Page 55 of Sick Bargain

“So, let me get this straight,” Director starts. “You want me to, once again, use your fuck-up as a win? You want me to forgive this major indiscretion, pretend the whole thing never happened, and reward you by getting the police involved in Axel’s lab to make your job easier?”

“Hello.”

“No!” Director cuts Facts off. Facts isn’t always as volatile as the rest of us, but cutting him off while he’s speaking is his biggest trigger. Glitch wraps a hand around Facts’ wrist, holding him steady while he shakes so hard his teeth chatter and his nails dig into his palms, making them bleed. “You will clean this up. You will help the remaining family members of the Matter Cult plan their funerals, and you will offer them the full support of Vile House. They. Weren’t. The. Job! Reeven was the job, and you fucks lost your minds!”

I lost my mind a long time ago. Not my fault he’s just figuring it out now.

“And you.” Director steps in front of Ransom. “I expected more from you.”

“Why?” Ransom asks, chin high. “Because I’m more responsible? Because I’m at the head of the line? Because you put me in a different category than the rest of them?” He steps forward, challenging Director, and it’s the first time I’ve ever seen him so defiant towards our leader. “I’m here for a fucking reason, Director. You made me like this. You made me one of theten. Did you forget why?” Ransom radiates such authority that the rest of us get agitated.

But when Director grabs the front of Ransom’s jacket, Monster turns feral. He snarls right next to me, bouncing on the spot and watching Director with such threat in his eyes that I put a hand on his shoulder to steady him. He shrugs me off because he hates being touched more than I do.

“Calm, Monster. Ransom can handle his shit,” I whisper, touching him again anyway.

Monster snarls again, eyes on Director. “Don’t fucking?—”

“Monster,” Ransom says smoothly. When their eyes meet, Monster physically relaxes under my hand.

I pull him back in line just as Director nods towards the end. The nine of us are fucking shocked! Ransom has never been at the end. Never. But he keeps his chin up and grins at Director as he walks to the end, putting Seven in the highest ranking spot and me second to the end.

“You’re all cleaning up this mess. I saw the basement footage, and you’re all to fucking blame.” Director paces, pinching the bridge of his nose. “And, Krypt?”

I swing my eyes to him, bored and eager to go see Remiel.

“As punishment, I have a job for you. You aren’t going to like it.” His eyes almost look sympathetic. “Time to put that mind of yours to use.”

Great.

CURRENT RANK

1.Seven

2. Ghost

3. Menace

4. Riot

5. Facts

6. Glitch

7. Kyd

8. Monster

9. Krypt

10. Ransom

The Ambient Ravenis open for business, and Cain and Remiel are both at the front desk. If I go in there and act possessive of Remiel, Cain will know who I am and what it means. But if I don’t go in there and act possessive of Remiel, I’ll burn his fucking shop down and break the one limit I told him I’d respect.

Ghost offered to come with me to give me an excuse for being here, but I turned him down. I need time alone with Remiel. After everything last night. After the job I’ve just been given by Director. This might be my last chance to…

He might not need me, but I need him.

The bell chimes when I walk through the front door, drawing their attention. Sad classical music filters through the shop, but it has nothing on the sadness mingling within the darkness of my soul.

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