The House, Prologue 2—The Pin

Prologue 2—The Pin

Sirena Mayers did not flinch at the sound of the shot—it was unwise to show any emotions when Darien was in one of his moods. Instead, she pointedly looked down at the red blotches on her blouse. Why must he use a projectile weapon at close range when a pulse gun would have been as deadly and much cleaner?

‘I want her dead.’ Darien leaned over the body of the older man and removed the pin from the lapel of his grey suit—a pin Sirena should have had long before Darien gave it to the upstart now spilling his blood on the floor. At least she would no longer have to put up with the cloying smoke of his electric cigars. 

‘The girl—’ she started.  

‘Not her,’ Darien cut her off. ‘I want Niuen dead. Actually, I want them both dead—Niuen and the girl.’

Sirena could not care less about the girl. Niuen Adalowe, however, was another matter.

‘The girl will present a unique opportunity to get to Adalowe. If she returns.’ 

Darien placed the gun on his desk and picked up a worn leather bracelet. ‘She’ll come back.’ 

‘And when she does, we will find her, she will lead us to Adalowe, and we can get rid of both of them once and for all.’

Adalowe had been careful to remain in the shadows for decades. Until last week. Woburn had been right—her name might as well have been written all over the data plague that had crippled their operations.  

Darien tossed the bracelet onto his desk. ‘And while we await this joyous event, how far has Trent progressed at the House?’

Sirena crossed her arms. ‘His reports—’

Darien cut her off again. ‘I read his reports. It is time to remind our dear chair of the consequences of failure. I want this done before we leave this place.’

‘The Administration is suspicious. If we move before we are ready—’

‘More reason to move now.’

Sirena thought for a moment, then asked, ‘Can I send another set of hands?’

Darien looked at her. ‘And install one of your minions?’

Sirena held his gaze. ‘My minions are effective.’ 

Darien nodded once. ‘Do what you think is necessary.’

Sirena turned to leave. 

‘And Sirena?’ 

‘Yes?’

Darien threw her the pin. She caught it. 

‘This is what you wanted, isn’t it?’

She didn’t justify the question with an answer. 

Darien gestured to the body on the floor. ‘Don’t disappoint me.’

Sirena suppressed her snort with a smile. She inclined her head and drew the door shut behind her. At the elevator, she opened her fist to hold the pin to the light, her fingers smearing the blood of its predecessor.

She had earned this, and she would let no one take it away from her. Not even from her dead body.

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