Killa City by Mark Dawson is Book 16 in the John Milton Novel Series.
John Milton is being hunted. Again. Group 15 is up and running. Again. And Control - an unknown-to-John woman - wants her Number One to eliminate him. Doesn't matter that John wants nothing to do with "The Firm", is no threat to them, and simply wants to be left alone. No. That's not good enough for her.
John has one connection who might have the information he needs to avoid the inevitable chase. "Tanner", who once worked under a different Control when John was Number One, now lives and runs a business in Kansas City ("Killa City"), Missouri . When John shows up at his place of business, Tanner is shocked and slightly fearful. That fear causes Tanner to do two things: get information for John from an old contact in London and another he will soon regret.
When John needs a vehicle since his dream ride was left in Las Vegas, Tanner gets him in touch with a friend who sells cars at auction. When a young man at the auction buys an old beat up van for $500, John notices when the kid goes out to the parking lot to pick it up, two men try to steal it from him. Well, you know John can't let that happen and while he gets up in their business and lays them out, the kid drives off as fast as he can. Since John suspects foul play, knowing the van isn't worth what the kid paid for it, he tries to find him to leave his number in case there's trouble. And of course there is.
The KC Mafia is thoroughly invested in recovering this van and sends their best to bring it back from the boy's (Enzo) house. What they didn't expect was an encounter with John Milton when they arrived.
This turn of events causes a chain reaction of spectacles that puts everyone involved in dire danger and takes them outside the city where ingenious preparations have to be made for the inevitable battle ahead which include John calling in a favor.
Two dirty cops, a Mafia wannabe kid (and friend of Enzo's) whose uncle is involved with the local Mafia, two Irish brothers who launder the Mafia's money, the current Number One, a coach, and Enzo, his mom Connie, and another of Enzo's friends Aldo, all participate in the final showdown which will ultimately determine who lives and who dies.
John's determination to keep his mission of helping those he can while doing his best to extinguish that part of him which used to do the "cold-blooded kills" assigned to him doesn't always lead to the peace he seeks. Having realized he can't provide his own redemption, he trudges forward making his way toward crossing off some emotional debts as he's able. He continues to deny himself personal relationships because of the invisible threats to his attachments, but perhaps more frequently than before we get hints of his loneliness and the desires that come with it for real connection.
Some interesting characters in this one, some cliché bad guys but that's to be expected given their "occupations", and an interesting act of mercy which is sure to be dangerous for John's future.
As usual, we get another thriller from Mark Dawson, kind of in idle at the beginning before switching to overdrive.
Father, you're the only giver of good and perfect gifts. Thank you for gifting Mark with his wonderful talents. May you receive your due credit from every artist who employs what you've given them. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.