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“You don’t know him the way I do,” I answered.
Credare was the reason I’d gotten involved with the Association in the first place. Back when I lived on the station, I’d been used to living in poverty, used to going hungry and I had grown desperate. I stole food from the local grocery store, one that he’d owned. I hadn’t known at the time, but they had been watching me. Tracking my movements and assessing my future ability as an operative in his own illegal enterprises.
I’d stolen from that store twice. The third time I tried, they caught me.
I’d only been eighteen.
I’d heard whispers of his name, of his brutal nature and his willingness to step on anyone to further his own desires. I’d been captured, blinded by a hood, and brought before Credare himself.
He’d threatened me and my family and I knew that he meant every word. That had been seven years ago. I’d seen so much more since then. I’d done so much more since then.
I’d become one of his most successful operatives, trained in using my charms as well as combat. I knew how to use stealth to my advantage, how to negotiate with allies and enemies alike and I knew how to decide when killing someone was necessary. I also knew how to use my body to get what I wanted, within reason of course. His training was hard, ruthless even and I’d done it all to keep my family safe. For a while, I helped with Credare’s own smuggling operations. More recently, I had been working in acquisitions of rare art and jewelry from long ago. I’d become one of his most profitable ventures and there was no way he was going to let me go without a fight.
“If he finds out I’m here,” I began, and Bane just shook his head.
“He won’t. Now get out of bed. We have to prepare,” he said, before waving off the guard to get things ready. Bane closed the door and looked at me expectantly. With a soft sigh, I climbed out of bed. Quickly, I gathered the outfit he’d given me and pulled each piece on. When I was fully dressed, I followed him out of the room.
We ate quickly in silence. I could tell that he was preparing himself, trying to think of every possibility and outcome that could result from today’s meeting. For a second, he looked nervous, but then he pulled himself together and gazed back at me.
“I really need you to be my eyes and ears, Cara,” he began, and I shook my head.
“He’s going to recognize me the moment he lays eyes on me. He’ll demand my return and if you don’t give me back, he’ll declare all-out war with the Syndicate,” I responded, shaking my head.
“He won’t recognize you because he’s not going to see you,” he answered vaguely.
“How will he not see me if I’m by your side?” I asked and he grinned.
“The house down the block has been modified for a purpose like this. There are many extremely well-hidden secret passages, with two-way mirrors and invisible panels for observing meetings like this one. You’re going to watch from inside one of them and then I’ll excuse myself and meet you inside one of the hidden soundproofed rooms where you’ll tell me everything you see and hear,” he said.
“Don’t underestimate Credare. He’s an extremely dangerous man,” I said hesitantly, and he nodded.
“I know. That’s why I need you,” he replied, and my heart beat nervously at his words.
“Tell me everything you know about him,” Bane asked, and for a moment, I hesitated. But then, I thought about everything Bane had done for me. He’d saved me from that slaver and taken me in as his own. Had fed me. Had clothed me and given me shelter from the dangers of Dryac. He’d protected me from everything.
He deserved to know. At that moment, I decided that I trusted him. I told him everything.
I told him how I’d ended up working for the Association, how I’d been caught stealing and had been taken before Credare himself. I told him about the brutal training programs where I’d learned to be a lethal operative under his rule and how I’d been threatened with death should I ever fail. I even told Bane about the number of men and women I’d been forced to kill as a result of it.
Bane listened in silence, his expression never wavering. His expression remained neutral, even began to soften with his pride. The more I talked, the more comfortable I became.
When I was through, he smiled warmly back at me.
“I’d never make you kill for me,” he murmured, reaching for me. His thumb brushed across the back of my hand and he sighed. I closed my eyes, enjoying the warmth of his touch for the briefest of seconds and then I looked back at him, cocking my head as I did so.
“I’d kill for you if I had to,” I answered, and I meant it. Being here with him was the first time I’d felt truly free since I’d been a little girl and I wasn’t ready to give that up. I wanted more of it and I would do just about anything to keep it.
He didn’t answer, instead staring at me with interest. I turned away and finished my breakfast, taking another sip of coffee before I pushed my plate away.
“Well, let’s get to it then,” I declared, doing my best to hide the sliver of anxiety deep in my belly. Bane nodded and the two of us rose to leave.
* * *
The next several hourspassed by in a blur. Bane spent them directing his men, placing them in strategic positions and ensuring that all of them had access to high-tech weapons in case things went south with the Association. I took a fair amount of time exploring the hidden passages in the walls, finding the mirrors and the shimmery panels that allowed me to see through organic material with just the touch of my palm on a biometric scanner. There was one at the end of the sitting room, another in the dining room, and others scattered throughout the rest of the house.
The biometric panels allowed sound to pass through the walls, almost as though I was sitting right next to the people within each of the rooms.
I had removed my boots, ensuring that my footsteps didn’t make a sound. I moved through the house as stealthily as I could, observing the assigned positions of all the guards, analyzing each exit and entry, as well as memorizing the paths through the modified home. Finally, when I felt comfortable with the layout, I went to find Bane.
