Total pages in book: 148
Estimated words: 139606 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 698(@200wpm)___ 558(@250wpm)___ 465(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 139606 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 698(@200wpm)___ 558(@250wpm)___ 465(@300wpm)
He walked to the lounge area as Brian started talking.
“I became aware of your father’s interest in the Huisman Foundation a year ago,” Brian was saying as Dare sat down in one of the comfortable chairs where he was sure the men of the club would sit and watch matches on the big-screen TV.
Dare simply took out his phone and stared at it, scrolling through news sites but not really reading anything.
Brian sat down beside him. “The Huisman Foundation isn’t what it seems to be. Emmanuel Huisman is a dangerous man.”
“I don’t care,” he admitted. “That’s your business. Not mine.”
“It’s going to be everyone’s business when he starts killing people,” Brian insisted. “I think he wants something from your father, and that’s why they’ve been trying to kidnap you.”
Brian wasn’t a smart spy if he hadn’t figured that out yet. “I think it’s far more likely that was Tasha’s team. They needed to bring a bodyguard in so she wouldn’t have to constantly watch me. I’m sure it was much easier to download my laptop with extra eyes on me.”
“It wasn’t us, mate. Tasha brought me in because she was so worried about you,” Nate said quietly.
“And I got to pay for the privilege,” Dare shot back before turning to Brian. “I wouldn’t worry about some doctor I barely met trying to kidnap me. Do you know how paranoid you sound? Huisman is a doctor. He helps people. He doesn’t kill them. Have you even read his book?”
Brian’s head shook. “That book is fiction. That book is nothing but another mask he wears. I know Manny. I’ve known him most of my life, and I promise you he’s a monster no matter what happy fairy tale he’s selling the public.”
“So you have some sort of vendetta against the guy and that’s why you’re here?”
“I do not have a vendetta. I’m trying to stop him.”
“From doing what?” Dare wasn’t sure why he was still talking, but maybe Brian could make some sense of the situation.
Brian sighed, his eyes closing briefly. “I don’t know, but I don’t like that he’s in league with Oakley. Oakley has ties to a group called Disrupt Australia.”
“I’ve heard of it. They’re a think tank. They try to come up with new ways to do things.” Though he’d heard some rumors. Rumors that there was a more extreme group within the organization.
“That’s what they are on the outside. What they actually are is a group of anarchists. They see opportunity in chaos,” Brian explained. “Huisman is a member. Like Oakley, he’s high up in the organization.”
There was only one problem with Brian’s statement. “Huisman met Oakley for the first time earlier today.”
“I assure you they were lying about that,” Brian said. “Huisman has met Oakley many times, though they keep their relationship secretive. The fact that they’re willing to be seen in public together now makes me think they’ve got something big happening soon. I believe Oakley’s group was responsible for the recent attacks on Jakarta’s public transit system. I also think they’re funding anti-monarchist groups across Europe, and they’ve got their hands in a lot of the disinformation campaigns about elections.”
“So arrest the man.”
“I can’t prove it,” Brian admitted, “which is why I need you and Tasha in his house in a couple of days.”
“That’s sad for you because I’m going to be on a plane to Toronto tomorrow morning.” That was a proactive thing he could do. He could find a flight home. He didn’t care how much it cost or if he was in the last row in economy sitting by the bathroom. He would be out of here.
“We have reason to believe the anti-monarchist groups are planning assassinations in the hopes that they can start World War III,” Brian continued. “The attacks in Jakarta caused widespread panic and threatened to destabilize the economy. They almost did it. They will try again, and if it works in Indonesia, they’ll try with other countries. This is the beginning of their offensive. We have to stop them because if we don’t, the world will burn. That’s what Manny wants. He wants the world in ruins around him so he can take the reins and rule over the ashes.”
“You’ll have to find another way because I’m not working with you or that woman ever again. I don’t want you to contact me in any way.” The thought of not seeing Tasha again made his gut turn, and wasn’t that stupid of him. Why would he want to see her?
So he could show her how in control he could be. So he could fuck her and enjoy her and take everything from her before walking away.
But he wasn’t going to be doing that because he wasn’t a fucking monster.
“I’m afraid I’m going to have to insist.” Brian’s tone went hard. “You have to listen to reason.”