Page 125

“Let me rephrase that. Why and how did you get those CIA agents to do the killings for you?” Ipinned him with my eyes. “Be careful how you answer that question. I only want the truth. Every time you lie to me, you’ll lose a finger.”

He blinked and considered me. “You’re not the same Attikus. “

“A man adapts when dealing with monsters.” I gave him a cold stare. “How can I be the same when my life was turned upside down?”

“I had nothing to do with that.”

“When you run in the same evil circle, you’re part of it.” I leaned back in the chair. “That’s how the game goes. Now, answer my question.”

Big Mike, one of my security men, approached, standing to the side, ready for my order. He was part of an elite team that conducted underground business for me. My friends and I couldn’tfight The Trogyn in ethical ways.

Milton swallowed. “Those agents are part of a military research program called HADES.”

“What does the program do?”

“Drug and behavioral experimental shit.” Fear filled his eyes.

“You mean mind control?”

This was a conspiracy theory that had been all over the internet for a while. But I had never considered it to be true.

Milton scrubbed the hand down his face. “That’s what I heard.”

“You’re lying.” I flicked him a disbelieving look. “What have you witnessed?”

He shifted in the seat and blew out a breath. “The drugs they used are powerful shit. It shuts off your mind. Then they play these recordings with voices and sound waves to train your mind. You become a different person—angry and violent.” He paused. “And you don’t remember anything once the serum wears off.”

This was why Paul Exinor couldn’t remember killing his coworker, Sam Thornton. Maybe Paul’s mission was to kill Emmanuel if Sam failed.

“What happens if you inject too much of the serum?”

“The person dies. Serum99 is extremely potent.”

Which probably meant it was the ninety-ninth version of evil.

“Where is the research based?” I asked.

“I wasn’t privy to that information. If I ask them, they’ll suspect me. So I don’t ask questions that will pose a threat.”

“Why did you force Emmanuel to blackmail Nessa Lambert, who’s now mywife?”

Milton wiped his palms on his thighs. “She wasn’t the original target. I needed money to pay a debt and knew she was a successful artist who sold expensive art. She was convenient because she was his ex.”

He’d terrorized her because it was convenient? My fingers itched to pound his face.

“What do you mean she wasn’t the target?”

“My order was to target people aroundyou. In the beginning, Nessa wasn’t part of the picture. She was a tenant leasing your property until you announced your engagement.” A bead of sweat slid down the side of his face. “Now she’s on their radar.”

Fuck.Vanessa’s proposal for the marriage had backfired in the most unexpected way. She had wanted me to save her from the blackmail, but I’d made her Ashton’s primary target.

“You sent the principal’s finger to the gallery opening?”

“Ashton told me to. He knew you’d be there because you love art shit. But he told me not to leave a name on the box to throw you off. Ashton knew you’d been unsuccessfully searching for him. I guess the finger was his way of saying FU.”

“Why did he have to kill the principal’s entire family?”

“Stephen Perry didn’t want to work for Ashton anymore. The Lindor and Perry family know each other well.”