The Syndicate (16 page)

Instead, I play it casual, showing more respect to Henri and the Elders than usual. I want to come across as ready to serve, reliable, the Vasi that Henri has always believed me to be. The last thing I want is for him to think I have intentions of going against the Syndicate, because I don’t. All I want is for someone to provide me with a reasonable explanation as to why a female was targeted. No theories, but accurate predictions. Until I get that, no one is going near her with a twenty-foot pole.

I mingle around the living room, watching the rest of the Readers arrive. Dorina comes last, and I expect her to avoid eye contact with me, but she nods directly my way and we exchange kisses on the cheek. There’s no tension whatsoever in her embrace, but she probably has no clue that I refused to kill one of her targets. Then again, how would she? Readers don’t know who gets assigned to whom.

“Vasi,” she says with her chin up, eyeing me through her bifocals. “You’re turning into such a handsome man. Your mother would be so proud.”

Eugen speaks up. “Isn’t that the truth of it?” He slaps my back, and I find myself enjoying the seemingly normal encounter, until Alexandru arrives. He comes through the front door and is instantly welcomed into the arms of Camelia and Adela. They exchange embraces, and Alexandru catches my gaze while he hugs Camelia. His look is cold enough to send a chill down my spine.

Immediately, I decide to step up my game.

“So,Vasi,” Dorina says, pulling my attention back. “Tell me, dear, how have you been? Are you keeping everyone in order here?”

Her question shocks me to the point where I have to work at keeping a straight face. Then it occurs to me that she’s joking.
Or is she?
Dorina has always been friendly to me. All the Readers have, but she seems to be glued to me today while going out of her way to question me. Maybe it’s just my imagination.

Regardless, I’m happy when Dani, Andre, and Petric come around the corner and Dorina momentarily breaks away to greet them in a similar manner. Dani looks at me like I’ve done something wrong and can’t wait to get me alone. I wonder if there’s a sign on my forehead that says I stayed with Riley last night.

Dani smoothly steps around Dorina and makes his way over to me. To my relief, Dorina follows, striking up conversation with Dani and Petric. I’m listening, intrigued by the undivided attention she’s giving us. Meanwhile, Alexandru, Simon, Ovidui, and Nicolae are huddled in a corner, with their hands in the pockets of their dress pants. I watch as they all appear to be unfazed by the upcoming call of duty. A few of them even catch glimpses of their watches, surely counting down the hours. Observing them makes me wonder if they care about maintaining the safety of civilians or maintaining their accustomed lifestyle, and then I hear my name.

“Vasi?” Turning back, Petric is staring at me and Dorina is gone. “That was rude. Dorina was talking to you.”

“She was? What’d she say?”

“She was just going on about how proud she is of all of us, and how she hopes we don’t grow up too fast and have to face the
dangers
of the world.” He mocked “dangers” by wiggling his fingers in my face.

“What are you, like, two years old?”

He punches me in the chest. I counter quickly with a smack to the side of his head. Our horseplay is interrupted by a sharp clearing of a throat.

“Ahem,” Rosie interrupts, standing in the doorway. “They’re ready for you.”

“All right. Let’s do this,” Andre says. “Let’s bust some chops.”

How naïve they seem right now. If only they knew how choppy I suspect things are going to get.

As we make our way down the hall, Dorina’s words play out in my mind. What did she mean by hoping we don’t grow up too fast? Could she know how messy things are getting?

If she thought Henri was up to something, I highly doubt she’d suspect him of using his youngest Guards to carry out the task. No, she’d assume he’d have one of the older, more experienced ones do it.

If she’s really concerned about us, I may have a chance at getting information out of her after all. If she supported what Henri ordered, then she would have been conversing with Alexandru’s group instead. This is all complete speculation, assuming that Dorina is even the one who visited Henri
or
fed him Riley’s name, but it’s worth hoping for.

Once we reach the meeting room, Shadows and Scouts remain outside, and the rest of us file in. I sit in my normal seat, appreciating the fact that I have a good view of each of the Readers. Everyone takes their seat, and I take special note of Alexandru’s final gaze in my direction just after he sits. I’m not sure what his problem is, andI wonder if he’d be all up in my face if I hadn’t visited him.

Henri calls everyone to silence, and the normal order of things begins.

He welcomes us and goes through his rehearsed call to action, and then stands and hands the black pens to Valentin and the stacks of mini parchment paper to Stefan. The three make their way down from the platform.

“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 possible.” 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.”