Page 162 of Oathbreaker

“Yes,” Misha replies. “They’ve been working on this for decades now, since the sixties. They came up with the cure-all a few decades ago. Cancer, HIV...you ever wonder why celebrities get that shit but stay alive much longer than anyone else would? The Legion. The issue is their cure is post-facto by design, but they’ve had a breakthrough thanks to you.”

I balk at the statement. “Thanks to me?” I ask in a flat tone.

“Yes. BwP’s gene therapy is the missing link they need to pair with their deployment system. They created nanotechnology to disperse microscopic bits of engineered bio-matter into the air. We breathe it in, and just like that, we’re all “infected.” The Legion can activate the nanotech anytime, and The Undesirables will die in the streets.” He snaps his fingers. “Just like that.”

Misha’s words land like a bomb in the room, dropping the temperature by a dozen degrees.

“So they’re going to kill everyone?” Leo pipes up.

“Well, not everyone. That’s why they want Hunter and Ella. They’ve identified several elites that they want to replicate. They’ll use their genes to train the nanotech, so The Desirables are spared.”

“And The Undesirables are eradicated,” Leo concludes.

Misha holds his hands out to his side, his gesture saying, Exactly.

“Well,” I say, pouring another shot. “That’s one way to solve the global overpopulation problem.”

No one laughs. I knock the drink back.

“So what does that make you, then? Robin Hood of the Rapture?” Leo says with a sarcastic lilt that doesn’t match the severity of his expression.

“Something like that.”

“And what exactly do you want from me? Besides being your errand boy,” I say, gesturing to the empty crates.

“To bring you over to our side. You have things we need. You’ve already given me two of them.” He nods his head toward the boxes.

And the other thing...?

“Luna’s treatment. You have access to BwP’s tech now because it’s floating inside your wife.”

Misha’s smile is more of a grimace.

I don’t have a moment to digest that statement before Misha continues talking.

“Once The Legion finishes encoding all the genetic data they need to finalize the tech, they’ll deploy their mission.”

“Which is?” Leo asks, but Misha doesn’t say anything further when the door slams open, flying into the adjacent wall.

“Misha,” Luna sucks in air as if she’s run through the entire compound.

“Moya lyubov.” Misha rushes to his red-faced wife.

“There’s been a breach at Amelia Manor,” she says. Her words ring in my ears until they’re quickly replaced with buzzing. I whip my head toward Luna.

“Explain yourself,” I rush out.

Luna spares me a momentary glance before turning back to her husband. “We’ve lost eyes on Amelia Manor,” she says.

I begin to vibrate when she mentions my home.

“What?” I snap.

She ignores me, continuing to speak.

“I know Rio is down. He sent the distress signal.”

“Rio? My employee, Rio?”

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