Page 52 of Raze
Jackson
Thorne’s nearby.
Even if instinct didn’t warn me that I’m being watched, the smell of something rotten on the breeze gives him away. The scent of death that follows him adds weight to my theory that we had killed him before and he was brought back to life. It’s a concerning idea that I’ve been mulling over.
How did someone find him after we’d buried him?
Who found him and are they a part of GE, or someone new?
Are there any limitations or changes to Thorne after being brought back, or is he the same as he was?
All are questions I don’t yet have the answers to.
I flip the phone open once again to check the time. Almost two in the morning. I’d stolen this old phone from a goon who picks up kidnapped kids and transports them to GE. The call I received earlier today had given me this address for the next delivery, so here I am.
Sitting on the edge of a six-story building rooftop and watching the butcher shop across the street.
The ripe odor intensifies. I pull the gaiter up to cover my mouth and nose, but it can only block so much. “Thorne,” I say calmly, to acknowledge his presence. He’s somewhere on the same rooftop as me by the strength of his scent.
There’s a deep chuckle and then, “You got me.” He moves closer.
I don’t bother looking his way or shifting my position. I keep my gaze locked on the butcher shop and the curb before it while leaving it to my other senses to keep track of Thorne behind me.
Everything with him is about power. Even something as simple as keeping my back to him will be regarded by him as a power move.
Thorne steps up onto the short wall that perimeters the rooftop next to where I’m sitting. “You’ve been busy.” There’s a pause where he’s likely waiting for me to say something back before he impatiently presses on, “And you’ve proven your point. But I can help lighten the load.”
“I’m not going to work for you.”
“Withme,” he corrects. “It would be a partnership.”
“We already tried that, and you hid Raegan from me.”
“I wasn’t hiding her from you. I needed your focus on weeding out a spy in the Guild first before you went dashing off into the sunset. I clearly misjudged her importance to you then, and that’s my mistake. I won’t make it again.” He moves his hand over his heart like that would mean anything to me. The man doesn’t have one.
I also know he dropped a new piece of information to reel me in. This is the first time I’ve heard of a spy. “What spy?”
A smile curves his lips. “Oh, just someone in the Guild who secretly works for GE. I caught the ones I suspected to interrogatethem and send them back to GE, but someone decided to play hero and free them.” He slants his gaze my way, but I still don’t turn to look at him.
A spy in the Guild?
Or a trick to get us to turn on each other trying to find an imaginary enemy?
“So, you see, you gave up on me too quickly. Or was your little family that eager to steal the Guild from me that you betrayed me for them?” He sneers.
“It wasn’t about them.”
“Yeah, yeah. It was about her. But I’m sure you see my concern with any partnership so long as the others are around. Your little group has tried to kill me twice now.”
My lips twitch into a small smile, though it’s hidden beneath my face covering. “I haven’t agreed to work with you, Thorne.”
He chuckles. “No, but you’re still listening, aren’t you?”
“I’m waiting for my next target. You came to me.”
“Well then, listen to my new offer while you wait. You clearly can do this on your own, but I need your help to take over GE. You help me take down the board and I’ll teach you the next level of using your gift, so you’ll never need weapons again. All those knives weigh you down. And of course my previous offer to help you protect your girl is included. Gordon’s been relentless in searching for her, but I’ve been throwing misdirects in his way. If you want that to continue, you’ll accept my offer.”
This time, it’s my turn to laugh. “Is that a threat?”
