Chapter Five

Kassian

He tossed his dust-covered clothes into a pile, pulling on some fresh ones. Thankfully the women had made a trip into town to get them all a bunch of fresh outfits before the Institute had set up this blockade, so they all had clean clothes. It was a small victory, but an important one nonetheless. Crisp, never-worn black tactical pants buckled around his waist before he snatched a clean, unprinted white T-shirt from the pile. Pulling it over his head, he surveyed himself in the mirror.

As clean as I’m going to get. The last thing he needed was giving them any ideas on why he was covered in drywall. That would lead to questions, which would lead to Rosie. And Kassian couldn’t let that happen. Not now that she’d just re-entered his life unexpectedly. It was almost a miracle. He’d been so caught up in the moment that day with the convoy that he hadn’t even remembered to get her name. After that he’d lamented the fact for days, upset with himself for not being bold enough to ask.

They had a lot to talk about, including the fact that she was his mate. Kassian knew it would take time for her to realize that, and he was prepared to give her all the time she needed, and as much space as she wanted along the way. It would happen when it happened. In the meantime, he would be there to provide for her, to ensure that she never wanted again.

His eyes flashed with anger in the mirror as he recalled the way she had been embarrassed to tell him she had no money. That was unacceptable to him. How could the world have abandoned such a perfect creature? His rage at everyone who had wronged her had never been greater than at that moment. Kassian had wanted to reach out and snap the necks of each and every one of them. It hurt him to see his mate like that, and the shame he’d heard in her voice pained him even more. Rosie should never have to feel like that. He would ensure she never did again. After more than a decade with his brothers, Kassian had quite the stash hidden away. Rosie would share it with him, and never again would she lack anything.

Smiling at that knowledge, Kassian rolled his shoulders several times to relax, and then exited the bedroom. A quick glance at Pierce got his approval that he looked clean enough. Gathering his nerves, Kassian stepped up to the front door. For a moment he thought about peering through it, to see who it was. It wouldn’t matter; he had to open it anyway. Schooling his face into a neutral expression, trying to hide the seething hatred that threatened to reveal itself, he pulled open the door.

“Hello, Kassian.”

Don’t punch him in the face. Don’t punch him in the face. Don’t punch him in the face. Don’t punch him in the face.

“Can I come in?”

I’m going to punch him in the face.

“No.”

“Aww, such a lack of manners.”

I’m going to punch him in the face. Twice.

“Just tell me what you want and get the fuck out of here,” he growled. “We’re not friends. We’re not even neutral. The only thing keeping me from knocking your nose into your brain is—”

“Is the fact that I have your brother, and if you don’t start behaving, Maximus is going to suffer for it,” the old man at the doorway said coolly, his body language changing from kindly old man to evil villain in the span of a heartbeat. “Now. May I come in?”

Kassian knew he didn’t have a choice at that point. The elderly man who rivaled his own height wasn’t going to stay outside. The doorknob began to screech as Kassian’s fingers clenched around it. The sound pierced his anger, and he looked down at the now slightly misshapen lump of metal. He removed his fingers from around it, and then gestured into the room.

“Please, come in,” he said without an ounce of emotion behind it.

“Thank you.” The surprisingly spritely Director Burnatawiz waltzed into the room like he owned the place. “Ah ah, leave that open please,” he called as Kassian moved to shut the door.

Growling to himself, he left the door wide open and faced back into the room. The old man’s long ponytail, comprised mostly of hair from the side of his head, plus the wisps of hair still on the top, bounced and flailed around as he turned to look at each of the Koche brothers in turn.

It irked Kassian that the old man could at least dress decently. His satiny-black shirt, paired with dark khaki pants and black pointed dress shoes was the only thing they’d ever seen him wear, but he managed to at least look stylish doing it. More than once Kassian had complained about him not wearing a lab coat and sneakers. It would have fit the stereotype better.

“Spit it out,” Kean rumbled.

“Such dramatics,” Burnatawiz sighed, adjusting the thin-rimmed glasses on his face. “Can I at least get a glass of water? It was a long flight you know.”

Flight? It was perhaps an hour drive from the biggest Institute facility that they’d yet identified. There was no need for him to have flown here. Kassian wondered what that was all about. Where had he been coming from? They would have heard a helicopter landing nearby, so he hadn’t taken one of those.

Madison jumped up and headed toward the kitchen, cutting Burnatawiz off just in time. Kassian’s heart jumped. He’d forgotten all about Rosie! His rage had narrowed his vision so much that he was putting his mate in danger.

Stop calling her that. If you do, you’re eventually going to slip up and say it to her before she’s ready to hear it. Then she’ll leave you, and then it’ll be checkmate.

For a moment, Kassian wasn’t sure if he hated his inner voice or Director Burnatawiz more.

“Let Madison get that for you,” he said, forcing a sarcastic smile onto his face. “We wouldn’t want you to exert yourself, after all.”

Much to his irritation, the old man smiled happily and clapped his hands. “Ah, now we’re getting somewhere. What service,” he said cheerfully as Madison shoved the cup at him.

Kassian gave her a nod of thanks. She’d thought of Rosie hidden behind the counter before he had, and that was all that had saved her from being discovered. The director was an asshole, and Kassian knew he wouldn’t hesitate to use the knowledge of her against the rest of them. So he owed her for that. Plus she’d managed not to purposefully spill the contents all over him, which was impressive all on its own.

Reaching into his mind, he yanked it away from the topic of Rosie, and back to the present. A personal visit from Director Burnatawiz could only mean one thing: He had a mission ready for them. Something that they would have to do, if they ever wanted to see Maximus again. He had a sinking feeling it wouldn’t be something good.

“So, I suspect you’re wondering why I’m here.”

“Not really,” Kassian replied. “Just tell us what you want us to do so that we can have Maximus back, and be on with it.”

The angry glance Burnatawiz sent his way was worth it.

“I see.” He took an agonizingly slow sip of his water as the assembled shifters and humans looked at him.

Kassian almost had to admire how calm he managed to be, sitting in the center of a room full of people who wanted to hurt him. No, not hurt him. Kill him. Which is what I’m going to do when this is over. Human or no, this man is going to die by my hands, for all the pain that he has caused. This I vow. Promise made, Kassian suddenly felt better about everything. Working like this would give him the chance to exact his revenge. He’d be able to find a way to kill Burnatawiz and still get Maximus back. He was positive of it.

“Well, the lack of buildup to this is rather unsatisfying, I must admit.”

“The week-long delay between when we last saw you running away and today was enough of a buildup, don’t you think?” Pierce snapped, his cool demeanor failing for a moment.

“You know,” the director said, his voice dripping with condescension, “not all of us have the luxury of just sitting around. Some of us have important work to do.”

“Yeah, like planning the genocide of an entire species,” Lena spat. Gavin’s mate was practically shaking with anger.

“Actually I’m saving a species, while creating a brand-new, better version of one,” the director said happily, as if that settled it. “I’m sorry that you don’t see it that way.”

Yep. Definitely going to kill him. But first I’m going to punch that snotty smile off his face.

“Maximus,” he ground out.

“Yes, yes, I’m getting there,” the old man said with an exaggerated sigh, rolling his eyes up to the ceiling.

“What do we have to do?” Kassian pressed.

“We? Who said anything about ‘we,’ my dear lad?” The director said, turning to look directly at Kassian, his ice-cold eyes boring deep into him. “No, this is about you.”

The room grew still as everyone turned to look at Kassian. He knew some of them were relieved, while others were worried. They didn’t know what it was, but they were happy they didn’t have to do it, though they worried he might fuck it up. Well, he wasn’t going to do that, that was for sure. Kassian was going to finish whatever was needed of him, and he was going to get Maximus back. Their family would be reunited because of him.

“I see,” he replied, trying to affect the same air of nonchalance as Burnatawiz. “Care to be a bit more detailed?”

“Of course,” the director said cheerfully, setting the water down. He reached into a pocket of his khakis, and pulled out a small envelope. “Here, this is your target.”

Kassian’s hand froze halfway between him and the director. “Target?” he repeated, eyeing the envelope uneasily as the old man pushed it into his hands. When Kassian still didn’t grip it, the director sighed—this time a real-sounding one—and pushed the shifter’s fingers together until he held it securely.

“Yes, your target. You are to kill this person.”