Rival Rising Read online

  Rival Rising

  Hidden World Series: Book 2

  Ben Swallow

  Copyright © 2018 Ben Swallow

  All rights reserved.

  Chapter 1

  Today was the most boring morning I had in a long time. I loved it.

  I slept in until noon, had a mediocre cup of coffee, then took a long, hot shower.

  Well, until the hot water was out, which was after about five minutes. Landlord be damned.

  Then a regular breakfast of stale bread, strawberry jam and an egg. And after that, I simply sat down on the ground on my squeaky floorboards with a good book and read for over an hour.

  No black veins reaching for my heart.

  No one pointing a gun at me.

  No job to go to.

  It was wonderful.

  At least until now, that is.

  Now Bryan will be here any minute to pick me up for our meeting with Cross. I don’t like the idea of having to be picked up, but I don’t have a car to drive downtown, so I don’t have many other options. I don’t really mind as long as it’s Bryan, though. I’m glad that we are still in this together, one last job. After that, I fear our paths will split again.

  A strange sadness spreads in my stomach, like I miss him already. I’m not a big fan of this development, of becoming so attached to somebody. Opening up and letting someone in almost broke me the last time, and I’m still hesitant to do it again. Especially with someone like Bryan. He’s a good guy, I think. But with his connection to Cross and the criminal underworld, he’s going to get me in trouble.

  Although, now that it’s over, this last week was actually kind of fun.

  One last look in the mirror. My hair is shining, my makeup on point, the tight black cami I wear looks as great as ever. I missed wearing it, but it just didn’t fit the shirt I had to wear to work.

  I’m not sure what I’m supposed to wear to a meeting with Cross, who’s like the mayor of the underworld, but considering how most thugs run around, this outfit will be fine. Bryan was just wearing a plain shirt, too.

  Also, Cross needs me for my skills, not my looks. I have to remind myself of that once again, since it was usually the other way around. I hope he doesn’t really care how I’m dressed.

  But if I’m going to be kicking ass on this mission, I better look good doing it.

  Also, I’m hanging out with Bryan. Even though I still don’t know yet how I feel about him, I hate the idea of him seeing me at anything less than my best.

  As my phone rings in my pocket, I walk towards the door. Since the doorbell isn’t working in this wreck of a house, I told him he had to call.

  As I want to put on my leather jacket, I realize I don’t have to hide any black veins anymore. With a smile, I just grab it and go.

  Still smiling, I quickly walk down the stairs and out of the house, where Bryan is already waiting, standing next to his car.

  "Wow, you look… happy," he greets me.

  "Good morning to you, too," I smile mischievously. I guess I still got it.

  "So, what do you think, what kind of job does Cross have for us?" Bryan asks as we are driving away.

  "Hmm, maybe fetch something? Maybe he needs us to be his bodyguards, it's what you're best at, isn't it?"

  "Yeah, but I think this one is going to be different."

  As we are driving downtown, I roll down the window and watch people in suits hurry around. It reminds me of Manhattan, just maybe a crappier version of it. New York is only a short flight away, but I could never afford it. I hope I have the money and the time one day to visit it, to see if it's as bursting with energy as it is in the movies.

  I roll up the window again as Bryan parks the car, preparing myself to face Cross once again. I don't fear him, but he still makes me uneasy. So far, our interactions have been casual, but I know that I shouldn’t say anything wrong. He might not be a fan of formalities, but he's big on respect.

  I put on my jacket as we walk into the building. I'm glad I brought it now. In a place like this, I feel a little vulnerable with just a cami, showing so much skin when everyone else is all dressed up. The leather jacket at least covers my upper body and makes me feel more of a bad ass, giving me the confidence I need to survive with these people.

  We are taken up by the elevator again, passing by the same grim-looking guards in front of Cross' office. Just like last time, his penthouse and the view are breathtaking.

  "Welcome. Please sit down, I will be with you shortly," a voice sounds from the kitchen as we enter his place.

  We sit down on the big couch where I try to relax, but I still feel incredibly small in a room like this.

  "So, Bryan, his daughter is your ex?” I whisper quietly to Bryan. “How on earth did you think that was a good idea?”

  He looks up in surprise, glancing over to the kitchen before he answers. "It wasn't. I never thought it was. And it's not that simple, she's not…"

  But before Bryan can finish, Cross strides towards us. "Sorry for keeping you waiting, there were other matters to attend to."

  He sits down across from us, looking us both in the eyes. "So, let's get right to it. I helped you find the guy who poisoned you, now I need you to find something for me. A rare object has recently surfaced, one with magical properties. I want you two to fetch it before it falls into the wrong hands. It's a golden compass, one that doesn't always point north."

  He looks at Bryan and nods. "You still know all the right people from your time with me, so finding it should not be impossible. And I don't think I have to say it, but I would prefer if no one dies or gets hurt."

  A golden compass? That sounds oddly familiar. If he really is after the compass we had to steal for the one-armed, I'll be damned. At least it's easy to find, since we know exactly who we sold it to. But I guess it's better if we don't say that. Cross might not be a huge fan of us having broken into the antiquities shop, even if we didn't hurt anyone.

  “Got it,” Bryan answers as cross looks at the two of us expectantly.

  “Good. Report back when you have it.”

  He gets up and walks back to the kitchen, leaving us alone again. I guess that means it’s time for us to leave. Silently, we walk back to the elevator, not speaking until we are alone in it.

  “Bryan, please tell me that he doesn’t mean the compass we stole.”

  “I’m afraid that’s probably exactly the one he wants. Let’s just get it and hope that Cross doesn’t ask any questions. Because if he does, we will have to tell him everything.”

  “Everything? Like that we stole it for the one-armed who never showed up?”

  “Yeah. You don’t lie to Cross. We tell him everything. Otherwise, he gets a little… well, you can probably imagine.”

  We shut up again as we exit the elevator into the lobby. Suddenly, Bryan is pulled away to the side. I turn around, my surprise quickly turning to anger as I see Joyce pulling him in for a kiss.

  “Oh, I’ve missed you so much, Bryan,” she whispers.

  Little bitch.

  As Bryan pulls back and takes her hand, stroking it softly with his thumb, my stomach turns inside-out.

  “I’m sorry Joyce, but I’m afraid I have to leave again already. Cross sent us on a mission, and you know I can’t keep him waiting.”

  The girl does a horrible attempt at sad puppy eyes and gives him one more quick kiss. Then she stares at me, hatred in her eyes. But after a moment, she spins around and struts away without saying another word.

  I still don’t know what happened between them, but doesn’t she know that Bryan is just not interested? He told me, but he must have surely told her, too.

  A cold shiver runs down my spine as I wonder if maybe I’m the blind one. Just one week with Bryan, and I already forg
ot that I can’t trust anything a guy says about another girl. Especially not about his ex.

  Chapter 2

  As we walk out of the building, I shoot a questioning glance at Bryan. “So what did happen between you two?”

  “It’s complicated,” he sighs. “When I protected her, she… Found a liking to me. But even though I kind of liked her, too, I would never have touched her.”

  So he admits he did have feelings for her. And if they weren’t together and haven’t broken up, who knows what he still feels?

  “Huh. So where are we going now?”

  Bryan blinks in confusion for a moment. “Uh, to Robby. We will tell him we need the compass back, bring it to Cross, and our job is done.”

  “Oh, come on, Bryan. Haven’t you been paying attention? We will probably have to do three more favors to three different peoples, get shot at probably twice, and maybe then we will get the compass.”

  “All right,” he laughs and shakes his head. “You are probably right.”

  “But I need to get something from my place first. It’s more or less on the way, right?”

  “Sure, no problem.”

  If we are going to Robby, I can finally sell that ring. He can probably make me a better price than some pawn shop.

  We drive back to my place, and then straight to Robby. Bryan said he called him while I was fetching the ring from my room, so Robby knows we are coming. If all goes well, we will be out of there in ten minutes with the compass and my money.

  But I would bet that it’s not going to be that easy.

  As we knock on his door ten minutes later, Robby opens it just as paranoid as last time. First, he opens it just a little to look at us before removing the two chains on the door. Then, before letting us in, he checks the hallway left and right three times. The same thing again after he let us in.

  “Welcome back, Bryan. Do you have anything else to sell?” He greets us as he locks the door again meticulously.

  “The opposite, actually. I know you don’t like it, but we would need the golden compass back that we sold you.”

  “And then we would also have something to sell you,” I quickly add as I see Robby’s unhappy face.

  It lightens up only for a brief moment, then he looks at Bryan with wide eyes and gaping mouth again. “But Bryan!”

  “I know, Robby, I know.”

  “You sold me that compass. You know I don’t do refunds. I need to keep my customers happy.”

  “What if I told you I don’t want a refund? What if I had someone who would be willing to buy it back? Someone like… Cross.” Bryan looks at him, a slight smile on his face.

  Robby’s expression goes from surprised to curious, even fascinated, as Cross’ name is mentioned. But then it turns back to sadness and disappointment.

  I find it adorable how much Robby’s emotions show on his face. He’s like a crazy little paranoid kid, but I like him. While he may be a little weird, I don’t think he’s a bad guy or would do anything to harm us.

  “Oh, I wish I could. I really do. You know me, Bryan, I will always help Cross. Have I ever told you the story of how he complimented my painting? That one right here,” he gestures towards a painting on the wall as he hurries over to it.

  “Yes, Robby,” Bryan sighs with a smile. “At least a dozen times.”

  “But someone approached me just yesterday, they wanted to buy the compass. I already had put it in my latest newsletter, promoting my new arrivals.”

  “Newsletter?” I gasp, barely holding back a laugh. “You are a black-market dealer and send out newsletters?”

  “Why yes, of course! Even the pizza place around the corner has a newsletter, why wouldn’t I?” He looks at me with hurt.

  “But aren’t you like, careful and stuff?”

  “Oh, you sweet, innocent girl. You thought I was sending out emails? I send out handwritten notes via carrier pigeons, of course.”

  I look at him dumbstruck for a moment, then laugh. “Right, right.” But as I look back and forth between Robby and Bryan, my smile disappears again. “Wait, that wasn’t a joke?”

  “No, he’s quite serious,” Bryan grins.

  “Oh.”

  “Anyway, Bryan, I’m afraid I can’t help you.”

  “Look, Robby. You would happily sell it to Cross, right?”

  “Yes?” He looks at him in confusion and hope.

  “And I’m sure, your buyer would, too. So if you give us his name, you would be doing both him and Cross a favor.”

  Robby frowns, then his eyes widened as he smiles. “Oh, that is true.” Then his smile disappears again and is frown comes back. “But I can’t just give out the name of a buyer, my whole integrity and reputation are at stake.”

  “Why don’t you just call him and ask him if we can make him the best offer he ever got?”

  “I suppose I can do that. I will be right back,” Robby says as he runs across the room.

  I have to suppress a laugh as he picks up something that looks like a huge walkie-talkie, including the antenna and everything.

  He stops as he notices my amusement. “What? I don’t want the government and the aliens listen in on everything I say!”

  “Oh, um, I wasn’t laughing about you. I was just laughing about… How frustrated the aliens must be for not being able to listen to you.”

  His face lightens up immediately. “Right? Take that, aliens!” He shouts as he disappears into another room.

  I can barely hold back a laugh as I look to Bryan. “I love him, he’s so adorable. How did you find him?”

  “Yeah, Robby is just something else. But he’s great, someone I can always count on. I met him during a mission, where he was assisting us with taking down a band of blood diamond smugglers. He hated all of Cross’ other thugs, but we got along pretty well. Now he’s a trusted friend.”

  “Yeah, I can imagine him driving Cross’ men crazy.”

  “Oh, and Alice. You should sell the ring when we come back. Then you can tell him yourself how pleased Cross was, he will love you for it.”

  “All right, I’ll do that.”

  I let my fingers run across the pocket in my jeans, where I still feel the ring safely tucked away. I guess I can wait another day to sell it.

  A few moments later, Robby comes back with a piece of paper. “This is his address. But you should hurry, it’s written with magic ink and will disappear in one hour.”

  “Thank you, my friend.” Bryan takes the paper and nods at Robby respectfully. “We will come back later about the other thing.”

  “What other thing?”

  “I have a pretty old ring that I need to sell. And who could better judge it’s true valued than you, Robby?” I explain with a smile.

  Robby’s face lightens up immediately. “Then I will eagerly await your return. But now I have another customer coming soon, so you should leave.”

  “Sure, until later, Robby,” I say as I turn toward the door.

  I reach for to handle until I remember the chains keeping the door closed. Robby quickly hurries past me to open the door for us. “Here you go.”

  We leave the house and get back into the car, driving to the address he gave us.

  “Will Cross actually pay the buyer for the compass?” I ask with curiosity.

  “Of course,” Bryan looks at me only briefly before looking back at the road. “He always pays a fair price. Only if you stole from him will he take what is his by force.”

  “I see. He’s not much of a crime lord, is he?”

  “Not really. Some call him the mayor of the underworld, a title well-deserved if you ask me.”

  I think about the stories I used to hear about him for the rest of the way. His name was mentioned rarely as respectful in them. But I guess many people simply blame him for everything bad that happens in and around the Pit.

  I must say, I can understand why Bryan worked to him now. He really isn’t that bad of a boss, probably nicer than my old boss. And I guess it also pay
s better than waiting tables. That is, if you’re not paying off a debt. Maybe I will even consider working for him for some time afterward, just until my mom is well again.

  I push these thoughts away for later as we walk up the apartment building at the address we were given. After Bryan knocks on the door, an old man opens it a few seconds later.

  “Yes? Can I help you?”

  “Uhm, we are looking for someone, maybe your son? Robby sent us.” Bryan answers.

  “Oh, YOU are Cross’ men? Or actually,” he looks at me, “Cross’ man and lady?”

  “Yes,” I smile. “We’re here about the compass.”

  Hah. I haven’t been called a lady for quite some time.

  “May we take a look?” Bryan adds.

  “Of course, of course. Come in.” The man opens the door widely, gesturing us in. “Excuse the mess, I haven’t been expecting visitors.”

  I have heard this line quite a few times, pretty much every time I went home with a guy. I always thought it means nothing more than “I’m sorry for being too lazy to clean my own place, even if I hope that I will not come home alone tonight”.

  But as I look around, I see nothing out of order, no dust on the bookshelves, no dirty dishes stacking high in the kitchen. Instead, the apartment looks old, like a classic old people apartment, with furniture that could only be described as vintage.

  What really catches my eye, though, are the many rarities decorating his living room. Ships in bottles, old maps of the sea, a sextant lying in the bookcase. As I look at the old man, I can imagine him as an old admiral who retired here, collecting relics of his life.

  “Wow, nice place!” I gasp as a look around.

  “Thank you, darling. Can I offer you two some tea?”

  I’m not a big fan of tea, but before I can decline, Bryan answers for the both of us. “That would be wonderful, very kind of you.”

  We sit down at the table as the old man disappears into the kitchen and comes back a minute later with two cups of steaming hot tea.

  “Here you go. Green tea, very healthy. Much better than all those sodas you young people drink.”

  “Thank you. So, about the compass?”