Chapter 29
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
“You sure you don’t need more time?” Carter asked, appearing apprehensive as he scratched the front of his throat and looked everywhere but at Jesse. It was clear this situation had him crawling out of his skin even as he attempted to play the role of the understanding boss.
Yeah, makes two of us. The last thing Jesse wanted was for his new teammates to worry that he’d snap one day because of childhood trauma.
And honestly, now that Ella was in his life and there were no more secrets between them, he didn’t feel anything other than lucky. Lucky that she was strong, forgiving, and well, patient. She’d had decades’ worth of patience.
“I’m solid. I promise.” Jesse looked over at Gray, the only other teammate in the room, which Jesse assumed was on purpose. Just the team leaders confronting their newest recruit to ensure he was stable. “Charlie mike,” he added. Military lingo for, continue mission.
“Roger that,” Carter responded, his shoulders relaxing slightly, probably relieved he’d just escaped a “feelings” conversation. But the man’s behavior around Zoey had Jesse thinking that Carter wasn’t as emotionally stunted as Jesse once believed.
“So,” Gray declared loudly, about as subtle as a shotgun blast at an indoor firing range. The word punctured the air and had Jesse peeling his focus away from the direction of the kitchen, where Ella and Savanna had gone a few moments ago. He’d given Ella the go-ahead to share the details of their conversation in the courtyard, or however much of it she felt compelled to share. He was done with keeping secrets and putting up walls. He just wanted a fresh start. A new beginning. And in order to make that happen, he had to eradicate the threats to Ella.
“Are we going forward with Zoey and Sydney’s plan?” Jesse asked as he set his back to the wall by the fireplace. The conversation they’d had outside had put both him and Ella through the emotional wringer, and he was still a bit shaky. “Are we drawing Zoran and Yuri to Austria?” he continued, looking back and forth between Gray and Carter.
Gray folded his arms over his chest, his biceps stretching the sleeves of his black tee, and Carter shoved his hands into the pockets of his dark slacks.
“I think it’s our only play to end this within the next forty-eight or so hours,” Gray said, and Jesse was somewhat surprised that Carter had let him take the lead. The two team leaders seemed to be struggling with their roles at every turn, still vying for pack alpha, as it were.
“I agree.” Carter tilted his head and snapped his attention to Jesse, his narrowed eyes appearing to be still assessing for damage. The kind you couldn’t see. The kind that most veterans who suffered dealt with. Invisible wounds.
Jesse surrendered a palm, the gesture meant to reassure Carter once again that, Yeah, I’m good. “Thatcher knows he won’t be able to stop us if we’re hell-bent on going to Austria, but he’ll do his best to, at least, make a show of it.”
“Right. He’ll have DGSE waiting for our arrival at the airport. Not that we’ll be flying from Paris to Austria, but we can let them think that,” Carter remarked in an even tone. “Griffin and Savanna are taking the jet home. Once my pilot drops them off in Alabama, he’ll turn around and fly to Salzburg when we’re ready for an exfil post-op.”
“Does Griffin know he’s not coming with us?” Jesse asked, pushing away from the wall.
“Not yet, but he won’t want Savanna in harm’s way, and I can’t say I blame him,” Gray answered, then unlocked his arms and held a hand up. It didn’t take a mind reader to know Jesse was about to suggest Ella head home as well.
Jesse nodded. Unfortunately, sending Ella home wasn’t an option. “So, how are we getting to Austria without Thatcher interfering? You know he’ll do his best to keep us from going. If not all of us, at least Carter.” Without Carter in Austria, the plan would fail. Yuri wouldn’t show his face unless Carter were present.
Gray and Carter exchanged another look, and Gray took one step forward. They’d clearly come to an agreement as to who would be taking point on the logistical details.
“We split up and drive the two SUVs to the airport in Paris. As soon as we’re within range of restricted airspace and the Agency's drone is no longer overhead . . . we make our move,” Gray explained. “We’ll all hop out, except Savanna and Griffin, who will head to the hangar where we assume the DGSE officers will be waiting. And while the officers are busy discovering the rest of us aren’t with them, we’ll have already boosted two cars from the terminal parking lot and have left the airport.”
“Griffin and Savanna won’t be stopped from flying home. Thatcher and the DGSE don’t care about them. Just me.” Carter peered at Jesse. “And maybe you, if what Thatcher said on the phone is to be believed, and he really doesn’t want to see you die.”
Jesse almost laughed at the idea Thatcher actually cared. No, that ship of belief had sailed the moment he placed Ella in danger. Hell, more like when he killed Zoran’s wife for the sake of a mission. And Jesse would have to confront him face-to-face once this op was complete and the team was Stateside.
“Not sure Thatcher will fall for this plan or expect it.” But Thatcher has to know there’s no other way. Could still all be a mind game, and he really wants us there. “He might stick around as the CIA or DGSE jump through the hoops of attempting to stop us, but ultimately, like you said, Thatcher knows we’ll find a way to Austria if we set our minds to it.”
“We’ll be divided into two teams when we leave the airport in the new vehicles. One team heads to Austria by train, the other by car,” Gray told him. “Sydney, myself, and Jack are with you and Ella. We’ll be taking the train. Carter, Zoey, and Oliver are heading there after swapping the boosted car for a legitimate ride.”
Carter took one step closer. “We reserved a private compartment on a luxury train that departs early tomorrow from Paris. Unlike the high-speed passenger trains, there’s only one quick stop in Frankfurt. And you’ll have privacy in case there’s the need to discuss operational details.” Carter paused for a breath. “It’ll take you longer to get there since it’s not quite as fast, and it goes to Vienna instead of direct to Hallstatt, but I think this is the best course of action. From Vienna, you can catch another train ride to Hallstatt.”
“About a three-hour ride between Vienna and Hallstatt,” Gray noted.
“I understand why we’re separating,” Jesse began, “because?—”
“Because if something happens to us, Carter can save our asses.” The casual, almost joking comment had come from Jack, standing at the entrance to the living room, coffee in hand.
“And the reason half of us are taking a train instead of driving is to put our faces out there for Yuri to confirm we’re en route?” Bait. Ella as bait.
“I know it can’t be easy for you to take Ella to Austria, but Zoran wants to watch you two die himself, so you’ll be safe on that train,” Gray slowly explained, and frustrating as it was, Jesse knew their options were limited. “Yuri will assume Carter’s coming to Austria as well, but he’ll know that we wouldn’t risk putting all three of you together on a train.”
Jesse pinched the bridge of his nose and dipped his chin to his chest. They’d be unarmed on the train, which had Jesse nervous. He could protect Ella in other ways, sure, but not having a gun wasn’t ideal.
“And, uh, what about the rest of your guys scattered about Europe? You already have guys in Hallstatt watching over Dragan’s place, right?” Jesse let go of a deep breath and lowered his hand to look at Carter.
“We have guys in Austria now, and I’m bringing more in as we speak.” Carter went over to the Keurig machine, Jack’s cup of java likely a reminder he needed some. Better than shooting scotch like he’d done before.
Jack stepped farther into the room, sipping his coffee. “If we’re assuming Zoran and Yuri are expecting we’ll show up in Austria, that means they’ll have almost as much time as us to cook something up.”
“For all we know, their plans began last night once they confirmed we were in France, and they’re just going to alter them for Austria,” Gray replied. “It’s also possible Yuri has men en route to Bama as we speak too.” A spark of anger ignited at his comment, at the idea Ella’s family might be in danger and that Ella would be heading straight toward a psychopathic hitman and another man who wanted her dead.
But as much as it pained Jesse, in order to keep Ella safe . . . he had to do the last thing in the world he wanted—place her in danger.