Is this destiny?

~ California, Beach house ~

Inside the study…

Sarah and Aiden are seated on the wide sofa, facing Jesse who is in the sofa chair.

"You must wonder why we invited you here." Sarah started.

"I suspect that you know I'm hiding something and that story I told you when we met is not the truth." Jesse was surprised with the words that he spoke, but only for a second.

He frowned while looking at Sarah and Aiden. It didn't take him long to realize that he can't hold back from saying what is on his mind, and he wondered at what time he got drugged. He had food and drinks with everyone else.

Jesse scolded himself silently at the thought that he was careless and sighed because he was supposed to expect something like this. On the other side, him being drugged without noticing, confirmed that he didn't make a mistake when he decided to follow this young couple. He witnessed their sparring match earlier that day, and now this… really, he made a wise choice to come with them.

Sarah leaned onto Aiden and smiled while looking at Jesse whose face showed mix of emotions.

After about a minute, Jesse composed himself, and Sarah spoke: "Let's start with who you are. From the beginning. Tell us your life story. Don't skip on the important parts."

Jesse grimaced for few seconds, trying to keep his mouth shut.

"Wow! You are fighting it!", Sarah exclaimed and almost jumped up.

Jesse knows that he is drugged, and did his best to prevent himself from talking, but he was not successful.

"My birth name is Amadin Conteh Kamara." He bit his lip, desperately trying to stop his mouth from opening again.

Sarah glanced at Aiden. "Amazing… he is fighting it!"

Jesse put up a struggle for another few seconds before realizing that he can't fight the urge to talk. It was mentally painful to stay quiet. He relaxed and immediately words started pouring out of him: "I am the second prince in my tribe. My tribe is integrated into a modern society and everyone lives in the city. At the age of seven I was sent to United Kingdom for education…"

Jesse told them that he attended private schools under name Michael Kamara. He excelled in academics… At twelve years old he was approached by a secret organization. They trained him in variety of martial arts and weapons handling… At age fifteen he got his first mission where he needed to obtain some information… At age seventeen he kissed a girl for the first time… At age of twenty one, he got his permanent address in Germany. Two bedroom apartment in Munich... His missions around the world continued… At age twenty two he had his first sexual experience and he was heartbroken when after two months Louisa left him…

(Fast forward to important parts…)

Two years ago, Jesse was assigned to a mission in Egypt and they were betrayed. All his teammates and contacts were killed. He tried reaching out to his base directly, but he was not successful. Since then, there were multiple attempts on his life; at least one every few weeks. And they found him no matter where he moved… He was tired of running and went back home trying to see his family for the last time. When he reached, neighbors told him that his whole family, father, mother and two brothers disappeared overnight without a trace, and that happened few months prior. He stayed that night in his family home and was attacked by two assassins. He killed them. Next few days (or maybe weeks) he was mostly drinking himself into blacking out while waiting for the next assassins to come… until one day, he woke up hangover in a diamond mine, chained.

Jesse exhaled, like a big burden fell off his chest.

"Why didn't you escape the mine?", Sarah was curious. A man with his capabilities should be able to escape, right?

Jesse was pitiful while answering: "Where would I go? Whoever is after me, found me within few days how I got there. I am on the run for last two years… I was tired… and I gave up on running. I was waiting for them to come and end my life. After some time, I realized that no one is coming. Conditions in the mine were not good, but at least I got my chance to rest without worrying about assassins."

"For someone who is an agent of a secret organization for more than ten years, you are easily giving up." Aiden said in a cold voice.

"They trained me to steal, fight and kill. They would call and say: come here at this time. Others came up with detailed plans, I executed on them. I was never good at logistics and communication… at first, I was motivated to fight and figure out what happened, but whatever I tried, I ended up being the one hunted. Eventually I realized that I can't do it and I gave up." Jesse explained.

Sarah shoot her next question: "Why did you decide to join us?"

Jesse looked Sarah in the eyes while answering. "If I have a choice, I don't want to stay in that mine, and I don't want to die either. If you can help me stay alive, I will offer you my services. I already told you that I can be useful. Put me to some use. I can't go to a normal life… I don't know what that is, and whoever is after me would find me within few days… I saw Aiden fighting and he reminded me how good it feels to do something. And then I heard your kids talk about all the training you are providing to them and I knew you are not simple people and that you have a mission. When I heard that you are offering better life to the kids, I realized that you are good people."

Aiden had difficulty holding back his anger. "Those people found you within few days… did you ever think that by being here you are putting all these kids in danger?"

Jesse waved his arms defensively. "I don't have any trackers on me. I checked. It could be the phone numbers, or ATM or something else they used to find me… but since I ended up in the mine, I was without access to any electronic devices, and they didn't come after me."

Aiden was close to snapping as he spoke through his teeth: "Don't you feel any guilt?"

The thought that this man has assassins after him and he came here, enraged Aiden. What if assassins came previous day when their kids were by themselves? He would never forgive himself if the kids and staff got hurt just because he brought Jesse with him.

Jesse defended his actions: "I admit I lied to you, and I am ashamed that I did that. But if I told you the truth, would you accept me? Would you even believe me?"