The Rebirth of Sin (Wicked Trinity Book 2) (36 page)

When my parents died, all their assets and holdings were transferred to me. It was expected that I’d become everything my father had once been. I had very little wherewithal on how to handle it. Archie remained at my side, preventing me from depleting the entirety of my inheritance. For reasons I was unaware of at the time, he kept himself hidden from Noah in the rare opportunity my brother would seek me out. 

My father had a lucrative property business with many wealth sustaining properties all over the globe. He’d purchase land in up and coming areas and charge an exorbitant rate over what he paid for it to investors to buy and build. He also held large holdings in a small media business that produced a newsletter for the community I grew up in and other communities like it across the nation. 

I gave Archie the role of CEO for the media conglomerate. He changed the scope and turned it into one of the biggest media conglomerates in the country. Many of the news stations and online magazines were known as the authority on truthful details concerning the secrets of celebrities and politicians. The advertising revenue was ridiculously lucrative. Archie was kind enough to make sure I remained a shareholder, despite my inability and lack of knowledge pertaining to the daily duties of running a company. He took care of me when I had no one. I loved the man more than I had ever grown to love either of my parents.

His warnings to distrust my brother were persistent. He was the first and only person to advise me against starting Rebirth with Noah. 

“It can wait,” Dr. Moore directed Archie.

“As I recall,” I stated, my throat dry and rough, “you are
not
my guardian, Dr. Moore. You’re under my employ.” 

“I’ll leave you to it…Mr. Michaels.” The door latched behind the doctor’s exit.

I attempted to sit upright, but my weak limbs wouldn’t operate correctly. “Why…” I rubbed the bridge of my nose and found it covered in a splint. “Why does he keep calling me by that name?”

With swift movements, Archie stood to his feet. “Because Shiloh Oliver died at a compound in North Dakota. He was burned beyond recognition. His remains were found in close proximity to”—he looked down at his tablet—“Jayme Winton who perished in the blaze. He was shot, but ultimately, it was the bullet wound that made him perish. It should be noted that none of the information was made public.” Darting out his hand to me, he grinned. “Therefore, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Braedan Michaels, philanthropist and well-made man who came from nothing and became…something.”

“I can’t say I care for the name,” I muttered, thinking about Jayme and how she might’ve saved my life. All wasn’t lost in the fire after all. She died to give me my life back, but she didn’t deserve to leave the earth that way. 

I took my role seriously and played my part at all times, only letting my guard down for those who knew the truth about me: Nadine and my brother. In an instant, I regretted never allowing Keaton to fully acquaint herself with the man behind the character. “Do I want to know what you’ve done to my face?”

“Just a few minor adjustments here and there. I’m sure you’ll be pleased when everything heals.”

“Any more bad news?”

“It’s been a couple of months since the fire and…your brother has sold the real estate company.”

I almost stood up, but the fuzziness in my brain and lack of control over the functioning of my limbs ensured I sat right back down. “What?!” My shout jounced off the walls, returning to me and hurting my ears. 

Archie barely flinched. “Don’t worry. The media conglomerate is still mine and yours. I made sure all ties were severed from the Oliver name before he was able to put his grabby hands on a company I made infamous. I made…provisions once I figured out what he was going to do. He only received the money from the real estate company, but he assumed you squandered the inheritance because he couldn’t find it.”

I grinned at him. “Is it right to assume you had something to do with him thinking that?”

He batted his eyelashes at me. “I may have hid money in another account for you when you started drinking immoderately. I also may have continued to hide the money in several different bank accounts under a different name the instant Sander called me and warned me that your brother had something planned for you. I also sold the properties your parents owned on your behalf. The name? Braedan Michaels. Sky is the limit, Mr. Michaels. When you are ready to return, you will have every means at your disposal to do so.”

“Sander was planted there by you? Then…you’re the reason I’m alive?”

“If by making Sander save you, get you en route to me, and have him take your place in dying makes you think I saved your life, then yes. I sent him there for a reason and he was there to protect you with his life when needed and to keep up the charade to your brother while making certain that you nor your brother were aware that he was sent there by me. Had Sander revealed all, I think Noah would’ve caught on and Sander wouldn’t have had a chance to do what I directed him to do. You may have trusted your brother, I never did. Noah received a confirmation on your death. Rest assured, it was all faked—but he won’t be aware of that until you are prepared to tell him.”

I slowly grinned. “Remind me to give you a fairly big increase in pay.”

“You couldn’t afford my pay raise, Mr. Michaels.” His face turned grim as he sat on the edge of the bed. “Do you remember what happened inside the compound? You were in a horrible state when I received you.”

I bobbed my head. “Noah completely lost his sanity. The things he said to me—I can’t comprehend how he could believe some of the things he said.”

“Which were?”

“That I had everything. That I was a scapegrace who was unappreciative of my privilege. I’m unsure of what past he remembers.”

“You have to understand, he wasn’t there often enough. All he saw was attention given in front of and behind closed doors.”

“He didn’t see that our parents’ lack of resolute attention was a blessing. They allowed him a pass with many sins against the community while they remained harsh with me. They gave him more than they had ever given me…a chance to be free.”

“I’m not certain if a catholic military school could be categorized as free.”

“You’ve been out in the world more inclusively and longer than I have, do you really think the community was better?”

He inclined his head and shook it. “It doesn’t matter what Noah did or didn’t see. I want to know your plans when you fully heal and get out of this bed to retake your life.”

“It was asinine to think I could get closer to my brother,” I said. “Ill-planned to go along with him, thinking he truly wanted to change the world. He orchestrated many outcomes—enticed me into becoming something I wasn’t so I could take the fall and he could take what he never deserved. You were right. I should’ve turned him down. I was his pawn, doing what he scripted me to do; to behave like a king of dastardly criminals. You should’ve seen me, Archie.” I smiled at the memory, reminded of the better experiences. Be it a false sense of power, it was still a pilot to the ultimate altitude. “I was stellar in my role.”

“I’m sure you channeled a great deal of Magnus Oliver. It’s highly likely you would’ve scared me if I encountered you in that role. You know how much I loathed the man. He was a tyrant who ruled by fear and throwing around his wealth.” Sighing, he put his tablet down on the bed and curved his spine. “Sander filled me in regularly on the goings on, but due to his untimely death, I haven’t the slightest idea how things went on his final day. What exactly happened at the compound?”

 “Betrayal. A profusion of betrayal from several directions,” was all I said.

“Cryptic. I take it you have plans for retribution? Because that’s what I’ve planned for you to do.”

“I plan to become stronger. Take back what never belonged to him. What he never truly wanted in the first place but stole from me. He thought wrongly about me and the worst of me: That I was weak. That I had everything and didn’t appreciate it. He thought he could take it all away from me. When I’m healed, he’s going to discover the full extent of my capabilities.”

Grinning broadly, he placed a file beside me on my bed.

“What’s that?”

“Your new home and your new identity. All that is left for you to do is to custom fit the basement with whatever you desire. I heard there were…survivors. I think there is plenty of room for two harpies, a torpid man, and a plethora of other fun toys.”

I grinned as much as I was allowed. “On second thought, I’m tripling your pay.”

“You can’t afford it,” he reminded me. He put his hands on his hips and sighed. “I have my work cut out for me.”

“What do you mean?”

“By the time I’m done with you, you are going to be a charming, upstanding gentleman who will make many a women—and some men—weak with a few words.”

“I only want one.”

He chastised me with a shake of his head. “Braedan, if you’re going to get revenge on your brother, you’re going to need to charm the ones who matter and instill fear in the ones who don’t; that includes more than her. I will help you hone both skills. I’m going to transform you into a truly pernicious man. Now, about your minor facial adjustments…”

“It’s important you know this story… It’s a story I’ve told no one. You…are special.”

-THE SECT

The chateau was located twenty miles west of Mc Lean. It was exactly what I needed—modern, isolated on a hundred thirty-three acres of land, and spacious. 

I took a few minutes to appreciate the sights and smells of the dank basement encompassing the entire square footage of the house. I fingered the antique torture devices, all polished and prepared for use. Select items were familiar devices I’d seen used in the community I spent my youth in. Many times, I’d watched them in use or had the displeasure of having them used on me. My only limitations were my imagination. Wired cells lined up three in a row along the east corner. Each cell contained adjoining doors to the adjacent cell and was floored in metal. The contents of the cell included: a metal cot and two buckets. One with water, one for…other things.

The most crucial piece was what was on the other side. A glass wall split one side from the other. Beyond the glass stood a replica of one of the preferable bedrooms in the house of Rebirth, complete with a private bathroom and polished marble shower. It was a veritable paradise encased in glass. 

“The keypad here”—Archie pointed to the white panel against the supporting wall of the archway leading upstairs—“will meet all your needs. It controls the cameras in the house, the false door in case the unexpected happens, a sprinkler system, and if need be…” He pressed a series of specific buttons on the metallic keypad. 

A brief blue spark emitted from the base of the cells. He dangled his stylus in the air and threw it at the gates. The pen collided with the wire cage, emitting a zapping sound, sending the pen rocketing back with white waves of smoke pluming from the halfway melted plastic. With a big grin, he turned it off.

I stepped closer to the cells, inquisitive over the construction details. In the floors, shallow designs were drilled into the concrete, exactly as I had specified. “It’s perfect.”

“Takes a bit of the breath away, doesn’t it? It only needs inhabitants.”

“After what they attempted to do to Keaton, I need them here as soon as possible. Every one of them. I’d like to see how powerless Noah will become without his trusted allies.” 

“As always, I am at your service.” After conducting a series of finger strokes on his tablet, he handed it to me. “Do you think you can take three in one night on your own?”

“After I pick up the most difficult one, I doubt it.”

“Should I have someone pick up the third? I…know a few people who can take her quietly and quickly.”

“She won’t be a problem,” I said, “but this one”—I tapped his tablet and handed it to him—“is very special. I want to see the fear drape her pretty little face when she recognizes me. I owe her that and much more.”

THE MALL STRIP WAS nearly vacant. The scent of aspen heavily filled the air and the winter chill cut into my skin through the simple outfit I wore, specifically to blend with the night and remain inconspicuous; the slim fit but flexible jeans with boots and a skull cap pulled down to my eyebrows. In all black, I remained unseen, fading against the dark night and the poorly lit parking lot, a few yards away from her car.