The Syndicate (25 page)

“No, Henri, I
was
a little boy, and now I’m a man. A man who has learned more truth than I want to.” With all attention on me, I pull out one of the knots that was used to tie Rosie and Riley, and I show the Circle. “Like this. I just cut this knot, and another, off of Riley and Rosie, who were a bullet in the head away from being murdered, just like my parents. They’d be dead if it weren’t for me. And
this
knot.” I hold it up. “This is the exact knot that was used by the intruder who killed my parents. I’d know, because I cut the knots off their wrists myself.”

I look at the thin rope and then toss it to Henri, who allows it to fall to the floor, untouched.

In the silence that follows, I take a moment to contain my built-up anger, and it transforms into a sadness that causes my eyes to glaze over. After a deep breath, I look, vulnerably, at each one of my brothers and sisters and Elders. And then I say, “If you want to know who’s responsible for it, you can find him in the garage. If you want to know how he ended up there, I’ll have copies of my own home-security footage for you to view. It has quite a confession on it.”

I glance at Henri. He can barely contain his anger, but he knows it’s over. And with those last words, I walk out of the Circle that is no longer my own. I pass silently back through the Scouts and Readers, stop by my room to grab a few things, and get into my truck. It’s 9 p.m., and by midnight I’ll be home in the arms of the one for whom I’ve given up, and gained, everything. The one who will make a difference in the midst of this centuries-old chaos. The one who will make me a better person, a better fighter, and a better leader.

When I finally pull into the small gated community by the ocean, I see Rosie’s car and feel an immediate sense of relief. They’ve made it, and regardless of what we’ve been through, we’re here together now.

I grab my bag from the back and shut the car door. I’d only packed the basics on my way out and am unsure if I’ll even be able to grab the rest later, but it doesn’t matter. All that matters is my family. Riley and Rosie.

I’m halfway up the sidewalk when the front door opens and my sister bursts out, hugging me hard enough to remind me of my fading stitches.

“Oh my gosh! I was so worried. What happened?”

I hug her for a minute longer so she can see that I’m okay. “I’ll explain later. But it’s fine. For now.” As I’m about to ask where Riley is, I catch a glimpse of her in the doorway. She stands still, her arms crossed, and, although she lacks Rosie’s clear signs of relief, something about her expression draws me comfortably near.

When we’re standing face to face, she falls into my chest and holds onto me even harder than Rosie did. She doesn’t ask questions or say anything, but our embrace speaks for itself. It feels like an eternity until Rosie passes us and breaks our silence.

“Come on, Vasi. Let’s show you what I picked up.”

I don’t want to let go of Riley, but a glance in her eyes tells me she’s all right. A smile finally forms. Mimicking Rosie’s excitement, she takes my hand and says, “Come on. It’s so cute.”

Inside the foyer, I immediately hear excited panting and prancing paws.

“Look at her,” Rosie says, picking up the black-and-white puppy.

A Karelian Bear dog.
“I thought we’d need one,” she says. “Figured we should get a brand new one to protect the house from anything unfamiliar.”

“Good thinking,” I say, tickling the pup behind the ears. By “anything,” I know she means our own family too. If we’d brought one of our own dogs from back home, it’d be used to anyone in the Syndicate, and, as unsettling as it is, we can’t trust them right now.

“What did you name her?”

“Kita,” Rosie says, exchanging a spirited glance with Riley.

“Kita,” I whisper, once again impressed with Rosie’s planning ahead.

Standing here, I think of what the future holds, and of my family. And intertwined throughout those thoughts is the fact that I am, and will always be, a Guard; that Rosie is a Scout, and that Riley is a Reader. And that is enough to help me eliminate the Hybrids until every last one of them is gone.