Chapter Sixteen #2
Jackson didn’t look at Christina. If he did, the entire room would see the truth on his face—that they had once again become intimate.
Even though he was surrounded by friends, loyal people who had his back no matter what, or in the case of Waylon, intended to do whatever was necessary to protect Christina, it wasn’t something he wanted to advertise.
“As a matter of fact, yes, there’s more to prove she was an asset,” Jackson said.
“Since I’ve been protecting Ortiz, keeping her safe, she has cooperated and shared more critical intel that the Montana DCI acted on earlier this morning.
They raided three of the cartel’s key depots.
Large seizures were made. Thirty thousand pounds of pure cocaine and over a thousand pounds of fentanyl, estimated to be worth over half a billion dollars, plus thirty million in cash and weapons. ”
Resounding silence followed for several seconds.
“If that’s true,” Baccarin stammered, “then we’ll—”
“It’s true and it can be verified with the Montana DCI headquarters. I believe Director Isaacson is expecting a call from one of you.” Winter and Declan’s boss was thrilled with the results of the operation.
“Jackson, this is a major blow to the cartel,” Quinones said, “to their financial operations and their efforts to distribute drugs throughout our country. A raid of this scope and magnitude is what’s needed to stop these criminal enterprises in their tracks. That’s impressive work.”
“Yes,” Garcia said. “Excellent work. I wish you would’ve looped us in on it. This seems like the perfect time to come in with Ortiz.”
Jackson glanced at Christina and mouthed, Do you recognize one of the voices?
She shook her head, and the theory that Rio Estrada might be one of the agents on this phone call fizzled right in front of him.
“I’m afraid I can’t do that just yet,” Jackson said, responding to Garcia.
“Ortiz’s life is still in grave danger. There’s a mole in our task force and a second traitor somewhere higher up inside one of the agencies.
I believe this is why Kehoe was assassinated.
He told this higher authority about Ortiz being an asset.
She only survived as long as she did because she was off the books.
Kehoe also requested access to Odin’s Eye from that person, to run hundreds of hours of surveillance footage through it in the hopes of identifying and tracking Rio Estrada. ”
“Those are serious claims,” Baccarin said.
“That program,” Quinones said, “is highly classified. Any access to it is documented.”
“Do you still have this surveillance footage?” Garcia asked.
Christina grabbed Jackson’s arm and shook her head. Then she snatched paper and a pen and quickly scribbled something down.
Nodding, Jackson understood the message.
“I haven’t seen the footage, but Ortiz still has it.
She has saved it somewhere safe. A cloud storage that no one knows about.
But she’s reluctant to share it until certain promises are made.
Once she’s been cleared of murder charges and there’s documentation guaranteeing she’ll be given a new identity in WITSEC, only then will I bring her in and she’ll turn over the footage. ”
“Jackson,” Baccarin said, “that’s not acceptable. You’re not calling the shots here.”
“Sir, I’m afraid those are the conditions. I’ll make contact again once she’s been cleared of the charges.” Jackson disconnected the call.
“That was an aggressive play,” Autumn said. “It might perpetuate the speculation that you and Christina are involved.”
Jackson shrugged. “There’s no way around it. I have to be assured that Christina will be protected.”
Waylon grabbed another bagel. “Do you think they’ll go for it?”
“I don’t know. But that surveillance footage got Kehoe killed, which makes it valuable.” Jackson turned to Christina. “Why did you want me to say that you were holding back the recordings?”
“The cartel will want to eliminate anyone who has access to it or has seen it,” Christina said. “Better to let everyone think it’s being contained.”
“You didn’t recognize Rio’s voice,” Takoda said. “I guess he’s not our second mole.”
“What now?” Bo asked. “How do we find Rio?”
“There’s only one way,” Christina said, full of conviction.
A shiver of trepidation raced down Jackson’s spine. “No. Whatever you’re thinking, there’s some other way.”
Tilting her head to the side, Christina stared at him. “I don’t think there is.”
“Please fill me in on what I’m missing,” Waylon said around the food in his mouth.
“We have to flush him out.” Christina straightened her shoulders. “Rio wants to see me, to speak to me in person.”
“And then watch Aguilar kill you,” Jackson added, which was an essential factor she seemed to be forgetting.
“We use me as bait.” Christina tossed the words out so casually. “First, to hook Alvaro, and then Rio.”
“No way.” Jackson shook his head and waved his hands to emphasize his point. “That’s not happening.”
“I second that.” Waylon took another bite of his bagel.
“I’m inclined to agree with them,” Autumn said. “It’s too dangerous. There has to be another way.”
“Such as?” Takoda asked. “I’m not eager to use someone as bait either, but it sounds like it could work. It also might be the only way to find out who the higher-level mole is.”
“Takoda is right,” Christina said. “I could get Rio talking. His guard will be down, and he might give us everything we need if he thinks Aguilar is going to kill me anyway.”
“It’s too risky.” Jackson stared at Christina, trying to make her see sense. “I can’t take the chance of losing you.” He just got her back. “Give us some time to come up with a better plan.”
“I know you’re worried about what might happen to me if I do this.
But we all need to consider what will happen to everyone else if I don’t.
” Christina got off the stool and went to him.
“Aguilar saw their faces. Chance, Winter, Autumn, Declan, Bo, Eli. He’s in the process of getting their names and addresses right now.
By tonight, he’ll know about this ranch.
Is everyone supposed to go into hiding along with your parents, Logan and Summer?
” She shook her head. “There is no time. We only have one solid option. We need to get to Rio before Aguilar gets to any of your friends. You can get them both. Rio and Aguilar. Kill two birds with one stone. But that means using me as bait.”
Conflicting emotion welled inside Jackson, flooding him to the point he thought something inside him might burst. “I love you.” The words just slipped from his lips, and she stared at him, wide-eyed.
In all their time together, he’d never said it in front of others.
When they were in public, he had worked hard to hide how he felt.
To keep their relationship under his parents’ radar.
“I never stopped.” He took her into his arms and lowered his face to hers.
“I can’t do this because I don’t know how to keep you safe. ”
Could he protect her from Aguilar?
His doubt overwhelmed him.
How could she expect him to gamble with her safety? To allow her to be taken or harmed?
“You love all of them, too,” Christina said, the gravity of her tone getting to him. “So we have to take the chance.”
“Lockwood won’t like it.” Waylon folded his arms. “I don’t like it.”
“Then you two need to provide input to make it work,” Christina said to the former cop. “I’m going to finish what I started, and I am going to do everything in my power to keep Alvaro away from you all.”
“You’re the one who told me that he’s no regular hit man, no simple assassin for hire, and that underestimating him is the worst thing that we could do. I believe all that now.” Jackson tightened his arms around her. “How do we beat him without losing you?”
He’d let her down twelve years ago. To do so again could cost her life.
“When Aguilar took me from the camp and talked to me at his house,” Christina said, her voice low, “I realized something. I did what I didn’t think was possible—I hurt him.
My betrayal cut deep. Who would’ve guessed, but the monster has a heart.
” Christina slid her palms up his chest and pressed her forehead to his.
“I’m his blind spot. His judgment is cloudy where I’m concerned.
Somehow, we have to find a way to exploit that and use it against him. To beat him. To win.”