Page 23 of High Stakes

The world swims into focus and I blink my eyes until my vision clears. I’m sitting on a bench in a park outside. The birds are chirping and I can feel the cool breeze on my skin. I look up and see that the leaves are beginning to change from bright green to shades of red and orange.

“I’m leaving for a while, Si, and you have to promise me you’ll take care of yourself.” Declan’s voice pulls my attention away from the trees above me. His mouth is set in a firm line and there is concern etched in his eyes.

My stomach drops at his words. “You can’t just leave me here. Mom and dad just…they’re gone. I can’t lose you too.” I choke back the sob caught in my throat and kick a rock with the toe of my converse.

“Silas, I can’t stay here.” He reaches over and squeezes my knee gently. “I need to do something with my life before it falls to shit.”

“Take me with you,” I beg and blink back the tears stinging my eyes.

“I don’t think you’ll survive the training,” he says and releases a sigh.

“I’m tougher than I look, Declan,” I respond and straighten my spine. It’s going to take more than some hard labor and screaming men to break me. Although, it’s probably hard to break someone who is already dead inside.

My vision goesdark for a moment and then a bright light nearly blinds me. I raise my hand to protect my eyes and groan at the pain in my head. “Get up! We have to move! Now!” A deep voice growls in my ear and I feel myself being lifted by a hand under my left arm. My feet feel like lead blocks as I stumble forward.

My head feels like it just went three rounds between the cymbals of one of those clapping monkeys. I look around and watch three men in black special ops gear canvas the room with rifles strapped to their backs and pistols at the ready in their hands. My back hits the wall as I sway on my feet.

A pair of hands grip my biceps so I don’t hit the floor. “Steady there, dude, hold on just a little longer.” I look up and I’m met with a pair of dark brown eyes. It’s the only part of his face that I can see. The lower part of his face is hidden by a mask with a skeleton jaw and teeth and the skin around his eyes is painted with black war paint. The fabric of the mask is moving, like he’s talking, but I can’t look away from his eyes.

He blinks at me expectantly and after a few minutes, I realize he was asking me questions. “What?” I ask hoarsely.

“What’s your name?” he repeats patiently and tightens his grip on my arms.

“Kennedy,” I respond automatically. It’s the only name I’ve gone by in years.

The man reaches up and tugs down his mask to reveal a hard jaw lined with dark stubble. “We’re going to get you out of here, okay? But you have to trust me.”

“Sullivan,” one of the other men barks out. The man in front of me turns and nods once before pulling his mask back into place. Then he grabs my arm and slings me over his shoulder as if I weigh nothing and don’t have about 80 pounds of gear on myself.

The sudden shift makes my head swim again and darkness begins to seep into my vision. “Trust me,” I hear him whisper as my consciousness slips away.

I’m not sure why, but I do trust him. He’s safe. I feel it in my bones. And I know that I can trust him with my life.

I openmy eyes to a blinding white light. Tears sting my eyes as I blink rapidly, trying to orient myself. I look over and see Declan leaning against a wall with his arms folded across his chest, dressed in black gear with a pistol strapped to his hip. “I’m not doing it,” he says sternly.

The director of our unit sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose before running his fingers through his salt-and-pepper hair. “Kennedy, you don’t have a choice. This isn’t up for debate. It’s a direct order.”

“We don’t need a replacement,” my brother snaps back and pushes off the wall. “We can manage as a two-man team. Right?” He looks at me for confirmation, his green eyes flashing dangerously.

I nod mutely and look back at the director. I have a vague recollection that we’re talking about replacing the partner we lost on our last mission overseas.

“You cannot work at this caliber with only two people, one of which won’t even be in the field,” the director argues and squares his shoulders.

A knock at the door causes all of us to turn simultaneously and watch as a tall young man dressed in a black suit walks in. His dark eyes flash and his lips turn up into a slight smirk as he regards me. The man moves to stand beside the director with his hand clasping his wrist in front of him.

“Sullivan,” the director says in acknowledgement. Sullivan nods without taking his eyes off me. I shiver tickles my spine and I fight the blush creeping up my neck. “Like I said… It’s not up for discussion. This is your new partner Hayden Sullivan. Sullivan, meet your new team, the Kennedy twins.” He motions with his hands between us.

Declan scowls and makes no move to introduce himself. I step forward to shake his hand. “Silas,” I say quietly. As soon as his fingers wrap around my palm my brain registers that this man is familiar to me. I remember that name being shouted in the foggy haze of memories. “You’re THE Sullivan?”

“The one and only,” he quips arrogantly, and gives my hand another squeeze before letting go. “How’s your head?”

My cheeks heat with embarrassment and I take a step back toward Declan. “My memories are a little hazy,” I respond and look over my shoulder to my brother, who is still scowling.

“How do you two know each other?” Declan asks and I can tell by the set of his jaw that he is furious. He hates being told what to do. Almost as much as he hates meeting new people.

“He’s the one who got me out. Him and his team completed the second half of the Red Viper Mission,” I explain and meetHayden’s eyes again. My stomach dips slightly when I realize that he’s been watching me the entire time.

“Is that right?” Declan mutters and finally steps forward to offer Hayden a hand. “I guess that means I owe you one for saving my little brother.”

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