The place that they’ve allocated me is modest, with a bedroom, an office, a small living room, all the amenities. It’s fully furnished and stocked with food which is a relief as it means I won’t have to concern myself with that. I spend the rest of the day settling in and setting up my computer and laptop for work. Once I’m done, I have a quick bite to eat before deciding to explore and get to know the place a little better.
The grounds of the property are expansive, spreading out over several acres of land, even with the huge house encroaching on it, it doesn’t take away from the natural beauty. The grounds are well-tended, and I use the opportunity to perform a little surveillance of my own in case I need to make a hasty escape. Getting caught is a distinct possibility, but with a bit of luck I’ll be hundreds of miles away by then, back in my home in the next state.
Dusk is falling as I start making my way back to my new temporary home, and I see the lights in the house flickering on one by one. I realize how little I actually know about my situation. When I decided this was to be my course of action, I looked up everything I could on the Society and the Johnson family. There was very little to be found online without digging deeply enough to set off any of their security measures, no matter how skilled I am, and I didn’t want to leave any incriminating evidence of the depth of my research that could be traced back to me. Now that I’m here, on the inside, it’ll be my job to know everything there is to know about them, for security purposes of course.
I’ve acted recklessly, spurred on by my grief and fury over what happened to Katy and knowing that they were somehow responsible. Mom told me she had been dating the youngest son Sebastian, whom she’d met at school, and it was because of him that she attended the event where she lost her life. I’ve no proof that he or any of them had anything to do with it, nothing more than my gut and the complete lack of investigation into the circumstances surrounding her murder. They paid to cover it up, and once I’ve uncovered the proof that they paid for a cover, I’ll move onto the next step of my plan and find out which asshole laid their hands on my sister and make them sorry they ever touched her.
I toss and turn in bed all night, unable to quiet my mind enough to fall asleep. Everything that’s happened, memories of Katy and me growing up together, and finally her lifeless face in her casket all whirl around my mind in a dervish of torment. I miss my bubbly little sister, who I protected all my life like a big brother should. I hate that I was so far away, and that I failed her so gravely, because maybe I could have done something to save her. When I think about why I’m here, lying in this bed in comfort, under the roof of those responsible, it makes my blood boil, and the possibility of sleep slips farther away from me. I’m going to be exhausted tomorrow morning, but it’s not going to keep me from doing the job I came here to do.
Rolling onto my back, I stare up at the dark ceiling and let out a sigh. One night here and I’m already losing control of myself. I have to keep focused and shut off the pain and the memories which haunt me nightly if I’m to be able to do this. Payback is my goal, and I can’t do that if I’m wiped out from dwelling on what can’t be changed and allowing the loss to overwhelm me. This is all for Katy, and I need to man up and get shit done.
Chapter Five
Devin
I’ve had the security team run double time the last couple of nights, manning the grounds and property overnight. I didn’t want another mess like the other night, and with the compromised security system that was allowing intruders to get in undetected, I wasn’t about to take any chances. I’ll rest easier when I know we have someone capable of monitoring the systems and checking they’re working correctly. Ethan is starting tomorrow, and he better be on the ball and make sure everything is done correctly and efficiently. I don’t want to have to eradicate yet another incompetent idiot who can’t do his job.
Not to mention, the potential damage to our reputation if we’re seen repeatedly falling victim to cretins and potential thieves and assassins. The only people who should be killing members of the Society are those within it, and not without good reason. Our family has done nothing to bring us into disrepute, the death of that girl was an inconvenience, nothing more. Do I regret it going so far? Yes. But, I was acting under my father’s order to separate her from Sebastian to secure the union between our family and Quinn’s. He didn’t want Sebastian to continue to be distracted from his duty to our family. Sebastian is eighteen and already has his life mapped out, as do I to an extent. Father decided to focus
