my mind tonight is not of Riley, but of Rosie—hoping she’ll have the info needed to get my assignment done tomorrow.

  In the morning, I make plans to have breakfast with the family. The thought of having to watch Henri smile as he butters his bread turns my stomach. He’ll no doubt be thinking of how his good little soldiers are about to kill their targets while I’ll be thinking about how to save one.

  I still go, because it gives me a chance to gauge his interaction with Alexandru. Only problem is, Alexandru is missing in action. But I keep my cool. I’ve already sat down, and Henri has been watching me for the last five minutes. If I get up now, he’ll know something’s up.

  I’m doing everything I can to keep my mind from trying to trace Alexandru’s every move while I eat my breakfast. I knew he was going to act fast, but to miss the traditional post-Circle breakfast really shows he means business. And the most irritating thing about it is that Henri doesn’t ask one time where Alexandru is. In fact, he looks extra cheerful at his absence. Smug even. Or maybe it’s just my imagination. Henri always looks smug, which could be why he’s always rubbed me the wrong way.

  He always plays the over-protector card. Says he puts the Syndicate first, no matter what. If our family doesn’t survive, then the whole world dies. Everyone has always bought into it—even me, until recently.

  Now I realize my father put people first. The Syndicate came second. Our code was always our priority, but only because it was our duty to save humanity. Not ourselves. But Henri was preaching. Save the Syndicate. Kill a girl, kill a human—just kill, even if it doesn’t make sense.

  I can no longer contain myself.

  “Where’s Alexandru this morning?” I ask casually.

  Dani laughs, shoveling a forkful of blueberry pancakes in his mouth. “Probably hung over. You know Alexandru. He needs a night with the ladies to get him in the zone. Boost his ego.”

  “That’s enough, Dani,” Henri barks, uncharacteristically. We all look his way and watch as he clears his throat and wipes his already clean mouth with his napkin. He looks at Dani. “Alexandru’s personal business is none of your concern.” Then he scans the table until his gaze rests on me. “And if anyone is concerned about him being in the zone, know this: Alexandru is more than ready to carry out his task. He’s so ready, he’s decided to concentrate on it as soon as possibl
e.” He looks at the others, but I know he’s still talking to me. “Maybe you should all be as vigilant.”

  My throat is raging with fire and my stomach is in knots. Petric breaks the silence that follows by trying to lighten the mood and please Henri at the same time. “Well then,” he says. “Let me just finish this bite, and I’ll go grab my knife. I’ve got a Hybrid to kill. Anyone want to join me?”

  “I do,” I say throwing my napkin on my unfinished plate and sliding my chair back.

  “Me, too,” Dani says, but with less conviction. I glance at him and can tell he’s annoyed that his father embarrassed him like that.

  “All right! See, Henri?” Petric says, shoving in his last bite. “We’re in the zone. Alexandru’s not the only one of us willing to kick some Hybrid ass today.”

  “Damn,” Andre says, disappointedly looking at his half-eaten plate. “All right. I’ll get a jump on mine too. Then maybe I can take a vacation.”

  “A vacation sounds good,” I say, nodding to Henri and my older brothers, all of whom are eating, unfazed by the rest of us and our apparent need to compete with Alexandru for Henri’s praise. For a long moment, Henri’s gaze locks on mine, as if he’s trying to read where I’m about to go. The last thing I want is him alerting Alexandru to anything, so I think quickly and turn to Dani, Petric, and Andre. “I’ll see you guys later. Rosie’s supposed to have my target report this morning.”

  “That’s what I’m talking about,” says Petric, punching me on my arm.

  “Take it outside,” Ovidui says, cutting into his pancakes. “Have some respect around the table. Some of us are still eating.”

  Henri leans back, appearing full. “Oh, Ovidui, they’re just boys. So, so young. Let them have their fun while they still can.”

  Nicolae speaks up while holding his glass in the air. My gaze is drawn to the orange juice that is now traveling in a faint circular motion as he holds the glass in place of pointing a finger. “The fun never stops, boys. It only takes more of it to feel the thrill.”

  What is that supposed to mean? I decide not to care, and head out of the room physically slower than how I want to. By the time I reach my room, I’ve turned my day over a thousand times. Basically, I know Riley is in danger and there isn’t much time before Alexandru goes for her.

  If I’m going to keep her safe, I have to make a move sooner rather than later. I need to pick her up right now and take her away, but my target is still out there. No matter how I feel about what Henri is up to, I can’t leave with that job unfinished.

  Just as my frustration level is at its peak, Rosie barges into my room.

  “I’ve got what you need.”

  I hop off my bed and snatch the paper she holds out to me. “Perfect, Rosie, I knew you’d come through quickly.”

  “Wait,” she says.

  “What?” I’m looking at the paper. John Major Marshall. Twenty-one years old. Works Tuesday through Saturday, four to close at the local gym. Lives alone, in an un-gated apartment community. “What’s the problem?”

  She walks past me. “I just think you’re rushing, Vasi. Something doesn’t feel right.”

  I turn toward her, my gaze following as she paces my floor. “Tell me about it.”

  “No, I’m serious.”

  “Yeah, me too.”

  “No, listen!” She stops pacing and crosses her arms, square to me. “I mean it. I get it that you’re trying to protect Riley. I’m with you on that. But you don’t work like this.”

  “Like what?”

  “Rushed!”

  “Well—”

  “Well, nothing. It’s not safe. I don’t like you going into this without giving me a chance to get more.”

  I’m looking at the paper. “It looks like you have everything to me.”

  She huffs and rolls her eyes. “No, I don’t. I tailed him for one day. One day. It’s ninety percent research. It’s not enough.”

  I’m looking at my baby sister and noticing something in her that I’ve never seen before. Worry. It sparks a small smile from me. “Rosie. It’s one Hybrid kid. I don’t have time for you to trail him for four days and tell me the same stuff that’s on this paper. I’m sorry. It’ll be fine.”

  Our gazes meet, and I can almost read the words of concern flying across her face. “I don’t like it, Vasi. I need another day.”

  Stepping forward, I take hold of her shoulders. “We don’t have another day. Look. It’s just me and you here. We can do this. We’ll figure it out, but I can’t protect Riley until this Hybrid is gone.”

  She tilts her head to each side, stretching out the tense muscles in her neck. “You’re not going to listen to me, are you?”

  “Not until tomorrow. Right now I need a huge favor.”

  She wriggles her shoulders free and takes a deep breath. “What is it now?”

  Chapter 16

  A PLAN

  The urge to keep anything from happening to Riley is pressing at me, making it nearly impossible to contain my impatience, and that’s what has Rosie so spooked. I’m not usually like this, but I can feel Alexandru planning his approach at this very moment, so I have to act quickly.

  I ask Rosie to go to the mall at Tysons Corner. It’s crowded and convenient to all of our locations. The plan is to leave a baby stroller in a second-floor dressing room at Macy’s and then wait in the parking lot for Riley to come out. She’s to take her to Crystal City, check her into a hotel under a fake name, and then come straight home so no one suspects her involvement.

  Riley is to park and enter the mall on the opposite end. Most likely she’ll be tailed, but Scouts are usually pretty distant unless they suspect something out of the ordinary. And as far as I know, Alexandru doesn’t have cause to believe I’d be so bold as to interfere with someone else’s assignment. Plus, Alexandru’s Scout is a guy, so he’ll keep his distance from a lady’s dressing room so as to not draw suspicion.

  When Riley arrives, she’s to shop around casually for an hour, just long enough for the Scout to get bored and complacent. Once she has a handful of clothes, she’s supposed to go to the dressing room and change into old workout gear, tennis shoes, and a hat that were packed beforehand in one of her large handbags. After changing, she’s instructed to put the large handbag in the stroller, cover it up, and walk out toward the nearby exit.

  Alexandru won’t do anything in a public place, and he won’t have enough info on her apartment complex to feel comfortable eliminating her in broad daylight, so I feel pretty confident that Riley will be safe through this.

  Even so, I talk to her on her cell phone from the moment she leaves her apartment until she gets inside the mall. Another precaution. None of us would attack while a target was talking on the phone.

  Once she’s in the mall, I have to let her go. Too much talking would raise suspicion and take away from her in-store performance. At this point, I have to trust her and Rosie to take it from here.

  While she’s in the mall, I busy myself with preparations for my own assignment. Downstairs, I arm myself with more weapons than usual. Not sure why, other than I feel like taking some serious aggression out on someone. This poor Hybrid doesn’t have a chance. In fact, there may not be anything left to bring back.

  I kill an hour doing target practice and make sure to spend some time in the garage overtly gathering up some empty trash bags. This is for show. If Henri is sitting on his spying perch, I want him to be at ease knowing that I’m not missing a beat on my duties.

  Then I begin messing with my ATV to draw attention to a future alibi. I start it up, rev the engine, and make noise with the ramp in preparation for putting it on the back of my truck. Within minutes, the noise has already brought Dani outside.

  “All right, man, I draw the line. What in the—”

  He’s looking at me like I’m a math problem. “Nothing. Just preparing for a little weekend getaway.”

  “You want me to come?” he asks.

  I shake my head.

&nb
sp; “Don’t BS me, man. I know you’re up to something, and this proves it.”

  “How so?” I ask, pushing the four-wheeler toward the ramp at the back end of my truck.

  “Because you don’t mess with your rides while packing that many knives and guns.”

  I look down at myself, wondering if it’s that obvious. I am packing some heavy artillery, but nothing anyone would pick up on unless they were looking.

  “Dani, I’m about to go on a kill, and then I want to blow off some steam tomorrow.”

  I lift the four-wheeler into the bed, and his gaze is burning a hole in my back. When I have it situated, I turn back around to see Henri standing next to him.

  Never before have I thought Dani favored Henri. He’s nothing like his father, but looking at the two of them studying me is making me see a resemblance.

  “Why Vasi, what’s with all the raucous during the dinner hour?” Henri asks.

  He doesn’t care about the dinner hour. “Sorry, Henri. I’m just gearing up for tomorrow. I’m going to the mountains.”

  “Is that so? A time of leisure? It doesn’t quite fit your profile.”

  I take the opportunity to lean against my truck and cross my arms. “Why not?”

  “For one, you have an assignment. And two, since when do you go joy riding alone?”

  I doubted Henri before, but never suspected he was as rotten to the core as he appears to me now. Okay, so yeah, I was ignoring the Syndicate code or whatever, but he seems way too concerned with my agenda.

  I propel myself away from my truck with ease, open my jacket to reveal two guns, and pull up a pant leg to reveal a blade. “I’m taking care of my assignment this evening.” Allowing my clothing to fall back into place, I continue with just enough truthfulness to hopefully get him off my back. “And then, I’m going to blow off some steam. It’s getting too crazy around here for my taste.”

  It’s true, and because I’ve stated it outright, it appears I have nothing to hide. He knows that his ordering a girl’s murder rubs me the wrong way, and it would only be natural for me to want some breathing room.