than we do in The Pit. If you think Hades will listen to them, then I don’t know from which planet you came from.”
I slip a hand in my pocket. “I’m sure you taught your disciples a manipulation or two. If Hades will release someone first, I don’t want it to be Ink.”
Silence stakes claim again. Flame takes his sweet arse time smoking. That obscure brain of his must be counting the pros and cons.
The second generation of assassins came after Team Zero. Once thirty-eight of us died, Hades kind of realised that Omega isn’t a long term solution to build his ‘army’ of assassins. He kidnapped more kids, and they were actual kids, from five to ten. He made us train them and shape his second generation of killers. The only difference is that he can’t control them as he does us through Omega and therefore, they have more room to escape than we do.
Flame clutches the cigarette between his thumb and forefinger as he asks the famous question. “What do I get out of this?”
Before I can say anything, he continues. “Here’s what I won’t get. I’ll risk Ghost’s wrath because you’re doing something he doesn’t approve of.”
I lift a shoulder. “If you don’t tell him, he won’t know.”
“Ink is vengeful and will slash me open if he knows I delayed his release from The Pit.”
“Again, he won’t find out.”
“I’ll be losing a favour with one of my contacts.”
“You’ll gain a favour from me.” I clench my fist. Here’s the sorest part of the deal. I’ll owe Flame something and his debts are always paid in double.
I’m willing to take the risk.
“Three favours,” he says in a firm tone.
“Two.” I shoot back. “My final offer.”
He remains silent for long seconds, to crack me up, I’m sure. He’d love gaining favours from me or any of the Zeroes. I’m sure he’ll send me as a lab mouse to hell just so he can get favours from the devils there. No idea why the fuck he’s stacking them.
“It will be done.” He tosses his cigarette and heads to the stairs.
A small breath leaves me.
I’m only putting a bandage on an infected wound, but I need time to come to terms with admitting to my best mate that he might want me dead.
I climb down the building and start running again.
A few days later, after the usual check up in the factory, I drive Lachlan to his old battered neighbourhood.
He’s fidgeting in the passenger seat and I know he’d rather be driving, but fuck that. He’s not my chauffeur and he certainly won’t be driving my bulletproof Jaguar. This is the sweetest investment I did with the money I got from my killing contracts.
“Is Natalie coming today?” I ask as I take one turn after another in the twisty, bumpy roads of the neighbourhood.
“Maybe.” He pretends to be nonchalant. He’s a fucking liar. Two weeks ago, she didn’t come over and he pouted all day like a bloody kid.
Although he is a kid. Since he acts so responsible, I keep forgetting that.
We stop in front of the school not far from Lachlan’s parents’ home. His father used to be the school’s director but since his health fell, he had to go into early retirement.
Small children, kindergarten age mostly, burst from the front door. They cling to mine and Lachlan’s legs like we’re their Jesus. I stare at their smudged clothes and some untidy hairs and imagine myself as them. Abandoned. Lost. A fucking nobody. Rubbish Boy as they used to call me.
These kids aren’t abandoned, but they’re poorer than poor and I want to murder their parents for bringing them to this world. If they can’t take care of children, why have them?
Lachlan and I retrieve the treats and toys we bring them every week. Since I found out about Lachlan’s father, I stumbled upon this place and… I search behind the children until an old lady comes through the door. Her white hair is a pixie cut and she’s wearing a knitted sweater and a straight long skirt.
Once her gaze falls on me, she smiles and her eyes skew shut. “Angelo.”
I run to her and place my index finger on her mouth. “Don’t call me that, Nonna. People might hear. It’s Shadow, now. Just Shadow.”
She swats my finger away. “First of all, don’t go on shushing me, boy. I brought you up, not the other way around. Second of all, Shadow is boring.”
I laugh then lean in to whisper, “You