Page 94 of The Warrior
“Is there a threat in that statement?” Khan asked through gritted teeth.
“Yeah, I’ve been thinking. Maybe a small cabin in Alaska would be a nice change. Bear hunting, fishing, and peace and quiet sounds like a fucking good deal compared to politics and a brother who betrays me.”
“I didn’t betray you.” Khan pulled back, his voice calmer. “I get why you’re angry, but you have to get over it, and it is not Pearl’s fault.”
Straightening up my back, I crossed my arms. “You do what you gotta do. I’m going to Alaska to look at cabins.”
“What about Laura?”
I scrunched up my face, a knife twisting in my heart. “She chose the Motherlands.”
Khan rubbed his forehead and sighed. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“It is what it is,” I said refusing to show him how broken I was on the inside. “You’ll have to find someone else to do your dirty work. I’m done.”
He angled his head and frowned. “Magni, don’t.”
Ignoring his attempt to reason with me, I continued talking. “I brought Mom back. You need to speak to her.”
“Why, what’s wrong?”
“Zobel and his friends are conspiring against you, and I didn’t want her in his house when the soldiers arrived this morning.”
Khan dropped his jaw. “You’re not serious?”
“Dead serious.”
“I don’t believe it.”
“No, why would you? You and Pearl already agreed that I’m a paranoid fucker, right? But for all it’s worth, it gave me a sense of purpose when I spent two hours interrogating all eight conspirators last night. They told me everything to my face.”
“You tortured Mr. Zobel?” Khan’s hands flew to his hair.
“The only person who was tortured was me! I had to sit there and listen to their disgusting talk about women. Don’t worry, you’ll see what I mean when you listen to the recording I got from last night.” While talking I used my wristband to transfer the file to him.
He looked confused. “Why would they tell you anything? That makes no sense.”
I angled my head. “Because they thought I was in on it.”
“What?” Khan looked like he had swallowed a fly. “Why?”
“Because they were eager to invade the Motherlands and wanted to take advantage of the border wall being down. The greedy bastards were eyeing a chance to divide the Motherlands between them and grow their wealth and power.”
“Yes, but why you?”
“Isn’t it obvious? I’ve been advocating for us to invade as well and I don’t trust Pearl. With the Motlanders rebuilding the wall, time was running out…” I shrugged. “They took a chance on recruiting me, hoping that I was fed up too.”
“Who was there?”
For every name I gave him, his ears grew redder and when I played a bit of the recording for him, Khan began pacing his office.
“It’s best if Khan’s death looks like an accident. The few people who are loyal to him should be given no reason to suspect that it was treason that killed him.”
“Was that Sheldon Grant who spoke?” Khan’s face was distorted in cold fury. “Those motherfucking traitors. Just wait until I get my hands on them.”
I shrugged. “It’s all taken care of. This morning, at a quarter to six, I had eight teams simultaneously picking them up.”
“Where are they now?”
