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“They’re all gone. All of them. Every still has been burned to the ground, every piece of property you were going to lay claim to was purchased by someone else, and all the bodyguards are dead. All except me.”

“What good are you to me?” he sneered.

“Right now, I’m all you’ve got,” said the man. “I’m it, and no one in this fucking God-forsaken place will go up against the men you want. No one.”

“How do you know who we want?” he asked, staring at the man.

“Because I’m not as stupid as you believe. I listen. I hear things. I know things. You have the audacity to fuck with the Robicheaux family and the legacy men of REAPER? I gotta say, Mr. Hugo, that’s some big balls you got there.”

“They’re just men,” he said between clenched teeth.

“Just men? No, they’re superhuman. Do you know how many men have tried to kill them? How many countries? How many agencies? These aren’t just men, and you’re a damn fool if you think they are.”

“Do you know where they are?” he asked.

“Hell no, and I don’t want to know. Like I said, you’re a fool for going after them.”

“I have very powerful clients who want them,” he said, leaning back in his chair. The man laughed, shaking his head.

“No, you have very powerful enemies who are willing to pretend to be friends with you because they would rather see you die trying than to lose one of their own. They know that these men are like ghosts. They come and go in the night like the wind. You won’t get to them.”

“So, you won’t help me?” he asked.

“Five million. Upfront.”

“You’re crazy!” he shouted.

“Yep. But not as crazy as you are for thinking you can do this. You think we’re all stupid, don’t you? You weren’t USMC. That tattoo is wrong, and it’s disgraceful that you put it there.” Hugo covered his arm, pulling the sleeve down. He knew the tattoo was wrong, but it hurt to get it, and he didn’t want to sit through another session to fix it.

“You were a Merchant Marine, but you disappeared. AWOL. I don’t abide by those rules. I might be totally fucked up and a disgrace to my country, but I never went AWOL.”

“Four million.”

“Five.”

“Get out. I don’t need you.”

“Fine,” nodded the man. “I’ll send flowers to your funeral.” He turned, leaving the office. Just as Hugo was about to call for him to return, his cell phone rang. It was an unknown number, but it intrigued him. Only a few people knew this number.

“Hello.”

“Hello, Cassius. Or should I say Gideon?” Hugo froze, immediately his body began to shake in fear and nervousness.

“Wh-who is this?”

“Oh, I think you know. Who is paying you, Gideon?” asked Nine.

“No one. No one is paying me. Not yet. When I turn you over to them, I’ll be a wealthy man.”

“You’ll be a dead man,” said Nine. “You’ll never come near us.”

“I’m capable! I would have made an excellent operative, and you didn’t give me a chance to prove it.”

“Because you lied from the start. We don’t tolerate liars. You lied about the stills. Ms. Beauchamp was happy to hear that, by the way. She won’t be giving you any more hearings with the ATF. Your dreams of ruling the world of spirits are done.”

“You asshole! I could make that work. I could make millions.”

“It isn’t legal, Gideon. It never would be legal. You’d lose any money you have. You won’t steal anyone’s property, you won’t touch anyone’s daughter, and you won’t be doing business any time soon.”

“You won’t ruin this for me again! I’m capable! I can do anything!”

“Turn yourself in Gideon. Turn yourself in before your business partners come hunting for you. I would suspect that they’re going to want their money back. You foolishly took their money in advance, didn’t you?”

Gideon was breathing so heavily they honestly thought he might be on a treadmill. They could hear him moving things around, stomping his feet, and pacing in whatever room he was in.

“Hey, Gideon?” called Nine. “How’s the view of the Gulf from Pass Christian this fine evening?”

Now, there was silence. Nothing except silence, and they wondered if he had passed out. Nine gave a thumbs up to the comms team.

“We’ll see you soon, Gideon. See you soon.”