Page 78 of Breaker

Harlow is right. We are well acquainted with Rune’s activities.

“He didn’t stop,” Harlow says. “After that first time.” He meets my eyes. “But you already knew that, didn’t you? That’s why you came for him last year.”

I nod slightly.

“And he got a hold of one of you in the process.”

Striker mumbles something in my ear, and I glance at Viper. His head hangs, one hand adjusting his baseball cap, the other rubbing at his chest.

We failed that day, and Hunter paid the price.

“It was Zane Devin,” Harlow says. “He knew your plans. That’s how Rune was able to ambush you.”

“Fucking Zane,” Viper grates. “How did he know?”

Harlow lifts a large shoulder.

“Why are you coming to us?” I ask.

“I had kept my mouth shut, never said a word after that first time. I think I was too shocked, and I was angry too. But Rune didn’t stop.” He picks up the images from Viper’s lap and I’m surprised Viper doesn’t shove him away.

I take the pictures, and when my eyes land on the top one, bile burns my throat, memories flooding back brutally. A sweat breaks out on my lower back, that old trembling fear that I had felt hitting me square in the chest. I tap the image on my knee. Once. Twice. Two more times.

“He just kept doing it,” Harlow tells me. “Every year. Then he found people like him—people who wanted to do that.” He points to the pictures. “And I kept my mouth shut so I didn’t become one of the people in those pictures.”

I suck in air, stuffing the images in the envelope, then folding it in half and leaning forward enough to shove it in the back pocket of my jeans. “Why now?” I ask. “After all this time, why now? Why not come to Fallon when he started?”

Harlow lets out a strangled chuckle. “Because he’s as much to blame as Rune.”

Viper’s eyes meet mine.

Harlow gestures before us. “And to protect them.”

I follow his lifted hand to the girls, laughing and dancing under the canopy of lights.

“They are why I’ve been silent. I will do anything to keep these girls safe,” Clyde Harlow says. “Rune needs to be stopped. But I need your help.”

Chapter 25

Breaker

Lies are like seeds.Once planted, they take root and sprout from the earth, fresh and vulnerable. If left untouched and unquestioned, they grow sturdy, stronger, and more believable. If anyone dares question their credibility, one can simply pluck a leaf as evidence of the truth.

That’s how the Snyder Group was born. Years ago, Reaper planted a seed. The lies grew. We nurtured them, subtly dropping hints at small events hosted by those in Rune’s circle. We let small bits of information slip. Like we may or may not buy and sell more than property.

Years ago, we formed the corporation as a cover to purchase real estate around the country. When we formed the plan to take Delilah, we strategically purchased properties solely to get Rune’s attention. When we began buying up hotels in his territory, Rune took notice and quickly made an offer on our latest chain. This new group, Snyder Inc., was stepping on his toes a little. Of course, we sold it all to him, just as we planned. We barely had the chain for a month before his lawyers called us.

On the outside, we’re the Snyder Group, just another set of businessmen much like Rune, buying up property, rubbing elbows with politicians, and doing shady shit on the side.

I’m the main face of the company, the elusive billionaire playboy who inherited money from his father, started Snyder Inc. to flip properties and knows nothing about running it. I’m so bad at it that I have my business reps handle all the details, and I just sign papers. But I’m too busy gallivanting around the world to be bothered with details, so I never set foot in an office.

It’s all bullshit, but it’s a great story, and people love a handsome bachelor with too much money and no time for anything other than sex and parties.

The funny thing is that no one questions it. They love the lies we tell, eating up the scraps, wanting to be near Ben and his money. It helps I don’t dispel the rumors that I inherited my money from my weapons dealer father when he supposedly passed. He was just as elusive as me, buying and selling to anyone, anywhere, and no one ever saw his face.

It worked to our advantage that no one knew it was Fallon behind the scenes for over a decade, selling weapons when we needed to explain the money Ben inherited. Not even Rune knew Fallon was dealing firearms on the side. Fallon had a brilliant cover, helping fund the school while he trained his future soldiers.

Everyone in Rune’s inner circle is oblivious to the truth. Many of them had helped the elusive arms dealer either purchase weapons over the years or sell them off. Then again, people look the other way when they have their own secrets to hide. Like Rune.

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