Page 33

CIRCE

“ L ook what that got you, Domenico.” Ananke saunters up the patio stairs, looking disturbingly symmetrical as always. Her makeup is perfect. Her little mask is tucked into her bust. “Next time, do as you’re told and Guillermo won’t have to educate you.”

The aforementioned bodyguard and two others step into view, a gun trained on Dom, two aimed at us. Just that wouldn’t be a challenge, but several more emerge from the house behind us, disarming us and forcing Ero and I to our knees.

“Welcome home, I suppose,” Ananke croons, eyeing the two of us, clearly enjoying our haggard appearances. Days on the road. Fucked-up discoveries about our past.

You try looking fresh through all of that.

“This…” Ero snarls, his hand shaking as he waves back at the house. “This is some sick shit.”

“That doesn’t even begin to describe what you did to us,” I spit with every bit of venom I can muster.

“You seem surprised. I’m not sure why.”

“Not surprised. Just pissed off.”

“Relatable. I am thoroughly aggravated with your disobedience.”

“That’s what happens when you try to cage a tiger. Eventually you get eaten.”

“Or pissed on.” Ero sniffs. I almost don’t get why he says it until I see Ananke’s face contort in disgust.

“Defective, the both of you. I should have incinerated you after your first failed tests.”

“Like the test you set up in the desert? Or was that just an attempt at killing us gone wrong?” My lover bares his teeth, every line of his body radiating murderous intent.

“Of course it was a test. Everything is a test, you stupid child.”

“To what end?” Dom chimes in, staying carefully still between the armed guards.

“If you must know before we end this, you are the culmination of Pantheon’s mission. A very long and arduous investment.”

“Uh…news flash, we’re a botched experiment.” I throw one thumb over my shoulder towards the house.

“What you see as botched, I saw as data used to perfect the method. Every system has bugs that need to be worked out. Besides, I only need to show a proof of concept to my investors. By the time we go into production, my agents will be fully functional drones, ready to be commanded.”

“That sounds ridiculous.”

“It seemed completely impossible when I proposed the theory for my doctoral thesis. Until I began testing hypnosis in my therapy patients. Circe was such a clever girl. She was also so adaptable.”

Bile rises in my throat. “My parents sent me to you to help me.”

“Your speech impediment and anger issues would have worked themselves out on their own. I saw so much potential in you, I just couldn’t resist. Or stop.”

My entire life…warped and manipulated by this woman.

“But you did.”

“Once you turned thirteen, your parents took you away to begin your training as a Lyra assassin. And you think I’m a maniac? What kind of parent teaches their child to kill?”

“Glass houses, bitch.”

“Indeed, and glass houses are expensive. Funding was always an issue. I had my trust fund, sure. But once I lost access to you, I stalled for years.”

“So you got into government,” I egg her on.

“The slow crawl up the political ladder. I was already expanding my empire then, consolidating my family’s holdings.

I eliminated the rest of the ’Ndrangheta leaders, and reached a new level of influence.

That’s when Pantheon came to be. And I knew that I needed my original test subject to continue my research. ”

“And Dom served me up on a silver platter.”

“You have no idea how hard it was to coordinate my own hit and to ensure that you took the contract. I don’t think you appreciate the planning involved in bringing the two of you together!”

“Sounds rough.”

“Timing was everything. Orchestrating so many concurrent events was murder! Dom was arrested. The rest of the Diamantes vanished. All but one who turned up in the service of a very forward-thinking sheikh. He wanted me to continue my research and had the perfect test subject. Desperate. Alone.”

“Adil Abas,” Ero whispers, his eyes darting around for a way out of our situation. Keeping her talking might find us an opening…

“A visionary man, for a criminal kingpin. Not unlike Dom. I began working on Ero, trying to create the perfect soldier assassin. Right as Dom ratted out the Lyras and every other criminal he could. I jumped at an opportunity to snatch Circe back up. Then Adil went and got himself killed.”

“And you sent a newly mind-fucked Circe to find me.”

“Astute as ever, Ero.” Ananke sighs. “My two star pupils reunited. The criminal underworld in shambles. A perfect interlude to truly see what my methods were capable of.”

She gestures to the house behind us.

“Now, you have indulged in your little adventures. Uncovered the truth about your pasts. I even divulged my involvement. Consider that a reward for all of your hard work. It’s time for us to go.”

“ Time ,” Ero interrupts, his glare transforming into a sly squint. Ananke draws up short, looking suspiciously at my partner.

“You keep talking about timing. Carefully laid out plans. Reminds me of a conversation we had. Fate and Time.” Ero’s head turns, shifting his piercing stare to Dom. “ Kronos .”

“Ah, damn. And I thought Adriano was the clever one.” Dom shrugs, sneering.

“You fucking snake,” I hiss, my hands twitching toward my hidden dagger.

“Hey, I never lied to you. Some of those soldiers really tried to kill me. I really had info you wanted. I shared some of it. Left out a few things. You got the truth in the end, right?”

“You’re a fucking fool if you think you can trust Ananke. She’ll only use you too.”

“Some of the best use I’ve ever had.” He wags his eyebrows. “Beats being dead or in prison.”

“Speaking of dead and prison, you lied about my brothers, didn’t you?” Ero rattles off, sensing that our time is running out. Ananke’s bodyguards are getting jumpy.

“Honestly? I have no idea. No one has seen or heard from them in years. They are, frankly, the least of my concerns.” Ananke loops her arm through Dom’s elbow.

“And what about my family? Are they alive?” I ask suddenly. This might be the only chance I get.

“Oh, no, not even close, my dear. That sad truth is absolute . You personally made sure of it.”

I stare at her, confused. My breath catches as she continues.

“I’m truly sorry that you had to find out this way. Even uncovering some of your memories, your poor mind won’t allow you to face that truth.” She frowns, the model of concern.

“What truth?”

“That you killed most of the Lyra. Your first missions for me after the accident. After your surgery and programming. Who do you think I used to track down Dom’s contracts?

The authorities arrested or killed the lesser members.

Only you were capable of taking out the most deadly and elusive of your clan. ”

I want to vomit. I want to die.

Denial whips my head back and forth. But it’s right there. In the middle of that gaping hole in my past. Glossed over and forgotten, blended into the blackness there. Willfully buried.

I fought so hard to reach the bottom of that abyss. All the while, ignoring the beginning of this nightmare. What started it all. That day on the rooftop.

The day I gave up control.

“Wallow all you like on your own time, dear. Although, I suppose you do not have much of that left. I have one final task for the two of you.” She glances at each of us. Smiling mildly.

Ero’s eyes narrow.

Mine go wide.

“I’d like the two of you to kill each other. In fact, I insist.”