the obsidian proxy
Julian did not offer them money; he offered them a target: The Syndicate, the organization that had, in various ways, destroyed their careers, their freedom, or their lives.
He met Kian in a windowless sub-basement of a derelict library. Kian, a man whose quiet demeanor concealed a core of violent, disciplined capability, examined Julian with professional skepticism.
“You’re a CEO. You run on clean data and shareholder reports. The Syndicate runs on blood and anonymity. You’ll break,” Kian stated, his voice a low, gravelly whisper that matched the acoustics of the damp room.