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“You’re gonna watch?”

“Get over yourself.”

Silently, I strip. I discard my clothes, and stepping under the warm spray is fucking heaven. Cranking the heat up, I let the water beat against my skin, dirt and blood disappearing down the drain. For a minute, I just stand there, running over my options. I can’t kill Ryker, not without that code or knowing where Silence is, so I’ll just have to play along for now. I’ll do whatever needs to be done, even if it is nursing Ryker’s ego. At the end of the day, it’s Zayden and Xavier he wants. If anyone here can rationalize with him, it’s Silence or me.

I scrub shampoo into my hair three times and foam up a sponge, rubbing my skin until it burns. Then I switch off the shower and step out.

“You didn’t have a hand in killing my brother,” Ryker finally says, lifting his attention from his phone.

“And that’s why I’m out and they’re not?”

“That’s why I have more patience for you. It also helps that you’re smarter and don’t run your mouth like Xavier.”

“Well, brains and brawn were split between us. Xavier didn’t get much of either.”

It burns my throat, talking shit about my brother, but if it helps get on Ryker’s good side, I’ll do it. I pull on underwear and sweats, grateful to have clean clothes against my skin.

Ryker watches me. “A year ago, you were offered a job by a global tech company called Nemesis.” I blanch, speechless that he even knows that. “They offered you a lot of money, and the chance to open a branch in the US, where you’d be the head of one of the largest underground cyber organizations in the world. You turned it down. Why?”

I pull on a dark T-shirt, still trying to grab at words. “How … how do you know that?”

He leans forward, resting his forearms on his thighs. “When I found out my brother had died, I had nothing. Not a penny to my name. I worked hard, got to know the right people, and I discovered that the best currency to have in the world of the super-rich wasn’t money. It was secrets.” I search his face, trying to analyze his tone. He isn’t bragging. He’s simply stating what he believes to be true. “People will do anything to keep a secret. It’s what makes the most powerful men crumble. A billionaire hires kids for his yacht for the weekend. An heiress kills her maid in a drunken argument. You find these things out about people, then they work for you.”

That fills in the gaps of what I knew about him. It made no sense that he gained power as quickly as he did, but it’s clear now that he’s worked meticulously to get to this level.

“Why didn’t you take the job, Yale?”

I fold my arms. “Because I work with my brothers.”

“No, you work for them,” he corrects. “You follow Zayden’s every command. You’re not as strong as Xavier. What do you do?”

I huff a laugh. “Do you really think we’ve gone our whole lives doing what we do without someone trying exactly what you are? You can’t drive a wedge between us.”

“Is what I’ve said untrue?”

“The three of us contribute. We can’t work without each other.”

He nods. “Then why didn’t you tell them about the job?”

“Because it was pointless. I didn’t want it.”

“And they rescinded their offer.” I pause, staring at him. “Do you know why?”

No, I don’t. They wanted me to run that branch, trusted me, marveled at what I could do, and I had a few meetings, more out of intrigue. It was hard not to be flattered given the power Nemesis have—they burst into our world, starting out on the dark web then expanding quickly into more legal avenues. Even the government have used them in the past. So yes, I was intrigued, but their interest vanished. I was curious as to why, but I also didn’t care. I was never going to take it.

Ryker takes out his phone, taps a few buttons, and reads aloud, “James, hope you’re good. Bad news. Yale isn’t available for Nemesis due to contractual agreements at the Agency. He’s tied up for a minimum of five years. Good luck finding another recruit. Zayden Silver.” He locks his phone, and I process the words as best I can. “I don’t need to drive a wedge between you, Yale. That’s one of many, many secrets your brothers have kept from you, and believe me when I say, this is a tame one.” He stands, and I glare at him, my heart beating fast.

“You’re lying.”

“I’m not. And deep down, you know I’m not, because you know Zayden. He’s inherently selfish. Why else do you think he waited almost ten years before he let you tell Silence you loved her? He wanted her all to himself. And suddenly he’s so accepting?” He hums. “I’ve yet to find out why that is, but I will. Are you hungry?”

He leaves the bathroom, and I remain still, breathing fast through my nose.

It isn’t true. Zayden wouldn’t sabotage me, and if he did, there would have been a good reason behind it. Ryker won’t win this game.

I follow him out of the bedroom and downstairs, where he serves me pasta. He works on his phone as I eat, and once my plate is empty, I decide to pry further.

“How do you know so much about us?”