Page 104 of Only the Wicked

“Miles, my partner, has had meetings with staff from his financial firm.” I give him a questioning look. “Finance guys love the idea of AI forecasting markets,” he shrugs. “It’s a small world. You’re sure he’s not the one who hired KOAN?”

“Do you see him as a competitor?” I hadn’t, but I bought into this project to find a leak.

“In addition to an investment firm, he owns a company that owns satellites. That’s a lot of data.”

“Then you should approach him for a deal, but… Then again, scratch that. He’s third-generation wealth. He’s not?—”

“How did KOAN find you? I’m assuming you didn’t find the job posting on a job board.”

I scratch at the side of my face, debating.

“Within the intelligence community, my situation isn’t unknown. All things considered, it’s not surprising they approached me.” It’s an honest answer that doesn’t out my friend. “Do you need to know anything else?”

He shakes his head, but he’s cold. Ruthless is the word that comes to mind.

“What does Russia have on you? What do they want?”

“They want me to buy a database. It’s reasonable to expect that once it’s purchased, additional demands will be made.”

“What do they have on you? Is that why the FBI is interested in you?”

That gets his attention.

“What did the FBI want?”

“I truly don’t know. If I were to guess, I’d say he was cultivating an asset, but that’s not how the FBI works. Are they investigating you?”

“Not to my knowledge.”

“What is Russia holding over your head? You’re a single man and never married. It can’t be the typical compromising photos. What have you done?”

He closes his eyes and tilts his head back, then exhales loudly.

“No.” His voice hardens. “You don’t get to know that.” He rises from the chair in one fluid motion, suddenly imposing in the space between us. “Are we working together or not?”

The question hangs in the air, an ultimatum disguised as a choice. I recognize the tactic—I’ve used it myself. Through the window behind him, lightning flashes across the D.C. skyline, illuminating the room in stark white for a split second. In that flash, I see something in his eyes I hadn’t expected: not just anger, but a profound wariness. This man has carried his own secrets far longer than I’ve carried mine.

“Yes,” I say finally, making my choice. “We’re working together.”

He nods once, sharply, like sealing a pact. “Good. Because when it comes to gods and monsters, Sydney,” he says, his voice dropping to almost a whisper, “I’m starting to wonder which one I’ve created.”

I have no idea what he means by that, but something in his tone sends a chill down my spine. Whatever Rhodes is hiding, it’s big.

Chapter

Twenty-Nine

Rhodes

While she mulls over working together, I resume pacing the room, each step measured and controlled—masking the storm raging inside me.

I believed in the protective measures we’ve taken. I believed our creation wouldn’t harm. But we’ll see what we find. She’s working off rumors.

Sydney.

How did I not see it? Calculated lies.

I’m such a fool.