Chapter 20: The Code and the Condition
The rain poured heavily on the rooftop where Kelin and his crew held Drax, tied and bloodied. The mission had been brutal, but he did it—he captured one of the Red Cult's most dangerous commanders alive.
He didn't waste a second.
Kelin opened his encrypted communicator and called Kate, the five-star officer who promised him freedom for his brother Celin in exchange for this mission.
The screen lit up.
Kate (calmly): "Speak."
Kelin: "I have Drax. Alive. Tracked him. Hunted him. He's right here with me now."
He sent Kate the exact location code.
"Bring Celin with you. It's time for the deal to go both ways."
There was silence for a moment.
Then Kate leaned forward, face dark and sharp.
Kate: "No."
Kelin froze.
"What do you mean no?"
Kate's voice turned ice cold:
"You don't just deliver me a target. You finish the job.
I want Drax dead by your hands, not delivered like a scared dog."
"And if you refuse, I'll personally make sure your brother is transferred back to San Jamb's maximum prison — back where he came from. Where he'll rot."
Kelin stepped back, full of rage. His mind raced.
Kill Drax and betray his code…
Or lose the brother he fought so hard to save?
Drax, barely conscious, laughed through broken teeth.
"You think he's really gonna let you walk away with your brother? You're just a pawn. Always have been."
Kelin grabbed Drax by the collar.
"Shut up."
But deep down… he was starting to believe him.
A Silent Decision
Over the comm, Kate spoke again.
"You have one hour. Kill him. Then call me. Or I walk… and I drag Celin back with me."
Click.
The line went dead.
The only sound now… was the rain.
Kelin looked at Drax, then looked at his crew. None of them spoke. They knew this moment would change everything.
He turned to his sniper, his hacker, and his getaway driver.
"Get the car ready. If we're going to do this… we do it on our terms."
To be continue....