Malcolm linked his fingers and rested them in front of him, the epitome of innocence. “I thought you were just checking up on me.”
“One of my team has been kidnapped. I would like to know where he is.”
Malcolm raised his eyebrows. “If it’s kidnapping, you would be better off speaking to Venus. That’s her speciality.”
“If I find out you have anything to do with this, Malcolm…” He didn’t need to finish his sentence.
Malcolm chuckled. “You will just roll over and pretend it doesn’t exist.”
Brett stepped closer until they were toe to toe. “Push me on this and see if that promise doesn’t come back to bite you.”
He glared for a second longer and then turned away, walking back through the front door.
“Say hi to your sister for me.”
It took everything in him not to run back and beat the information out of him, but that would make him no better than them, and he had to be. He’d worked his entire life to prove he wasn’t one of them. He couldn’t make a liar of himself now.
****
Chapter 13
Brett
Brett couldn’t help his need to move away from his sister. Despite them looking like the twins they were, Venus was made of the darkness, and Brett hoped he was made from light. It kept the balance, he supposed, but he didn’t have to like it. If he hadn’t been privy to the inner workings of Venus’s mind for the years they’d grown up together, he would’ve wondered how it was possible for her to be part of the military. The thing was, she was one of the best actors out there. But behind the veneer was a calculating, dangerous person, and Brett would never expect anyone to stand up to her.
Except him.
He was under no illusions that she would kill him should the need arise, but she tolerated him, as he did her. She didn’t agree with his choice of duty, and he didn’t agree with hers. Black versus white. Dark versus light. Night versus day. The comparisons could go on forever. But what held him back from bringing her to justice was that she kept it under wraps. Had she crossed the line? Of that he was sure, though he couldn’t prove it. But had she kept herself from going off on rogue missions? As far as he was aware. She could easily hide her “work,” but for the most part, he was able to read her easily enough.
This wasnotone of those days.
That day, he had no clue whether she was feeding him lies or truths.
“How can you keep losing your men, Brett?” Venus said with no inflection in her tone. It was almost robotic. “How many people have been kidnapped on your watch now? Six? Ten? I’ve lost count.”
Brett clenched his jaw, knowing she was trying to rile him up. “Regardlessof my apparent ineptitude, what do you know?”
Venus strode across the space, moving towards the fence surrounding the barracks. She didn’t lean against it, just stood completely upright with military precision at all times. “I have no information.”
Brett turned away and stepped towards the gravel car park, pausing when she continued.
“However… I’m sure I will be able to find something if I’m inclined to look.”
He sighed, lifted his face to the sky—when had the sun set?—and swallowed before facing her. “And what’s the price?”
“I have a…” she tilted her head, blinking once, “problem I need to disappear.” She levelled her head again, staring at him.
“And what did this…problemdo?”
She stayed quiet, robotically staring at him as if he hadn’t asked a question. Honestly, he wasn’t sure he wanted to know, anyway.
“You know the rules,” he stated.
“Rules are made to be broken.”
“Not these ones.”
She took one step closer, the crunch of some stones beneath her boots audible despite the noise around them. All that was needed was for it to be pitch black, and he would actually be quaking in his shoes. Yes, the big, brave bodyguard was scared of his sister. He’d be stupid to not be.