Chapter 2: Clear

              Connor

              “What the fuck, Declan, can’t you aim your damn gun somewhere else? This equipment is expensive.”

              Micah throws his head back with a boisterous laugh and slaps me on the back as he and my brother wipe the blood from their gear. Declan sneers in reply as he places his weapon back into its rack.

              Glaring at my brother, I place my gun next to his and slip off my bloodstained t-shirt and armor. It’s six in the evening, and I’m feeling incredibly irritable from lack of sleep. We had just gotten back to the office after dealing with a target.

              The guy we were hunting was some big-time scientist working on a massive weapon of destruction for the Russians. Unfortunately, our target was surrounded by some very strong thugs, and when the shit hit the fan, we had to fight our way out. For a moment there, it wasn’t looking good for us. Thankfully, we made it out alive.

              “Jeez, you’re a dick,” I mutter.

              “Relax, little brother. The clip is empty.”

              I shake my head as I inspect the equipment. Even at the age of twenty-three, my brother still manages to make me feel like a kid. I was eighteen when I discovered I had a brother and was dragged into the world of the Confradia Assassins. I’ve been working with my brother, Declan, and his enclave of Assassins since then.

              Long story short, The Confradia is an obscure government agency of Assassins in charge of creating balance in a world where money can erase the most heinous of crimes. A couple of years ago, Declan and the other Assassins dubbed me with the codename Sythe. Aside from Logan “Hades” Blake, the West Coast director of the Confradia, I’m the Confradia’s top hacker. Even though I’ve gone on assignments and used my assassin skills, I’m not quite of the same caliber as my brother and the other assassins. For one, I only go on group missions. Unlike the top assassins, I am not assigned individual targets because my main focus is tech warfare. I mostly work on logistics and cybersecurity. Being one of the world's best hackers has its perks because I can ensure our missions’ success by hacking into security systems and hiding our digital footprints. Priest named me Sythe after I wiped out all of the systems in one of Brazil’s most notorious prisons with one blow. I enjoy it very much.

              “Any plans tonight?” My brother asks as we make our way into the garage’s living area.

              Years ago, Priest converted an old warehouse in the outskirts of Manhattan to rehab cars. He lived there until he met his wife Sage and lost his best friend, the now-deceased former Confradia tech, Hunter Cohen. Before I came around, Hunter was the Confradia’s prime hacker. Now, I’m one of their top techs. But unlike Hunter, I trained and became an assassin.

              After Hunter’s death, the garage was used by visiting Confradia Assassins to stay at and for Confradia meetings.

              “No, I don’t have any plans. What’s up?” I ask as we step into the living area.

              Declan shrugs. “Maybe you’d like to come over and have dinner with us. Santana really misses you.”

              I roll my eyes at the thought. Santana is my sister. She’s also married to my brother Declan. Now, I know that you’re thinking the worst, but it’s not like that. Santana is my stepsister on my mother's side, and Declan is my half-brother on my father’s side. He and Santana are in no way related. No, they didn’t know about each other until I met my brother when I was eighteen. Even then, they didn’t acknowledge their feelings until after Declan saved her life. Don’t judge; that’s not the only odd relationship in our group. Micah is married to his stepsister, Sophia.

              I think through my brother’s offer. It has been a while since I saw my sister. I’ve been busy traveling for work. To be honest, I’ve been avoiding her because she’s usually bitching me out over my choices in women.              

              “Sure,” I mumble half-heartedly.

              At my tone, Micah’s quirks a brow. “Jeez, kid, is it that bad? That’s your family.”

              Declan nods his head as he waits for my answer.

              Reaching back, I rub the back of my neck and shake my head. “You know I love, San. It’s just…” I drift off, unsure of how to proceed without offending anyone.

              “It’s just that she gives you a hard time over your dating life,” Declan answers with a knowing smirk.

              I nod my head. “Yeah, she freaking hates all of the girls I bring around.”

              Micah laughs and pats me on the back. “Oh, I feel ya, kid. My mom used to hate the girls I was with too.”

              Declan’s lip quirks with amusement. “To be fair to your sister, the girls you bring around are a little…vapid.” He states evenly.

              I roll my eyes in response. I know that the girls I’ve brought around were a little full of themselves, but I’m not in it for the conversation.

              Of course, I don’t tell Declan that. But seriously, I’m twenty-three, not eighty-three.

              So what if I prefer my women to have big boobs and round firm asses? It’s my due as a guy to enjoy all of the women that I can. I’m not ready to get serious.

              There’s only one girl who has ever given me a flicker of thought in that direction.

              My heartbeat quickens at the thought of her silken skin with its honey tone, her long legs, and firm breasts. I didn’t always feel this way about April. She was fourteen when I first met her, and I thought she was a real pain in the ass. It was two years ago, when she turned sixteen, that I noticed how beautiful she’d become. However, I knew then that there was no way I’d ever go there. Not just because she’s younger by almost five years, but because even though I wish it was possible, I know that someone like April could never meet my needs. She’s too sweet and innocent for what I have in mind.

              With my dark brown, wavy hair, striking blue eyes, and tall, muscular body, I’ve never had a shortage of women. One drunken night, I confessed my feelings for her to my best friend, Corbin. He laughed and told me good luck, considering her stepbrother, Micah, is one of our deadliest assassins. I shudder to think what he’d do if he knew I had some pretty naughty thoughts about his little sister. It’s just really fucked up, which is why I’ve chosen to stay away from her. I’m just not the type of guy sweet little April would need in her life, and it would muddy my working relationship with her brother.

              Yet, a part of me can’t help but wonder what it would be like to take April in my arms and screw her until we’re both satisfied.

              I’m pulled from my heated thoughts when Priest and my best friend Corbin step into the room. “Hey, how’d it go?”

              Micah slumps on a nearby couch and props his feet up while Declan and I stride toward the small refrigerator in the kitchenette. We pop open a beer and pass one to the others as we prepare to recount the night’s events.

              “It was fine until his fucking goons showed up and started shooting at us,” Declan exclaims before he takes a sip of his beer.

              Corbin sits next to me and gives me the once over. “You look fucked up, bro,”

              I grunt in reply as I rub my bruised ribs. “I’m good, man. Just a little bruised up. Nothing a good night’s sleep can’t fix.”

              Corbin snickers. “I guess that’s part of the Confradia package.”

              I nod my head. “Yeah, it’s not too late for you, man. Get out while you still can.”

              Corbin rolls his eyes in reply. Corbin is Priest’s brother. To Priest’s consternation, Corbin joined the Confradia two years ago at the age of nineteen. Even though, like me, he’s joined the others in missions, he’s not an Assassin. Corbin works on weapons research. He’s a freaking genius in modifying and creating weapons that have revolutionized the Confradia’s killing strategies. Since he joined the Confradia, our fighting tactics have evolved to a whole new level of calm.

              As the conversation begins to dwindle, Micah’s cell phone rings.

              “Hey, Soph, I should be home in…” His words halt as his eyes darken with untold emotion.

              It's only when he shoots up from his seat that all talking seizes. “What? When?”

              Micah begins to pace in place, his face set with agitation and worry. “Are you serious? Is April, alright?”

              I stiffen at April’s name.

              “What!” He screams out but stops when he sees that we’re looking at him. “Okay, listen, I’m on my way now. What precint did you say she was in?”

              My brow furrows as scenarios involving snippets of his conversation run through my mind.

              Unaware of the tension in the room, Micah disconnects the call and slips the phone into his back pocket.

              “I have to go.” He mutters distractedly.

              Priest stops next to him, a frown of concern adorning his features. “What happened, Micah?”

              Micah shakes his head warily. “It’s April…she was arrested. I…I have to go.”

              Corbin and I look at each other in silent communication. He must see something in me that is broadcasting my feelings. Fuck me for admitting my feelings for April one stupidly drunken night.

              “I’ll give you a ride,” I call out to Micah as Corbin, and I follow behind him.

              Micah gives us both a disconcerted look. He doesn’t understand why we want to help him out. He has never noticed my attraction toward April. I don’t think anyone ever has. I’ve been really good at hiding it.

              Hell, not even April has noticed it.

              “I’m fine. I just have to go.”

              Not knowing what else to do, I let him go. Declan and Priest stop beside us, their brows furrowed with concern. “I wonder what happened?”

              Priest nods. “Yeah, hopefully, it’s nothing bad. We should go. Sage and I have dinner plans. You alright?” He asks me.

              I look at Corbin, who gives me a warning frown. Corbin is almost a mirror image to Priest at two inches over six feet, with his dark hair, silver eyes, and brooding good looks. According to my sister, Santana, and the other Confradia wives, one of the requirements of being a Confradia member must be that we’re all good looking. We find that thought to be wholeheartedly real and quite amusing.

              “I’m fine,” I answer. However, I can tell that Priest and Declan are unconvinced. They don’t push, though. That’s not how we do things.

              “Alright, then. Are you coming with me, kid?” He asks Corbin.

              Corbin shakes his head. “Actually, I’m heading home. It’s been a long day. Can you give me a ride?” He asks me.

              I look at my brother. “How about a rain check on dinner? I just want to go home and unwind.”

              He gives me a warning nod. “Okay, but no excuses next time.”

              I nod and look at Corbin. “How about we do some sparring?”

              Corbin nods. “Sounds good.”

              About a year ago, he and I bought apartment lofts in the same downtown Manhattan building. We figured being roommates would be a hassle considering how much we like our own privacy. But we also like to hang, so it made sense to be neighbors. It’s been surprisingly cool. I converted one of the rooms into a gym, which Corbin and I use often. Yeah, we might not live in the same apartment, but we might as well, considering he walks in and makes himself at home in my gym.

              As I gather a clean shirt from a nearby locker, I try not to worry about what is happening with April.

              Before Priest and Declan can argue, we step out of the room and slip into my jeep.

              Corbin’s jaw ticks as he searches the scenery outside the window. His suit jacket strains against his chest with his deep breathing. “You’re worried about April, aren’t you?” 

              I shrug my shoulders. “I don’t know. I’m just worried─nothing else. So, don’t go making anything out of this, ok?”

              He shakes his head. “Shit, I’m worried too. That girl can get into trouble pretty easily. But it couldn’t have been that bad, or Micah would have said something.”

              I give him a harried look, but I don’t reply. I know that Corbin has hung out with April over the years, and it stings a little. I mean, he seems to know her better than I do and is closer to her age, which makes him perfect for her.

              Not knowing what else to say, I turn my gaze back to the windshield.

              “Fuck!” I grit out huskily. My fingers itch to call Micah or someone else who might tell me what happened. But I know that it’s best to stay out of April’s life, so I push my worry to the back of my mind.

              As soon as I get home, I change into my gym shorts and meet Corbin at the gym. Corbin shows up a minute after with his own gym gear and begins to pound into one of the boxing bags.

              For hours, we both spar until we’re both worn. Yet, my thoughts do not stray from the topic of April.

              It’s only when my exhaustion overwhelms me that I stop thinking and pass out in my bed.