Free Good Intentions - Adrian Hell #6 (Adrian Hell Series) by James P. Sumner Page A

test, surely?
    I stare at Lily, who’s observing me quietly. “Okay, hang on a minute. I don’t—” I glance sideways at the guy and lower my voice. “I don’t take someone out just because I’m told to, alright? I need to—”
    She laughs. “He doesn’t speak English. There’s no need to talk quietly.”
    I roll my eyes. “I’m not bothered about that . I was gonna say, I need to know why someone deserves to have me coming for them. Why does The Order want this guy dead?”
    She shakes her head. “It doesn’t work like that, Adrian. That might’ve been how you did things in the past, and that’s fine. But it’s not how we do things now. Like I just said, if we give you a target, your only thought should be how quickly and effectively you can take them out. That’s it.”
    “I’m sorry, but I’m not executing anyone just because someone tells me to.”
    “You did in Vietnam…”
    I shake my head. “No, I didn’t. I found out what I could about Mr. Way prior to entering his little compound. I knew he was a piece of shit before I tore his world apart. I don’t know what this guy is supposed to have done, and until I do, I’m not touching him. Are we clear?”
    Lily takes a sip of her drink and stares at me. Her jaw is set and she looks a little pissed off. Her eyes narrow slightly. I can see the internal debate raging behind her hazel orbs. After a few moments, she places her drink down and leans forward, resting on her crossed arms. “He’s a customer of Mr. Way’s. Or he was , anyway. He’s a successful businessman, and a senior director at a large banking firm here in the city. He’s married with two sons, eleven and eight. But he’s also a pedophile. He’s spent tens of thousands over many years with Mr. Way, having young girls delivered to an apartment he rents behind his family’s back. He’s a sick bastard, Adrian.” She nods at the cell phone in my hand. “Scroll through the images if you don’t believe me.”
    I frown and look at the screen. Using my thumb, I flick through a series of damning pictures that show him walking into an apartment building, and then reappearing at the door to greet a couple of men escorting a young girl, dressed inappropriately. He then disappears back inside with his arm around her.
    I clench my jaw so tightly I think I might actually shatter my teeth. I met a lot of those young women yesterday. They were scared for their lives. They were victims. And people like this piece of shit next to me did that to them.
    I look over at her. “Okay, so he deserves it. Give me half a day for surveillance, and he’ll be dead by morning.”
    She shakes her head. “Any recon or additional information will always be done for you and sent along with the details of the target. If you don’t receive any, it means there’s isn’t any. In those circumstances, termination is to be carried out immediately.”
    Jesus…
    I place the phone down on the table. I finish off the beer and place the empty bottle next to it. I look over at Lily. My brow furrows as I think about what she’s saying. “You said I have the freedom to live my life however I want now, providing I stick to your three rules, right?”
    She nods. “That’s right.”
    “So what happens if I do something illegal and the police get involved? Would The Order bail me out?”
    She pauses for a moment. Her expression tries to hide a slightly bemused smile. “The police… aren’t a concern for us.”
    I raise an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
    “I mean, wherever you are, whatever you do—providing you stick to those three rules, no one is going to bother you. You’re free, Adrian.”
    “Really…? Well, that is interesting…”
    I pick up one of my chopsticks. It’s thin, but made from something sturdy, like bamboo. I snap it about a quarter of the way down, leaving a sharp, jagged point. I hold it in my fist with the business end facing away from me. I look at Lily and raise an eyebrow.
    Screw