The old man usually found sleep to be one of the easiest things he could do ever since he turned 80. But after the massacre of the mercenaries he hired and the eventual police investigation. He spent all night and morning in his office looking out of the window to look at the nearly completed power plant. Trying to come up with a plan to deal with the reptile.

  As Brian recounted the entire battle in his head. He came to the realisation that the failure to defeat Jackson was entirely his fault. Gone were the days of a simple kill mission he used to conduct in his youth. He thought the team tasked to kill Jackson would be good enough, but was proven wrong the second they set foot into his home turf. Technology was his advantage, but it was his ideas that were outdated and no longer relevant to deal with Jackson.

  ‘Doctor,’ Leo walked into his office with a few documents. ‘I have a list of names. 200 names and more, just in case you want to consider their services.’

  Brian didn’t turn around. He continued looking out of the window, thinking about what he could even do. Leo stood at attention, waiting for Brian to respond or even acknowledge her.

  ‘Do you know what happened to Roy and his mercs? After they decided to leave.’ Brian asked, catching Leo off guard.

  ‘I do not.’

  The old man scoffed. ‘I spent a pretty penny getting them here. While I have a lot of money, I like to save. I grew up during the Great Depression. While my current lifestyle doesn’t show it, my parents taught me to be prepared and save if you can. My time at MODOC also taught me to never accept cowardice. People fail, but for humanity to survive, running away isn’t an option. So, I got some of my money back. I made sure to tip the right authorities where Roy and his goons will be and when.’

  ‘What are you trying to get at, sir?’

  ‘I want to point out that I can and will set in motion events to make people disappear. The worth of a singular life is meaningless in the grand scheme of things. I have the capacity to be cruel and heartless when the role demands it. However, I am old. There comes a point where I am unable to play war.’ Brian turned to face her. ‘You will make those calls. I will give you a blank check to hire and mobilise anyone against Jackson. However, and know this. Just because our goals line up doesn’t mean you are immune to the consequences of failure or cowardice. So, Leo. If that is even your real name. I trust that you can handle the security and dispatching Jackson.’

  Leo cracked a smile as she placed the documents on his desk and began to look through them. ‘I won’t disappoint. All I need is half a billion to get them all here and ten million to get the right equipment for them.’

  ‘Did you miss the saving part?’

  ‘I also heard you said I have a blank check.’ Leo grabbed one of the files and handed it to the old man. ‘The cost is because one of them doesn’t sell his services without wanting to buy a mansion on every successful mission. Though he isn’t the best on the list by any margin, he is still competent. Xavier Litch is his name, goes by Gunnery in the hitman world.’

  Brian looked over the file, rolling his eyes before slamming the paper down at how expensive they were, even if they were mediocre. ‘He is just an average grunt for a killer. Who is actually good?’

  ‘Ironically, the best person for the job is the most affordable out of everyone but has a different kind of risk.’

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  ‘Which is?’

  Leo grabbed a file and handed to Brian. ‘His name is Mark Esmen, considered to be the best assassin in the world. So good that he is wanted in every country in the world. Paying for his services is not the problem, getting to this country undetected is our biggest obstacle. But again, compared to some who charge a hundred million and an additional fee to smuggle them here into the country. He is still the most affordable.’

  Brian gave a nod of approval, impressed by Mark’s history of assassinating political leaders, soldiers, generals, and royalty for the low cost of eight million dollars. A sniper that never misses his target and isn’t known for his cowardice. Hated by everyone with a 300 million dollar bounty, but loved by the underworld for getting the job done. The perfect killer to hunt a killer.

  ‘You will get them to work together?’ Brian asked.

  ‘Yes, and I will conduct interviews and further screenings to see if they can be trusted with sensitive information. However, every one of them has a bounty on their heads, so it might make some… complications. Don’t worry, if they fail, you will get some money back. If saving is still a concern.’

  ‘Seems like you have all of this sorted. Is there something I need to know?’

  Leo shook her head. ‘We all have a role to play, doctor. After Appleseed, everything was going to plan until he returned. All of us have to follow Her deadline, and we both know she will not accept any delays.’

  Brian frowned, agreeing with what she said, but felt more unease around her. He never mentioned Appleseed or what happened there, yet somehow, she knew. It was a part of MODOC history that was expunged from every record and top secret to even the highest ranking members of the agency. She wasn’t just some ordinary woman Leo claimed to be. The supposed Green Beret or someone sent to guard Brian was anything but. He failed to recognise it at first, but he could see it. He was looking at one of Her trusted killers.

  He was unsure if She sent Leo personally, which would be terrible news if that was the case as that indicated that She had awoken. Or if Leo was a contingency plan to shadow Brian until the task had been fulfilled. None of them brought the old man comfort. As it would all mean that She lacked faith that Brian could defend himself or handle the situation properly.

  ‘Get it done.’ Brian said to her, waving her off so he could be left alone and away from her. To his relief, she only smiled and grabbed her files so she could start making calls.

  He always knew the world would change, that She would have influence even when she slept. After figuring out what Leo really was, he wondered if Jackson was part of Her plan or Leo was some sort of last resort in case all options were exhausted. Either way, he realised that he was under threat from both sides. From Her and Jackson. He was alone, and he knew he had to take steps to ensure that he would not have his legacy desecrated.

  War wasn’t a stranger to Brian. He reached for a golden coin to play fiddle with to sooth his mind as he figured out who he needed to hire to both ensure his safety and to keep Leo away if the situation calls for it. Brian saw himself as a master of his own destiny, regardless if he was complacent in the development of a bloody golden age for humanity.