Page 141 of Kept in the Dark

He watches realization slowly dawn, and a smile spreads across his face. This time, there’s no mirth, only knowing eagerness and a twisted kind of pride, like he figured it all out.

“Yeah, he never told you that, huh?” he shakes his head, like I’ve just confirmed his suspicions. “The second I realized who that lady was and what she meant to your Russian, I knew you guys were involved and that some real shady shit was going down. Whatever game this General is playing, we’re just pawns.”

There’s no proof, but his words arouse a series of long-standing, unanswered questions. It’s hard to trust a man you’ve never seen, andthe General is an enigma. By design. Obviously, he’s got an agenda, but I haven’t given it that much thought beyond how it aligns with our own fucked-up moral compass.

“So?” I challenge.

“So… you owe me one in exchange for that intel you bought from me months ago—a cleaning job, wasn’t it? Right here in this fine, fuckin’ fancy-ass establishment, if memory serves,” he says, making it clear his memory serves him just fine.

I swallow, and the word carries a bit less weight this time as the blood starts draining from my face. “So?”

“So, I’m not a fucking pawn. Are you? I’m calling in my favor—we’re gonna find the General and kill him.”