Page 88 of The Cult

But as I dared to imagine such happiness, a bitter pang of reality pierced through my optimism. YOU ARE WORTHLESS!

“And …” El Jefe’s voice on the receiver brought me back to the present.

“I wanna learn how to do the job.” I prayed he hadn’t changed his mind. He was my last hope. “I’ll do anything if it means a life away from here.”

“I was hoping you’d say that.”

Relief washed over me at his response. “When can I start?

“Look to your left.”

I did what I was told and spotted a black SUV. The tinted window slid down, revealing El Jefe. What the fuck? Has he been watching me the whole time?

“Wanna start now?” he asked.

I hung up the phone and approached El Jefe’s car. He was seated in the back. I tried to open the back door, but it didn’t budge.

El Jefe studied me. “Once you’re in, there’s no turning back.”

That was a bit dramatic. It was a security gig. How hard could that be? Whatever. “I’m all in,” I said.

“Let him in,” El Jefe ordered his driver, who was wearing an all-black suit.

The lock clicked and I climbed into the back seat of the SUV. My eyes traveled to the driver—he had a gun resting in his lap. I swallowed hard and shot a glance at El Jefe, my heart hammering in my chest.

“He’s good,” El Jefe said. He leaned forward and tapped the driver’s shoulder.

The driver looked up at the rearview mirror to study me. He nodded before tucking his gun in his shoulder holster under his suit jacket.

I exhaled a shaky breath, running my fingers along the door handle.

“So, we gotta get you cleaned up first,” El Jefe said. “Then we train. Welcome to The Firm, son.” Again, he extended his hand.

Without hesitation, I shook it. “Thank you. I won’t let you down.”

***

Abel listened as I told him how I became entangled with The Firm. He didn’t judge. There was nothing but genuine curiosity on his face.

“El Jefe was the first person who didn’t treat me like the loser that I was. He was the father I never had.” My heart squeezed at the reminder of him. “They didn’t give me an assignment right away. They trained me first. Similar to what you’re doing here,” I said, nodding to the barracks.

“Then what?” Abel asked.

“I chose the life of comfort over a life on the street. Besides, we only took down the worst of humankind. We didn’t kill innocent people …” I took a lungful of air. “Or so we thought. But we were so fucking wrong, Abel.”

“What do you mean? What happened to El Jefe?”

“He died for us.” My blood boiled at the memory of The Firm’s betrayal. I was reminded of what needed to be done once this mess was over. We had to make them pay, even if it killed me.

“What? I’m so sorry, Tobias.” He lurched toward me and wrapped me in his arms. “Did Dad know?”

He was taking the news a lot better than I’d anticipated. “He didn’t, but that doesn’t matter,” I answered. “It’s in the past.” My past that I couldn’t wait to bury in the ground. “I know you have a lot of questions, but for now, we have to go.”

Thirty-Six: Abel

Tobias was an assassin? I didn’t know men like him were real. I’d only heard and read about them, seen them in movies, and never in my wildest dreams did I think I would come face-to-face with a cold-blooded killer. Should I be afraid of him? His admission had the opposite effect on me. I felt safer than ever. Call me sick, but I trusted Tobias with my life.

Everything was making sense, but I still had questions. We didn’t kill innocent people. Or so we thought, but we were so fucking wrong. What did he mean?

---