Chapter 0026

ADONIS

The conversation I’d had with James flashed at the back of my mind.

“James Nguyen. Born and brought up in Atlanta. Father, a gigolo. Mother, an old tramp who gave birth to you at fifty and your sister at fifty-six. A very tough age to have a pregnancy, no?” I could see the shock painted on his face and continued, “Your sister is an addict who consumes drugs like food from the money you earn or... by blowing strangers off in their fancy cars. Am I right?”

“Yes, obviously my life isn’t as shiny as everyone present in this room,” James said, his throat bobbing and voice filled with envy.

Envy was a weak motivator. But greed; he needed that.

“Your life can be shiny as well.” I gestured for a soldier to pull him up to his feet. “You realise we’ll kill you, don’t you?” He didn’t speak and looked down at his feet. “But what if I were to offer you a way out of this mess?” His eyes quickly shot up, and he waited. “There’s a catch, of course. If you pass this mission, you’ll be one o