Thirty-Nine Tobias

Like a grim ritual, mornings at The Creed were the same every day. Guards ran from all directions, some passing by to get to their next post, while others rushed to get to the trainees' quarters to reign terror on the poor souls. The fear that these young men endured was unimaginable. They didn't choose this life. Their only fault was being born or brought to this mess by their parents. Hopeless parents who were drowning in financial troubles, who'd traded the life of freedom in exchange for the promise of money.

Everything was making sense. These people had clung to the sharp edge of the blade in desperation. I blamed myself for not being there for Oliver. I could've given them what they needed. I could've protected them. I could've saved him. I ran my fingers through my hair before pulling it until my scalp screamed in protest, punishing me with a dull ache. Fill your heart with revenge so there's no place for anything else.

I closed my eyes; an image of Abel in despair flooded my mind. He was broken, and I wished I could take the pain away from him. I was accustomed to suffering. Grief and sorrow were familiar companions, shaping my existence. What was one more burden to bear?

I swung my legs over the edge of the bed, wincing when my bare feet met the cold cement floor. I made my way to the small wooden drawer, glancing around before fumbling through my pants to find my dead phone and the charger I'd borrowed from Abel's friends. I rushed to the bathroom and plugged the device into the outlet behind the door. It wasn't the safest place to hide my only connection to the outside world, but this would have to do for now. It had been days since I'd last updated Archer and Heath on the situation at The Creed, and I could only imagine the questions swirling in their minds. This mission had dragged on longer than I had anticipated, and the time for action was now. Tomorrow, the fight would stop for no one, and we needed to make our move before then.

The thought of Abel facing off in a battle for survival sent a wave of anxiety crashing over me. I wouldn't be able to watch someone I cared about become a spectacle for these sick monsters. Did I truly care for Abel enough to risk everything to save him? The question lingered in the air, taunting me with its uncertainty. My throat tightened with emotion, but I pushed the feeling aside, unwilling to confront the truth lurking beneath the surface. Not now. Not ever. I willed myself to concentrate, pressing the power button on my phone, but it remained unresponsive. The battery was so dead, not even the green robot showed on the screen.

"What? Where?" a guard walking down the hallway said loudly.

My ears perked up. I pressed my back against the door, straining to better hear their conversation.

"Yeah, he's dead. One of the guards found his body at the bottom of the hill this morning. He was pretty beat-up. Broken neck and everything," one of the guys said.

That was fast. News of Napoleon's death had made it to the barracks, and if the guards knew about the fucker, Orcus surely was aware by now. "Shit," I muttered. I was hoping to buy more time.

Their chatter faded, but it was followed by frantic footsteps. "Toby, are you here?" Sterling called from outside. "Toby!" His strides neared the bathroom.

I pulled the towel from the rack and wrapped it around my waist. Sterling didn't need to see my dick flopping around.

"Tobias?" he whispered.

"Yes, I'm here. I'll be out in a minute," I said, attempting to power on my phone once more, hoping that the past few minutes had given the battery enough juice. No luck. At least the icon instructing me to keep charging had flashed on the screen. Damn it.

Sterling was pacing my small room and wringing his fingers when I emerged from the bathroom. "You need to get ready," he said urgently, snatching my neatly folded clothes from the foot of my bed. "Now." He thrusted them into my hands.

Without hesitation, I shed the towel and tossed it on my bed. "What's going on?" I asked, the room feeling suddenly too small as I pulled on my pants, then my shirt. Thank goodness for my balance because I'd be on the floor, face down, when my foot caught on the waistband. "Orcus needs us or something?" I asked. I held my breath waiting for his response. Did Orcus suspect that I was the one who'd killed one of his beloved minions? Was my ruse out?

"He needs all of us out in the field," he answered.

"Do you know why?" I laced my boots, hoping for more information. I really needed my phone so I could get Archer and Heath here. Right now would've been the best time to escape while everyone was out in the field.

"Not a clue." Sterling shook his head. "I bet it's something to do with the fight." He grimaced, his face turning pale, just like it had when we watched the recordings a couple of days ago.

"Hey." I tapped his cheek, hoping to snap him out of whatever had gripped his thoughts. "Everything's gonna be fine."

Sterling met my stare and nodded. "Okay," he said. "By the way, where were you last night? I was looking for you, but no one was here." He studied my face.

"Abel and I went to see the rest of the guys at North Compound, but they're gone," I admitted. I didn't want to lie to Sterling. It wasn't fair on him, especially when I would need his help breaking out of here. "Every single one of the guys is gone. No guards either."

"What?" His brows furrowed in confusion. "Where did they go?"

"Dunno. The door was wide open, and it was a ghost town out there."

"Do you think—"

His questions were interrupted by the blaring of an alarm blasting in the hallway. "EVERYONE OUT!" the guard yelled. As if the assault on our ears wasn't already loud enough, he banged his club on our metal door. "You two. OUT!"

"Let's go." I tapped Sterling's back before joining the rest of the guys running outside.

Sterling and I joined the ranks of guards on the field. The lines were four men wide and seven to eight deep. I studied everyone's faces—some of the men were unfamiliar to me. The sun had barely risen, and because of the sudden drop in temperature, we were surrounded by fog. It was hard to see past thirty feet. The mist blanketing us hid the secret of this impromptu assembly.

A surge of adrenaline pulsed through my veins, sharpening my senses and guiding my every move. A crunching of tires on gravel coming from my left caught my attention. I cast a glance toward the source of the sound and found three black Suburbans breaking through the haze. Unlike most of the vehicles in The Creed—except for the one that chauffeured Orcus around—these SUVs were in much newer condition. Their black tinted windows served as a veil, hiding whoever was inside.

To my right, four men marched toward us, and at the center of them was Orcus. He was wearing a military outfit, complete with medals embellishing his chest and shoulders. What a piece of work. He positioned himself in front of the vehicles at the middle of our formation, sporting a smug face with dead eyes. I'd heard narcissists were like that. Their eyes always gave them away.

Every guard except me stood straight and directed their attention to him. He fucking ate this shit up. The authority. The pageantry. All of it. He got off on making everyone worship him like a god.

What are you up to? I dissected the scene unfolding before me, analyzing every detail through an assassin's eye. Never let them know your next move, El Jefe said in my head. I looked back to see if the trainees were out here to join us. And, if I was being honest, I was hoping to see Abel. They weren't out. It was probably for the best, since his presence would only divide my attention.

Three of the four guards stationed beside Orcus made their way to the back seats of the SUVs. Each one reached for the door handle, ready to open it. Orcus nodded and the first guard pried the door open.

Two men emerged from the SUV. They exuded an aura of strength, with stoic faces and piercing eyes. I knew they were not to be messed with. Their imposing presence loomed over the assembled guards. The two newcomers joined Orcus, standing by his side.

The second SUV followed suit, spilling another pair of men, similar in build to the first duo but noticeably younger. Their faces held a hardness that negated their youth, eyes sharp and alert, their every movement screamed fuck around and find out. Like the first two men, they made their way to Orcus's side.

The last guard pulled the lever of the Suburban and the final SUV's door creaked open. Only one man emerged, but his presence was no less commanding than the others. He strode forward and merged with his group.

Then it dawned on me: these were the fighters Orcus had chosen to battle with the trainees. That had to be the only reason why their arrival required such a fuss. But there were only five; there should have been six. A wall of heavy fog rolled in, partially blocking my view of the third vehicle with its door remaining wide open. My anticipation built, coiling like a serpent ready to strike. And then, the sixth man emerged from the vehicle.

As he walked to join Orcus, the fog lifted and he came into view.

My eyes widened in utter disbelief. I blinked several times to make sure I wasn't imagining it. I knew his face. The Wolf. An assassin from The Firm.

What the fuck is he doing here and how the hell is Orcus associated with a man like him? This was no coincidence; everything was part of a bigger plan. My past had taught me that lesson. The Wolf stood next to a grinning Orcus.

"I wanna welcome you all to The Creed," Orcus greeted the fighters.

The Wolf didn't speak. He couldn't speak. No one in The Firm ever heard him talk. Someone made the mistake of calling him mute during a team hit in Argentina, and El Jefe had to rush the fucker who mocked him to the emergency room to fix the guy's broken nose and jaw.

I bowed my head when The Wolf scanned the lineup of guards. He would recognize me, and that was bad news because he was still affiliated with The Firm. So many questions flooded my brain. I needed to call Archer. There could only be one reason why one of The Firm's deadliest mercenaries was here. I'd only met The Wolf a couple of times, but assassins never forgot. Fuck! What if he was matched with Abel?

Orcus cleared his throat and stepped forward, his presence drawing the attention of everyone gathered around him. "As you all know," he began, his voice carrying an ominous weight, "tomorrow is a big day." His eyes swept over the assembly; each guard's gaze was fixed on him. "A special day. The fight that we've been preparing for." His tone was tinged with a sinister edge. "These fighters were carefully selected, and millions of dollars are on the line for the fight tomorrow." His features hardened, his ruthless eyes gleamed. "Tomorrow, we will show who holds the power. And anyone who dares to stand in our way better watch out." He raised his fist.

The guards copied his move and cheered like they were hailing a dictator.

An evil smile crept across his lips as he surveyed the mob, each one a pawn in his world. "Tomorrow's match is not just about victory. It's about dominance. It's about showing that we are the ones who decide who lives and who dies."

With a final nod, Orcus turned on his heels and strode away.

The Wolf rolled his eyes and shook his head when Orcus wasn't looking. He scanned the crowd, his expression twisted with disgust as he examined everyone's faces.

"Fuck!" I cursed when his eyes locked onto mine. The slightest tug of a smirk told me he knew exactly who I was. I matched the intensity of his glare. The Wolf might be lethal, but so was I.

Slowly, he turned away and walked off with Orcus and the other fighters. The rest of the guards dispersed like scattered shadows, each of us moving with purpose. I watched them disappear into the fog. There was no turning back. Adrenaline took over and I sprinted back to my room.

"Wait up," Sterling called, but I kept running. "Toby!"

The echo of his voice urging me to stop faded as the distance between us increased. The corridors blurred past me as I raced forward, my breath coming in ragged gasps. The men matched with the trainees were here, and one of them was an assassin. Who knew what the others were. The Wolf was probably ratting me out to Orcus right now. I reached my room, slammed the door shut, and beelined for the bathroom, my heart pounding in my chest like a bass drum. I closed the door behind me and retrieved my cell phone from the floor. Dozens of text messages, missed calls, and voicemails from Archer and Zero bombarded the small screen.

YOU NEED TO GET THE FUCK OUTTA THERE. Archer's message flashed in all capital letters. I read his next message: Answer your damn phone. His frustration was evident.

Leave that place now! a text from Zero read. She also sent me a copy of the photo of the metal boxes that I'd sent her days ago, and below it were the words, Call me dude. This is bad news.

What the hell is going on?

After clearing their messages, I pressed play on Archer's voicemail. "We're coming. Orcus and his cult are with The Firm. It's a farm for assassins."

The final message delivered a chilling revelation that sent a jolt through my senses. The words hung in the air like a death sentence, their implication sinking in with horrifying clarity. So that's why The Wolf is here.

I wiped the sweat from my brow with the back of my hand, my mind racing with a million thoughts per second. The situation was dire, but I couldn't afford to panic. I had to act fast, to make a decision that could mean the difference between life and death—not just for me, but for Abel, his family, the rest of the guys, and Sterling.

Taking a deep breath, I steeled myself with every ounce of resolve I could muster. I pressed The Reaper's name.

"Where the fuck are you?" Archer answered. "We've been fucking played, man."

"How bad is it?" I only had myself to blame. This was the very reason why I never involved myself with anyone. Emotions clouded your judgment, making you blind to the dangers lurking in the shadows, waiting for you to let your guard down. Never again.

"Terrible," he answered. "But we're coming. We're two hours away."

"I can get us there in an hour," Heath said in the background.

All I wanted to do was grab Abel and his family and get out of here now. That would be a monumental task, since I'd likely been outed and Orcus probably had people watching my every move. "What else do you know about The Creed?" I asked.

"I'll put you on speaker. Zero can tell you," Archer said.

A brief silence hung in the air before Zero's voice carried through. "Hey, Tobias," she said, her voice steady despite the circumstances.

"What do you got for me?" I asked, trying to keep my own voice level.

"Remember those pictures you sent me? The metal crates with serial numbers?"

I nodded, even though she couldn't see me through the phone.

"Those numbers are from The Avalon. The—"

"The group that supplies The Firm's guns, ammo, and bombs," I interrupted, finishing her sentence. Goddammit! What else had I missed?

"Exactly," she said.

"Not only that, but your guy Orcus also runs a pretty lucrative underground fighting and gambling ring. The Firm pays him for sending their young men to be recruited and trained as assassins," Archer added. "They're using the families they left behind as collateral, threatening to kill them if they don't comply."

The sound of keyboards clicking preceded Zero's words. "Orcus usually sends them five guys a year, but a bunch of them were entered into the system two days ago."

That explained why the rest of Abel's friends were missing. "Do you know where they took them?" There were five camps where they took new recruits to turn them into killing machines.

"They're taking them to the West Coast," Zero answered.

There was only one camp on the West Coast, located in a forest in Washington State.

"But I think they're still in Wyoming. Their file hasn't moved since," Zero explained. "They could be en route or stopped somewhere."

"What's it like over there?" Archer asked.

"It's bad, man, and getting worse by the second. The fight was moved to tomorrow, and it looks like they've sent assassins to fight the trainees."

"What do you mean?"

"The Wolf is here."

"Holy fuck!" Archer exclaimed. "They brought the big guns."

"And he saw me," I said. "Do you think Orcus knows who I am?"

"Oh, I'm sure he does. There was a hit on your file two days after you got there. I had a feeling whoever that was, was looking for your shit," Zero confirmed.

"Shit!" Frustration was bubbling within me.

"But …" she trailed off. "I don't think he knows that you know. So that might buy you time until we get there."

That was the lifeline I needed, a small reprieve until I was ready to make my move.

"Who's all with you?" I asked, eager for any semblance of a plan.

"The rest of the guys and ten more recruits from The Firm," Heath chimed in.

Impressive. "How did you manage to do that?"

"We'll tell you when this is all over. Because we will get you out of there alive," Archer said.

"Not without Abel, his family, and the other guys," I said.

They were quiet for a moment, but they must've sensed my conviction. "We'll be there in an hour," Archer said.

"Act like nothing's wrong," Zero added, her voice a comforting reassurance.

I could do that.