Chapter 12 - Brenna #2
My pulse quickened. This was it. The real recruitment would happen there.
“That sounds wonderful.”
“Excellent. The conference begins Friday afternoon. The main program concludes Saturday evening, with a departure the following morning at your leisure.”
“Please thank him on our behalf. This is quite generous.”
“Of course. And please let me know if you have any questions.”
I considered asking if the Mitchells were invited too, but it felt too contrived. We’d know soon enough.
After I hung up, Atticus pulled me against him. “Valley Ridge Resort. That’s about two and a half hours south, maybe three with traffic.”
“You know it?”
“Drove through there as a kid. Family camping trips to Point Lobos. It’s isolated, exclusive—perfect for Morrison’s purposes. One road in, private security, the works.”
“Time spent under constant scrutiny.”
“But also three days before we have to be fully ‘on’ again,” he pointed out. “Today, tomorrow, and Thursday are ours.”
Next up was the briefing, but I wanted to wait a few minutes before initiating it, to give Morrison’s admin time to place the call to Kodiak or Emma if she hadn’t already.
After cleaning up from breakfast, Atticus and I took a shower together—something that felt intimate even without sex.
Could a relationship be this easy? This comfortable?
It wasn’t like we were just on holiday and playing at real life.
For both of us, this was as close to real life as it got, outside of Atticus being on a mission in someplace like the Middle East or Russia, or me in the midst of a trial.
“Heard from Kodiak,” Atticus said when I finished drying my hair. “He and Emma received the same invitation we did.”
“Excellent news. We should schedule a briefing.”
“Would you like me to take care of that, madam prosecutor?”
I studied him but didn’t see any signs of jest. “If you wouldn’t mind.”
“How’s zero nine thirty?”
“Perfect. Thanks.” While he handled that, I messaged Emma, who responded she and Kodiak would head to the safe house now.
When they arrived at nine hundred fifteen, we gathered around the dining table while I opened my laptop and initiated the videoconference with K19 headquarters. The screen filled with the command center—Admiral and Alice at the main console, Tank and Dragon at their stations.
“Morning, everyone,” I began. “Last night’s dinner with Morrison went exactly as we’d hoped. All three principals were there—Morrison, Liu, and Castellano. They’re definitely recruiting.”
“Walk us through it,” Admiral said.
“Classic grooming behavior. Hypotheticals about classified technology being wasted, American innovation being strangled by regulations. Never anything explicit, but they were clearly feeling us out.”
“It’s apparent the sixty-day deadline Dragon mentioned last week is driving them. We could feel Morrison’s sense of urgency,” Kodiak said.
Alice nodded. “I’m seeing increased chatter in his network. Multiple communications with overseas contacts in the last twelve hours. Encrypted, but the volume alone is telling. I’ve asked Tex if he’s available to sit in. Okay with you, Brenna?”
“Of course.” Another window opened, and he appeared.
“We’re talking about the uptick in Morrison’s timeline,” said Alice.
“The stolen algorithms are mainly from projects scheduled for security updates next month,” he began. “New encryption protocols, access restrictions, the works. Once those updates happen, the current vulnerabilities close permanently.”
“So he has to move now,” I said.
“Exactly. It’s now or never for this particular package of intelligence. The classified AI algorithms for autonomous systems, the satellite communication protocols, the radar detection improvements—all of it becomes exponentially harder to access after the updates,” Tex added.
“What about the buyers?” Admiral asked.
“Still tracking that. But the payment structures suggest state-level resources. This isn’t some criminal organization or terrorist group—it’s a foreign government with deep pockets and long-term strategic thinking.”
“China? Russia?” Kodiak asked.
“Could be either. Could be someone else entirely trying to leap ahead technologically. North Korea, Iran—even allies sometimes steal from each other. I’ll see what else I can find.”
“Tex, there’s one other update,” said Alice. “Morrison has invited Brenna, Atticus, Kodiak, and Emma to a couple’s retreat this weekend.”
“So he’s planning the hard pitch.”
“That’s our take on it,” I responded.
Tex rubbed his jaw. “There’s something else not sitting quite right with me about this whole thing. I don’t have enough to go on yet, but from what I’m seeing, we may be dealing with something very different than what we originally thought.”
My eyes scrunched. “But you’re not ready to elaborate?”
“That’s right. Give me some time to verify the chatter, then I’ll report back.”
“Your help is appreciated, Tex.”
“You got it,” he said before disconnecting from the videoconference.
“About this weekend,” Alice said, “what are your thoughts about surveillance equipment?”
I shook my head. “Not crazy about it, to be honest. I’m already walking a fine line in terms of what will be admissible. My goal is getting the conviction if we’re able to prove what we suspect these guys are doing.”
“Understood,” Alice responded.
“Then, I suggest taking this conversation offline,” said Kodiak. “If that’s okay with the boss.” He motioned to me.
“You’re welcome to discuss whatever you’d like. I just can’t be privy to it.”
“I’m out too,” said Emma.
“In fact, this might be a good time for us to take a break,” I suggested.
“Give us a few minutes, and I’ll reconvene,” said Atticus.
“Thanks, everyone,” I said before ending the feed, then turning to him. “What are you thinking?”
“Kodiak and I will head back to their hotel. You and Emma stay here.”
I nodded, understanding the unspoken reasoning. They needed to discuss surveillance equipment and backup protocols—things I couldn’t be part of if I wanted to maintain the integrity of the prosecution.
Atticus stood and stretched, his shirt riding up just enough to reveal a strip of toned abdomen that made my mouth go dry. When I looked up, he was watching me with a knowing smirk.
“See something you like, counselor?”
“Just making sure you’re fit for duty,” I muttered while Emma snorted with laughter.
“We’ll be back in two hours. Try not to burn the house down while we’re gone, ladies,” Kodiak said, slinging his bag over his shoulder.
“That’s sexist,” Emma said. “Women are statistically less likely to cause kitchen fires.”
“Tell that to the FBI field office in Baltimore,” he muttered.
“You set a kitchen on fire?” I asked.
“It was a microwave incident. Who knew aluminum foil could be so dramatic?”
“Everyone,” Kodiak said. “Literally everyone knows that.”
Atticus squeezed my shoulder as he passed. “Back soon,” he murmured, then followed Kodiak toward the door.
Emma waited until we were sure they were gone before turning to me with raised eyebrows. “So?”
“So?”
“You’re glowing.”
“I’m not glowing.”
“You’re absolutely glowing. And that man can’t keep his eyes off you for more than thirty seconds.” She settled onto the barstool beside me. “When did it happen?”
I felt heat creep up my neck. “When did what happen?”
“Brenna Austen, do not play coy with me. When did you two finally stop dancing around each other and own up to being crazy about each other?”
“Saturday night,” I admitted, unable to stop the smile that spread across my face. “Or Sunday morning, technically. Depending on how you count it.”
“And?”
“And what?”
“Details! I’m living vicariously through you since my fake husband seems more interested in avoiding me than seducing me.”
I laughed. “Tell the truth, if he was trying to seduce you, you’d like that even less.”
“True statement.” She rolled her shoulders. “But we’re not talking about me. We’re talking about how you’re literally radiating happiness despite the fact that we’re in the middle of investigating a massive espionage ring.”
“It’s complicated.”
“Love always is.”
The word hung between us, and I felt my chest tighten. “I didn’t say—”
“You didn’t have to. It’s written all over both your faces.” Emma’s expression softened. “How are you going to handle telling Luke?”
“We’re having dinner with him tomorrow night.” I twisted my hands together. “Atticus thinks he’ll be happy for us.”
“Based on?”
“Something Luke said to him over coffee about how people can change. Atticus thinks it was Luke giving him permission.”
Emma tapped her cheek. “Maybe he was. Think about it—if Luke knew you had feelings for his best friend, and he knew Atticus wasn’t ready for something serious, warning you off protected both of you. You from heartbreak, Atticus from losing his best friend when things inevitably went wrong.”
I hadn’t considered that angle. “Do you really think Luke is that astute?”
“Brothers aren’t as oblivious as we like to think they are. Especially protective ones.”
My phone buzzed with a text from Atticus. Miss you already.
Emma saw my expression change and laughed. “You’ve got it bad.”
“Shut up.”
“This is good, Brenna. You deserve to be happy. And from what I’ve seen of you two together, he makes you happy.”
“He does,” I admitted. “Happier than I’ve ever been. Which terrifies me.”
“Why?”
“Because we’re in the middle of an undercover operation where we’re pretending to be married while actually falling in love, my brother’s in town and doesn’t know we’re together, we’re about to spend three days trying to convince criminals to trust us enough to make us part of their espionage ring, and somehow, in all of this, Atticus and I are making plans for a future together like it’s the most normal thing in the world. ”
Emma reached over and squeezed my hand. “Maybe it is normal. Your normal, anyway. You’ve never done anything the conventional way. Why should falling in love be any different?”
Before I could respond, my phone rang with another call from an unknown number.
“Bronwyn Nolan,” I answered.
“Mrs. Nolan, Patricia calling for Mr. Morrison. I’m following up with some details about this weekend’s gathering.”
“Of course.”
“The dress code is California casual, though you’ll want to bring athletic wear for Saturday’s activities. Tennis, golf, hiking trails—the resort has wonderful amenities.”
“That sounds lovely.”
“Mr. Morrison also wanted me to mention that the retreat has limited cell service, and he encourages guests to embrace the digital detox. The focus is on genuine connection without distractions.”
“I understand completely. Sometimes, it’s nice to unplug.” Though internally, I was calculating how this would affect our communication with the team.
“Exactly. Mr. Morrison is very much looking forward to getting to know you and your husband better. He thinks you could be valuable additions to his circle.”
“We’re looking forward to it as well.”
When I hung up, Emma was already texting Kodiak about the cell coverage issue.
“That’s going to make things interesting,” she said at the same time her phone buzzed. “Kodiak says they’re discussing communication contingencies.”
“Good.” I stood and walked to the window, looking out at the bay. “Can I ask you something?”
“Always.”
“How do you separate the job from everything else? When you were undercover at the FBI, how did you keep the two worlds from bleeding together?”
Emma joined me at the window. “I didn’t. That’s why I left. Every undercover op took a piece of me, until I wasn’t sure what was real anymore. But this is different.”
“How?”
“Because you’re not pretending to love him.
The marriage might be fake, but what’s between you is real.
That’s not a liability, Brenna. It’s what’s going to make this work.
Morrison and his people, they’re looking for authentic connections.
Couples who trust each other completely. You and Atticus have that.”
“We’ve known each other for years, but we’ve only been together for a few days.”
“Sometimes, a few days is all it takes when the foundation has been building that long.”
Two hours later, when the front door opened, Atticus walked in alone. His eyes found mine immediately.
“Where’s Kodiak?” Emma asked.
“Headed back to your hotel. Said you’d probably want a ride back.” He hadn’t looked away from me once.
Emma gathered her things. “That’s my cue to leave. You two need to prepare for tomorrow night’s dinner.” She paused at the door. “Remember, he loves you both. Trust that.”
After she left, Atticus crossed to where I stood. “What’s she talking about?”
“Luke.”
“Ah. Yes. Luke.”
I folded my arms. “You don’t sound as convinced as you did earlier.”
He unwrapped my arms and pulled me close to him. “I am. Nothing has changed as far as I’m concerned. There’s something else I want to talk to you about, though.”
“Okay…”
“I think we should visit my parents in Calistoga.”
“Oh, um, okay. When?”
“We have dinner with Luke tomorrow night, so how about Thursday?”
I’d met Atticus’ family a few times when he and Luke were at the academy together. They were all very nice. Not that I’d gotten to know them well. His sisters were older than he was and were both married now, from what I remembered reading in his DOJ profile.
“If it’s too much—”
“It’s not. I was just trying to recall what I know about them.”
“Dad is Mason, Senior. Mom, Leslie, calls him M, like the letter. My oldest sister is Nicole, who’s nine years older than me.
She’s married to Travis Cromwell, and they own a restaurant by the same name in Calistoga.
Joslyn is five years older than me, and she’s married to Keith Talbot, who’s a veterinarian. They live in Guerneville.”
“That was thorough. No grandkids yet?”
“None that I’ve heard about yet. And if my mom thought for a split second either of them was pregnant, it would probably be on the national news.”
“Your parents have a winery, right?”
“A small boutique one, yes.”
“And it’s called Finch Ridge? Is that right?”
He touched his finger to the tip of my nose, then kissed it. “So what do you say?”
“Should you check and see if they’re free first?”
Atticus’ cheeks flushed.
“Oh my God, you did already.”
He nodded. “They’re free.”
“So, that leaves tonight. Should we—”
“Order takeout and eat in bed?”
I grimaced. “Eat in bed?”
“Or on the floor in front of the fireplace—the one near the bed.”
I smiled and shook my head.
“Tell me what you’re thinking right now.”
“How much I love you, Mason Finch.”
The biggest smile I’d ever seen spread out across his face. “Yep, that’s what I thought.”