Chapter 25
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
“Good morning.” Savanna offered a cup of coffee to Oliver when he joined her in the lobby. The next mug of java went to Jack. The two guys crowded around the table of food she’d set up, acting as though they hadn’t eaten in days despite the two servings of pasta they’d each inhaled last night. Both men scooped heaps of her scrambled eggs onto their plates alongside her homemade biscuits. “The coffee isn’t exactly specialty, but it should work.”
Jack looked up mid-bite. “Coffee is coffee to me,” he said around a mouthful of buttery biscuit while catching the falling crumbs with his plate. Savanna chuckled. He wasn’t even done loading up his plate before he started to devour the food.
Boys. Well, men. But really, often the same thing.
She slapped a hand to her heart. “I feel deeply offended by that comment.” And her thoughts immediately slid back to her money problems and the fear she’d lose her cafe?. Not important right now , she told herself.
“Did either of you sleep last night?” She spied the clock on the wall. It was barely six in the morning, and only three hours ago, she’d hung up with Griffin, ordering him to get some sleep.
As soon as he’d checked into his hotel room last night, he’d called her on the burner he’d given her prior to leaving. Was it three or four hours they’d been on the phone?
She was pretty sure she’d done most of the talking. Well, rambling. But he seemed to enjoy just listening. Every so often, she managed to pull out a tidbit from him about his life. But she hadn’t wanted to push the subject of his mom, and whether or not that was why he’d avoided serious relationships over the years. But it had to be part of the cause, right?
Somehow, their conversation felt almost as intimate as when they’d made love yesterday. And then, of course, Griffin started talking dirty to her at some point, and they had hot, hot phone sex.
Chills chased over her arms as she remembered the seductive way he’d spoken to her. The erotic things he’d said. Her cheeks heated at the memory of the naughty lines that’d fallen from her lips too. So unlike her. But this man made her feel bad in a good kind of way.
She closed her eyes for a moment, waiting for the familiar pang of melancholy to appear in the pit of her stomach. Over the years, whenever she considered the possibility of falling in love again, she sank into a chasm of despair.
But so far, she’d had neither of those reactions. Savanna opened her eyes and looked up, almost expecting to see Marcus. Is this okay? His presence was so real that she felt the need to seek his permission. Maybe if she opened one of the French doors, a yes would be carried in by the wind.
I’m crazy. Savanna reached for her phone in the pocket of her cardigan, which she’d paired with a white tank top since it was a breezy morning, the sun not quite as awake as everyone else in the room.
“Where’s Carter?” she asked as Oliver and Jack sat on the couch.
“He’ll be here in a few,” Oliver said. “On the phone with Emilia.”
Right. The billionaire. Out of curiosity, Savanna had Googled Emilia while waiting for Griffin’s call last night. Not only was the woman stunning, but she was married to another billionaire. A handsome Irishman who, it appeared, came from a family of hotties too.
She’d also called Ella, Jesse, and even Rory last night. Jesse was still simmering over the fact he wasn’t there to help out. Ella and Rory, on the other hand, were more focused on extracting details about Griffin from her. Savanna had been reluctant to kiss and tell, worried she’d jinx things, but she had to tell someone. Also, maybe get their blessing and approval that it really was “okay” to feel something for another man.
Savanna’s stomach did a little flip when a text came through from Griffin, and she couldn’t help but smile as she read his simple but perfect message.
Griff: Good morning, beautiful.
God, she never thought she’d be on the receiving end of those kinds of messages again in her life.
A photo popped up next. A seaside view with cliffs in the distance, similar looking to where she was now.
Savanna: Good morning, handsome. It looks amazing there.
Griff : Be better if you were in my arms enjoying the view.
His sweet and unbridled honesty felt almost too good to be true after his warnings the last few days, but she didn’t want to self-sabotage, so she shut off her thoughts the best she could.
Savanna: I wish. :) How is Gray? Still grumpy?
Griff: We’re in the car on the way to the site now. He hasn’t brought “us” up. I think we have Sydney Archer to thank for that. He’s been distracted since her name was tossed into the mix.
Savanna: They have history?
Griff: I’m thinking so. Not about to ask.
Savanna looked over to see Jack setting his laptop aside and going for second helpings. She may not be an operator like the guys, but at least she was able to provide them with delicious food.
Savanna: You know, Rory remembers you from last year.
Griffin: Talking about me, huh? ;)
Savanna: Maybe a little.
Griffin : Well, I am unforgettable. So.
Savanna : I’d say so. And why don’t they have a lip-biting emoji?
Griffin sent her a cute emoji with its tongue out and then just the tongue emoji.
Griffin: We’re here. We’ll call right after.
Savanna: Be careful.
She contemplated an emoji. The right or wrong one could be total make or break, right?
Just go with a kiss , she told herself, then quickly sent it, and he hearted it.
It’d been so long since she’d dated, she didn’t know how to untangle all of the emotions flooding her system right now. She was on overdrive. She was also pretty sure if she ever tried to swim in the “single pool,” she’d never stay afloat.
“You okay?” Jack was on approach, another biscuit in hand.
Savanna tucked her phone back into her pocket. “I’m okay. Nervous.”
“Understandable.” He was quiet for a few seconds, focusing his attention on the floor, then looked up and somberly said, “I’ve been wanting to apologize about, well, what happened at the hangar in Alabama.”
“Oh. Um. You don’t owe me an apology.” It was Griffin who deserved Jack’s apology, and he’d already done that.
“Well, I was out of line. I shouldn’t have snapped. It was unprofessional.”
“You were also looking out for me,” she said, recalling the scene that had unfolded in the restroom. “And I appreciate that.” But in her mind, it also served to remind her of Griffin’s self-imposed policy of no friendships with married women. And despite everything that’d happened between them the past few days, did he still see her as married? Would friendship or “more” ultimately be out of the question once they were back in the real world and no longer in the throes of danger?
“Yeah, but I was also just pissed and acted like a jackass.” Jack grinned.
“Well,” she said, dragging out the word a touch, trying to regroup and focus, “we all make mistakes, and you were misinformed.” Savanna stepped forward and patted him on the shoulder. “It’s okay, really,” she added, sensing his guilt still lingering between them.
A moment later, she spotted Carter pouring himself a coffee but bypassing the spread of food.
Jack followed her gaze. “Yeah, don’t expect him to eat. The guy is a hard-ass, but he cares, and I know he’s nervous about not being in Italy with the others.”
“Yikes. What does it mean if Carter is nervous?” Her heart sped up. “Should I be freaking terrified?”
Jack was the one reaching for her shoulder this time. “Shit, that’s not what I meant. We just hate being on the sidelines. Makes us edgy. Tense.”
She peered up into Jack’s eyes to see if he was telling the truth or trying to downplay it just to calm her down. It was possible it was a little bit of both. “I’m going to go talk to him,” she said, turning away from Jack but still within range to hear him curse under his breath, most likely because he’d worried her.
“Good morning,” she greeted Carter as he thumbed through something on his phone, holding the cup near his mouth without actually taking a sip, his eyes laser-focused on the screen.
He finally brought his dark gaze her way and drank his coffee while lowering his phone. “Thank you for the breakfast.” He smiled, and yet, it felt forced.
“You’re welcome. Not going to eat?”
“I don’t usually eat breakfast.”
She contemplated lecturing him, but her gut told her she’d be wasting her breath with the man. “Hear from Emilia yet?” she asked instead.
“She promised me news this morning, so I should hear from her soon.” He pocketed his phone in his dress slacks. She could tell he was wearing the same clothes from yesterday based on the untucked and wrinkled white dress shirt. He probably hadn’t gone to bed. And why did he dress like a businessman when every other guy had on jeans, tees, and often backward ball caps?
Carter had been in the CIA at one time and now had to remain under the radar, and she’d love to know the details surrounding the reason. Carter was also obviously wealthy if he could afford a safe house as luxurious as this and all the toys that went with it. But Jeff Bezos was a gazillionaire, and you didn’t see him walking around dressed in James Bond attire. Now that she thought about it, Carter would make a damn hot James Bond, minus the British accent.
“Well, that’s good. Hopefully she can help us narrow down who’s hunting Nick.” But what terrified her the most were the others—the “everyone” Joe warned them were coming for Savanna. Were they people who desperately wanted what Nick stole? “And what if it’s a terrorist?” she spoke her next thought aloud.
“Nick’s boss?” He tipped his head to the side as if surprised she’d suggest Nick, even though a criminal, would align with a terrorist? Especially after his brother was killed by terrorists.
“No.” She shook her head, needing to quickly squash that possibility. “I meant, what if Nick’s boss was supposed to steal the Elysium Project for a terrorist? You said you believe the boss is a middleman, so what if the buyer is that kind of bad guy?”
The kind who killed my husband. And she did her best not to think back to the horror of watching her husband die.
“Right now, we’re swimming in a sea of assumptions. I would say it’s possible Nick’s boss wanted the plans himself, but since both the Greeks and Joe alluded to many someones coming after you, it’s hard to believe Nick’s boss wanted the Elysium Project for himself.” Carter pointed his gaze to the floor, and there was something he wasn’t telling her, wasn’t there? Why was he leaving her in the dark?
Right. I’m me. Not them. “Tell me. Am I right to be worried that the people who are trying to hijack these designs want them for more sinister reasons than personal profit? They might want them to?—”
“Hurt the U.S.,” he cut her off, confirming her fears. He let out a sigh as if about to share something he wasn’t in the mood to disclose.
His brows became slashes as his lips drew in a tight line, staring at her as if he were trying to resist a Greek siren from luring the truth from him.
When his expression relaxed somewhat as if giving in, he said, “The CIA has off-the-grid locations around the world used for interrogating terrorists. For years, there have been concerns that the sites have vulnerabilities.” His one hand disappeared into his pocket. “Back when I was with the Agency, they were floating the idea of creating some type of aerial defense system to intercept and destroy immediate threats. Rockets. Artillery shells.”
“Like Israel’s Iron Dome?” she asked, trying to draw up a visual in her head of what he was saying.
And there went that pang in the pit of her stomach, but this time it had nothing to do with her love life.
“Yes, like that. I don’t know if the government implemented the program for those locations, though, but if they did . . .”
“You think the Elysium Project could be it?” She clutched her stomach, almost spilling her coffee.
“Another assumption. And I haven’t brought this up to anyone other than Gray because I’d prefer to be wrong on this.”
One more reason Carter didn’t sleep last night and why Gray was most likely grumpy.
“How do we find out?”
“I spoke with Gray in the middle of the night and asked him to approach his father about it. See if he could confirm whether the DOD does have such a system operational for the CIA black sites. He should hopefully hear back from his dad, despite the time difference, once he leaves the Archer Group location this morning.”
“You’re telling me this, but you haven’t told the others?”
“I don’t want to throw their focus. It already feels like we’re chasing our tails, bouncing from lead to lead. Why add more until I know for sure?”
Well, from where she stood, she didn’t see it that way. She was impressed at how quickly they were figuring everything out. Lucky A.J. had brought them in.
“They’re only blueprints for the Elysium Project, though, right? It’s not like whoever has the sketches could use them to locate those sites, right?”
“Not necessarily. A few high-level people at Archer would need to know locational details, especially the head engineer, in order to design the plans. So yeah, it’s possible that whoever wanted those sketches wanted them for the purpose of attacking those secure sites.”
“But if only a few people even know about these projects?—”
“My guess is someone at Archer most likely contacted Nick’s boss, not the other way around.”
“And wanted Nick’s boss to sell the plans on his, or her, behalf?”
He nodded. “Right.”
“Shouldn’t we be sounding some major alarms right now if there is even a chance this defense system you told me about is in jeopardy?”
A quick smile brushed across his lips. “Of course. If Gray’s father believes there is a threat to those sites, he’ll activate whatever contingency plans or security measures the DOD has in place. Trust me when I say that there are always many layers of complexity within any government operation.”
“If they follow that protocol to safeguard those sites, will Archer know?”
“No, that’d be several levels above Archer’s security clearance.”
“So, if those sites can be kept safe even if those plans get into the wrong hands, then why do you look like your dog died?”
“I do have a dog, by the way, and I’m kind of missing him right now. He always travels with me, but I decided to have him sit this op out.” So, he did have another side to him. Good to know. “But,” he said as if realizing he’d lost his focus. Probably lack of sleep. “That means even if Joe is unintentionally working with this insider, he’s aware of the security breach, and he’s choosing loyalty to his company over the country, knowing full well the risk if the DOD isn’t made aware of a breach.”
“Oh.” Had Griffin thought about that, too, but was blinded by his friendship with the man? He only seemed to go rage mode toward Joe back at the cabin when she was at risk.
“So, if someone does want those plans to carry out an attack on our black sites, we’re most likely dealing with a terrorist as the main threat to your safety.”
She hadn’t wanted to be right on that one. A terrorist cell is coming after me because of Nick?
Carter rested his mug against his abdomen. “Like I said, this is why I feel like we’re spinning in circles. Too many possibilities and too many hypotheses to test. We just don’t have the time to chase after so many guesses.”
“This is all over my head,” she confessed. “But I appreciate your honesty. I won’t say anything to anyone.”
His brows lifted as if he didn’t believe she wouldn’t tell Griffin. “It’s not a secret. I’d rather have more facts, though. And it’d be nice to simply rule out one possibility if Gray’s dad says there is no Iron Dome-like defense for those black sites.”
She slowly brought her mug to her mouth, her hand shaking a little because, for some reason, everything inside of her screamed Carter’s concerns were spot on. “Is there something else you want to tell me?” she asked when sensing Carter was still holding back.
He quietly studied her but then shook his head.
“All right. I think I’ll go clean the kitchen,” she sputtered, her nerves becoming like a stranglehold around her throat. “I left it a mess.”
Savanna started to turn, but Carter caught her by the arm. “Yes, there is something.” He let go of a deep breath. “I just wanted to tell you that, um.” He looked around the lobby for a second. “At dinner last night, um.”
Okay, what had a man like Carter tongue-tied enough to drop two “ums”? What could be harder for him to talk about than the possibility of terrorists coming after her to get to Nick?
“What?” she whispered.
“I’ve known Griffin for twelve years,” Carter began while removing his hand from her arm.
Oh . He was going to bring that up? He knew she and Griffin had slept together. This conversation was clearly harder for him to talk about than what he’d just told her regarding his Elysium Project worries, huh?
“He’s not the type to fall in love. At all.”
I know. God, did she know. Griffin had pretty much made that clear.
“He’s also never looked at anyone the way I saw him looking at you last night during dinner.” He bowed his head and squeezed his temples between a thumb and forefinger.
Wow, he really was uncomfortable with this conversation.
“Are you about to warn me not to hurt him?” Savanna asked when he let go of his temples to meet her eyes.
“If you’re anything like me, you have no plans to remarry after having your spouse murdered,” he finally admitted, catching her by surprise, “so yeah, I don’t want to see my best friend finally meet someone who makes him want to change his ways only to get hurt.”
She blinked in surprise, but she also kind of appreciated the raw honesty. “You’re not worried he’ll break my heart?” Because I am. That’s exactly what he told me in Alabama.
His eyes thinned as he replied, “No guarantees there, either,” and then he turned and walked away.
Well, hell. She was glad he’d left because she honestly didn’t know what to say. Her thoughts were now all over the place.
She discarded her mug as soon as she could get her feet to move, then went to clean up the kitchen. With the music on, she tried to lose herself in the mundane task of cleaning and not to think about Griffin. Or terrorists. Or the Elysium Project. Or the men who killed her husband. Nothing. She just wanted blank space in her head.
It was maybe thirty minutes later when Oliver joined her in the kitchen with an abrupt announcement. “Gray and Griffin just left the site. They’re about to call.”
She dropped the dish into the sink and peeled off the yellow gloves in a hurry, practically jogging to keep up with Oliver to get back to the lobby.
Carter had his phone out when she joined them. One ring later, he answered on speakerphone. “What do we know?” he prompted.
“From the looks of it,” Griffin began, and she was a little surprised he was speaking instead of Gray but also relieved to hear his voice, “we have an inside woman , not man.”