Page 6 of Broken Surrender
I had investigated the Marked Blooms Syndicate as much as the Board had vetted me. Though the Board was compromised of more than the Bloom family, the male Blooms had led the organization for centuries. But when the current president, Gore Bloom, finally got his wife pregnant, she had birthed agirl.The daughter was in her twenties now. Time would only tell what he would do with the family legacy.
The conference door room opened, sunlight spilling onto the white walls. Three men in their mid-fifties, with staunch dispositions, entered. I offered my hand to the one in the middle with the ruddy face: Gore Bloom.
“We finally meet,” he said, gripping my hand. “I believe you know Saunders and Upchurch.”
I shook hands with the two of them. “It’s been a while,” I said.
“Good to see you again,” Upchurch said.
We took our seats, the three of them on one side of the table, and myself on the other. I had already passed the preliminary interviews with Upchurch and Saunders. This was the final interview to see if I understood what the Syndicate was asking of me.
Bloom leaned back in his seat. “The purpose of the Marked Blooms Syndicate is to provide an international concierge service to its members,” he said. My jaw twitched in amusement. What a euphemistic way of saying that if you wanted a bill passed to guarantee your company immense tax breaks, the Freedom Statue bombed on an international holiday, or your rival’s bodies buried in the Sahara, then the Marked Blooms Syndicate would have it done quickly, discreetly, and efficiently. Concierge service. How quaint. “This is provided through a framework of members and associates. Associates are employed by the Board and paid fairly, but members provide their services as well. This is how our Syndicate has grown exponentially since it first started centuries ago. However, in order to gain access, there are three tests you must pass.”
I already knew the details, but I motioned for Bloom to continue.
“The first task is providing your own service to our members. You will be given a particularly—” Bloom grinned to himself, “—particularlyhard case when it comes to what is asked of you. Especially, you, Mr. Callen, being the owner of Universal Medical Industries. You will have to save someone’s life, whom many will believe does not deserve to live.”
That didn’t phase me. Life was life, death was death. As long as I gave the final blow to the last two people who had wronged us.
“Any of my hospitals and doctors are yours, gentlemen,” I said.
Bloom nodded. “As for the second task, you will be asked to eliminate a target for one of our fellow members. Now, the difficulty on this test will be entirely random. Luck may have you taking off a peon or battling a cartel boss. It’s purely based on chance and need.”
“Noted,” I said.
“And finally,” Bloom shifted in his seat, “We need an offering.” And this was where the tests were particularly intriguing; the benefit to the Marked Blooms Syndicate was purely for sadistic pleasure and indulgence. “Do you have any family, Mr. Callen?”
I shook my head. “My sister took her own life a few years ago.”
“Right.” Bloom lowered his eyes to the table in front of him. “And how are you holding up with that?”
I waited for a moment, sucking in a breath. It was about the delivery.
“It’s been a long time,” I finally said. “As you know, one of the reasons I’ve sought out your society is to eliminate the rest of the party involved.”
Bloom nodded, then faced the other members of the Board, who bowed their heads in approval. One of the final six was a member of the Marked Blooms Syndicate and wouldn’t be eligible for elimination, but even having the Syndicate’s backing gave me security.
“Once you’ve been fully initiated, we’d be happy to assist you with one of your targets,” Bloom said. “But you are aware of the final test, right, Mr. Callen?”
I smiled. Of course, I was. “An offering in brutal violence of someone I value.”
“This cannot be a random person. This must be someone you would like to protect, and their body must be offered to violent indulgences at one of our quarterly masquerades. Upon your personal invitation, our members can have their way with this sacrifice, using them at their disposal, with the potential risk that your offering’s life may be sacrificed. Now, I understand that this may upset you.” He leaned forward. “But this is a tradition dating back to the origins of our society. This, above all else, demonstrates your loyalty to the organization.”
As far as they knew, my family was dead. Which left my plan.
A woman I could use who meant nothing to me. Who I could pretend was mine. Someone easy.
Those with power never make sacrifices. They know better than to keep attachments. You take what you want, then dispose of the rest.
That’s all she would be to me.
“Do you have someone you can sacrifice to the Syndicate, Mr. Callen?”
Lena’s smooth face surfaced in my mind. The dark night painting her cheeks in blue and purple. Her blood-red lips. The flash of her thigh.
“My lover,” I said.
“Good.” Bloom stood, shaking my hand. “You will have one year to complete your three tasks in any order that you choose. Until then, your membership is on a probationary basis. Upchurch will give you the communication resources for your other two tasks.”
