Chapter 179: A Piece Of Information

"A killer or a hitman," I voiced.

Julius’ face was quick to change as though he didn’t expect me to use that word.

"Why so surprised, Julius?" I questioned. "It seems your hunch was correct. However, giving me that look would make me think you were just throwing words around for show."

Slowly, a smile curled on his lips, lingering as he replied.

"My hunch was that this killer was from the undercity. I didn’t mention the person of interest was a hitman."

"I was gonna find out either way."

"You mean your husband was gonna find out. The Serpent has excellent skills, as expected from someone who has a broad network in the undercity."

Well, he did figure out it was a hitman from the spent cartridge or whatever.

"Does your husband discuss things like this with you?" he asked, curiously. "And here I thought he was gonna keep you in the dark. Did you know? That the charming detective Conner has been taken off the case."

At least he was alive. That was the best possible outcome, and if he had stayed on this investigation, he would have gotten himself fucking killed.

I took a step closer to him. "My father was killed, and I was attacked at the funeral. Luckily, no one died, but who’s to say there won’t be any more casualties? Or more attempts on my life. Being in the dark is the least of my worries right now."

"Is that the reason why you wanted us to meet here at Hightower General?" He passed a look around. "It’s a lovely place, though I can’t understand why here of all the possible places."

"I came here to see my shrink, and it was the one place I knew that won’t be guarded or create suspicion."

"What’s to say your husband isn’t watching you right now?" he said, amused. "I pictured him as the kind of man who doesn’t let his wife roam freely."

I frowned at his words. "It took a lot of convincing to be out here. You may think that I’m alone, but we’re not, and we have a few minutes tops before my bodyguards find out I’m no longer with my shrink."

Good. He looked like he was believing me now. I didn’t think it’d work, but my explanation and desperation hit a solid point. Whatever guard he has up should be dissolving.

The plan was to contact Julius and have him reveal what he knew. Since he was trying to curry my favor, I had a feeling he was gonna use whatever information he had to prove himself useful to me.

"Then permit me to perceive you as a very preserving woman. I was under the impression you wouldn’t want yourself involved. That Zade will take control of everything, while you just stand in the sidelines and watch..." he murmured the last bit under his breath like he was amazed by me. "I was very very wrong."

"I don’t know what you want, Julius," I said sternly. "And I don—"

"I’m on your side, Anastasia. I meant what I said. Consider me an ally."

I tilted my head. "You mentioned that. But I don’t know what that means for you. And I haven’t forgotten how you tried to turn me against my husband."

"That was hardly my intention."

I scoffed. "Oh, yeah? Saying Zade had something to do with my father’s death. Bringing up Jacob too."

"The situation prompted that kind of suspicion. You wouldn’t blame me for being cautious, and the Serpent’s reputation isn’t all colors and rainbows. And I was right about Jacob."

"Jacob made his bed."

"Interesting."

"So what now? Do you expect me to believe that you’re truly on my side?" I said, crossing my arms.

"I’m gonna prove it."

"Then do it."

"I do know something."

My heart skipped a beat. "Y-You know about the hitman? You know who hired them?"

"I’ve been in Hightower for a while now, before the funeral, on business. I can’t go into detail because the undercity is no place for you. I don’t know how much your husband has ruined your innocence, but I won’t aid it."

"Think again," I said through clenched teeth. "I’m the wife of a Don."

"And a handful of them are protected from the blood and violence. Trust me, Anastasia, the undercity is the worst possible place you ever wanna engage with."

"I think it’s too late for that."

He lingered for a while just observing me with those dark eyes, and an uncomfortable feeling swamped me, but thankfully he started speaking.

"I came across a piece of information, something even Don Salvero doesn’t know about. Do you know how much effort that takes? To work under the wraps without the knowledge of the Serpent?"

I still don’t know how the undercity works, but this sounds like a big deal. This was why Zade was so frustrated. His network gave him nothing about the hitman or who hired them.

"What piece of information?"

"About a group."

"A-A group?"

"The Syndicate."

I snorted, but his unchanged expression made me drop it. "You’re serious."

He’s fucking serious. What are they about? Some supervillain shit?

I can’t even believe I’m even asking this.

I cleared my throat. "What is this... Syndicate?"

"They are anonymous."

"Of course they are," I murmured under my breath.

"And they have successfully slipped through the inner circles of the undercity and gained quite an influence. That alone make them a dangerous foe."

Was Annabeth part of this Syndicate or something? I knew there was a slim chance that she couldn’t have done all this herself.

If she was a part of this... dangerous group, then it explained how she could get Shane wrapped around her finger and do all those things.

Oh God.

I ran a hand through my hair, feeling a head rush that made me grow lightheaded and compelled me to rub my forehead.

I have pondered many ways of how Annabeth could have done the attacks but I never thought this far.

"What possible reason do you think they might be after you? Take a guess."

My voice came off faintly. "I’m the Serpent’s wife. What other reason could there be?"

"True, but so far they have operated so secretly, and their sudden actions will end up bringing this Syndicate to light. Too big a coincidence, isn’t it?"

"Maybe it profits them that way or something. Look, I’m so confused right now. Finding out a hitman was one thing, but this Syndicate?"

I feared this was something Zade couldn’t handle. He had no idea they even existed. How dangerous are they?

"Zade can’t handle this."

He took the words right out of my mouth.

"Which is why you need me, Anastasia. I don’t think the syndicate is after you solely because you’re the wife of the Serpent. The docks."

"All this for my father’s fucking docks?"

He chuckled. "They are important, Anastasia, and imagine what they are willing to do so that it wouldn’t fall into Zade’s hands."

I gulped at his words. "How do we find them?"

"You don’t find the Syndicate. It’s nearly impossible."

"Fine, then don’t waste my time."

Julius grabbed my arm before I had a chance to leave.

"There might still be hope." He reached into his coat and pulled out a card.

"What’s this?"

I took hold of the card. It was an invitation, though there was nothing except a date and address. The card was thick and elegant and certainly high-quality.

"Would you do me the honor of being my plus one?" Julius asked smoothly.

"E-Excuse me?"

"I was able to secure that, but unfortunately, if we wanna attend, we have to do so discreetly."

"You still haven’t told me what this invite is for."

"This is an invite to a ball, one I know the Syndicate will be attending because they are the ones hosting it."

I fixed him with a pointed stare. "How did you get your hands on this?"

"Simple. I bought it for a very high price."

"Why?"

"I told you I was on your side, Anastasia. Now... Do I need to keep repeating myself or are you gonna trust me?"

"Trust you? That sounds like a big leap."

He smiled. "If you wanna catch your hitman, you’ll have to take that leap of faith. Zade’s having trouble with that, isn’t it? That’s the reason you fixed this meeting, without the knowledge of your husband."

"It was a necessary decision."

"Then I hope your husband still doesn’t know about this, because the only way this is going to work is if we keep this quiet."

My eyes followed as he reached to brush my hair over my shoulder, but I quickly leaned away by instinct before he had a chance to do so.

"Let me know when you decide." Sinking his hand into his pockets, he left.

I kept my eyes on him until he got to the elevator, and we locked gaze the moment the doors shut closed.