Chapter 31
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
JUST OUTSIDE FRANKFURT, GERMANY
Ella peered at Jesse sitting in the blue velvet swivel chair across from her inside their posh cabin on the train. Arms locked across his chest, hands tucked under his biceps, his chin suddenly dropped to his chest as he nodded off.
For the last hour, the poor guy had done his best to resist sleep. He’d been fighting to keep his eyes open ever since they’d boarded the train that morning in Paris. But the smooth ride and ambient sounds of the train were winning the battle.
When night had fallen, she’d begged him to lie down with her and try to get at least a few hours of sleep. He’d reluctantly agreed and wrapped her in his arms. She’d passed out immediately, but she doubted he’d slept at all.
After what happened back home with her family, all Ella had wanted to do yesterday was sleep. Her heart and head had hurt far too much whenever she replayed the nightmare of events that could have gone so much differently had A.J. not shown up in the nick of time. McKenna’s and Beckett’s words had torn Ella apart, and she knew they’d done a number on Jesse too. How could they not?
The look on Jesse’s face when Beckett said he’d never forgive him had just about broken her heart. Jesse hadn’t spoken to her all that much since that call, and she’d tried to tell herself that it was because he was as shaken about what happened as she was. And then he’d been laser-focused on working with the team to come up with an action plan for Austria.
Of course, Ella also knew he felt guilty that she hadn’t joined Savanna on the plane as McKenna had requested.
She and Jesse had finally taken a step forward in their relationship, and she prayed to God that Yuri’s surprise assault hadn’t taken them back three.
“Are you reading up on Hallstatt?” Ella stole a look at Sydney sitting off to her left on the couch. Her iPad was in hand as she scrolled through information on the screen with the touch of her finger.
Gray and Jack had gone to the dining car an hour ago in preparation for the stop the train would soon be making in Frankfurt. None of them were armed for obvious reasons, but if Yuri discovered they were heading to Austria by rail, Frankfurt would be the only chance to have someone board if the bastard wanted to make any pre-Austria moves. With his failed attempt to grab McKenna in Alabama, Zoey believed he’d initiate a backup plan.
“Yeah, I’ve actually been there before, but it was a long time ago,” Sydney said, her tone soft as though lost in thought.
“Business or pleasure?”
“Honeymoon.”
“Mm.” Ella knew Sydney was divorced, so what could she say to that? And Sydney wasn’t one to engage in girl-talk, so Ella decided it best not to probe. She closed her eyes, thinking back to yesterday morning at the airport when she’d quickly hugged Savanna and Griffin goodbye before they’d parted ways for Carter’s private hangar. And right after, the rest of the team had boosted two cars from the long-term parking lot.
Once Carter’s jet had taken off, Griffin had called with the news that DGSE had been waiting at the hangar, as expected, but Thatcher hadn’t been with them.
“Thatcher let us go because, like it or not, he knows he has no choice,” Jesse had said after Griffin’s call.
“She’ll forgive you for not going home.” Sydney’s remark jolted Ella into opening her eyes. “She’s what, thirteen? She doesn’t understand what’s going on.” Sydney’s unexpected opinion had Ella looking her way. “McKenna reminds me of my son a little.” A smile ghosted her lips. “And Beckett will forgive Jesse.”
Sydney had briefly met the Hawkins family at the wedding but hadn’t had a chance to see firsthand just how grumpy and stubborn her brother was. Beckett didn’t forgive easily, especially when it came to his daughter. After everything he’d been through while raising her as a single dad . . . no, he’d go for the jugular if anyone placed her in harm’s way. And the only target in his sights right now was Jesse. Fair or not, he’d hate Jesse for what happened.
“My brother has been through a lot. Forgiveness isn’t something he’s known for,” Ella whispered, trying not to wake up the man she loved. The last thing she wanted him to hear was the doubt in her tone or her fear that she’d never be able to mend his relationship with her family.
Sydney rested her iPad on her lap, her gaze shifting to the window as the scenery breezed by. “I understand that. Anyone who so much as touched a hair on my son’s head would never see the light of day again.” Her words fell from her mouth swiftly and without remorse. And Ella truly believed the woman would cut down anyone who messed with her family. Zero hesitation.
Ella thought about Sydney’s expertise with the bow back at Rochella’s. A total badass. A hero.
Tipping her chin in Jesse’s direction, she said, “But he deserves to be forgiven. He’s not the enemy, and your brother will see that.”
God, she hoped so. She was barely able to stomach the breakfast Jesse had forced her to eat on the train that morning, and every time she imagined her family refusing to welcome Jesse into their arms once back home, she wanted to puke.
“Zoran won’t forgive his brother though,” Sydney stated, her tone icy. “If Dragan really did sleep with his wife, and his brother is the biological father, that’s not going to end well.”
“You think Dragan might already be dead? And what about the kid? I don’t want him to be collateral damage in this.”
“We have Carter’s guys watching Dragan’s home, but Zoran’s smart enough not to use the front door. He has to know everyone from the Bulgarians to the CIA are watching that house. But I have no doubts he’s found a way to confront his brother. There may even be an underground network of tunnels to and from the home.” She lifted her iPad and switched the view to one of the cameras Carter’s men had positioned on the house. “He won’t hurt his son. And we won’t let anything happen to the boy when we take down Zoran.”
Ella nodded, trying to be optimistic, given Sydney’s confident tone.
Falcon was lucky to have Carter’s “other men” at their disposal for an assist, which just added to the mystery that was Carter. Ella had built him up in her head as some billionaire vigilante. Of course, she knew nothing about his finances, but based on everything she’d witnessed so far, the man had money. Lots of it.
“No sign of Yuri or his men yet, which we expected,” Sydney continued, keeping her voice low, presumably not to wake Jesse. “But he’s somewhere in Hallstatt. I’m sure of that.”
“And you think Zoey’s right about Yuri having a backup plan?” What is with the boxing match going on in my stomach? Ella pressed a trembling hand to her abdomen. “Is he going to plant a bomb in that small town?”
Sydney let go of a deep exhalation and looked up from her screen to peer at Ella. Her expression hardened, and she looked more like the woman with a bow in hand back at Rochella’s, a warrior. “I think so, but we’re ready for whatever he throws our way.”
Ella’s eyes followed Sydney’s hand to the iPad, where she switched screens back to whatever she’d been previously studying about Hallstatt.
“We’re fairly confident Yuri wants us inside that mountain.” Sydney tapped a short nude-colored nail at the screen. “The salt mine there is the perfect location for a . . . well, battle. It cancels the risk of a drone aiding us if we’re inside the mountain. Plus, we won’t have access to thermal imaging to know how many tangos we’re up against. No working comms.” She swiped through a few images, schematics for the salt mine within the mountain.
The website headline revealed the salt mine was 7,000 years old and home to the oldest wooden staircase in Europe that’d been used to carry “white gold” (aka salt) from the mountain. It was now a tourist destination, and the ninety-minute tour also included going down a 64-meter miner’s slide.
“Tunnels,” Sydney noted. “There’s a maze of opportunities for us to get lost in. The skywalk and Rudolf’s Tower nearby for overwatch positions. Yeah, this is where he wants us. Plus, it’s closed for renovations right now.”
Well, the “lost” part and lack of thermal imaging didn’t exactly do wonders for Ella’s nerves. “But do we want to go there?”
Ella had listened to the team discuss the salt mine last night, but all the military jargon and acronyms they’d thrown around had gone over her head.
And apparently, Gray would be team leader for this op, unlike in Albania. There’d been some heated exchange about the role of “Alpha One,” and the team had decided Carter’s history with Yuri might jeopardize his objectivity on the mission. Zoey had agreed, which drew a few snarls and broody looks from Carter toward her.
“It’s most likely the best way to keep the people in the town safe. Far enough away to prevent any casualties,” Sydney said with a nod. “As long as we deactivate whatever bomb we’re certain he’ll have planted somewhere in the village, at least.”
“And you said Oliver’s got that covered? He has explosives training?” Ella asked, shifting her focus to Jesse when his head rolled forward a bit more, and she hoped he didn’t startle awake.
“He does, but Carter’s more experienced, though, for obvious reasons, we need him with us. I’m sure he’s schooling Oliver during their car ride now.” Sydney was quiet for a moment before adding, “Gray’s a solid team leader. A great operator. You have nothing to worry about. I trust him with my life, which is saying a lot, I promise.”
Ella set her hands to her jeaned thighs and leaned her head back against the couch, which converted to a bed, but they wouldn’t be staying the entire length of the “two-day” excursion. “Gray. Is there a story there?” Why did I just ask that? “Sorry. Not my business. I’m just anxious and?—”
“We dated at West Point,” she answered, her tone softer than Ella had expected.
“It’s not hard working together now?”
“It’s been a long time. We lost touch over the years.”
Ella dropped her focus to the iPad now resting on Sydney’s thigh. “Do you think maybe . . .” Mind your own business, she quickly chided herself. But when she looked up, an apology on the tip of her tongue, Sydney spoke first.
“We’re not right for each other. And we never were, which is why I turned down his marriage proposal right before his first deployment.” Sydney blinked, seemingly surprised at herself for sharing such personal information so easily.
Ella kept her mouth shut, unsure how to react to that news.
“Gray didn’t even know my real last name back then. He didn’t know I’m an Archer . Young love. Nothing more.”
Right. Archer. The billionaires. Ella almost laughed at how fitting it was for Sydney to be so proficient with a bow given her family surname. “I heard that your call signs back in the Army were Romeo and Juliet. Kind of . . . poetic, no?” Maybe that wasn’t the right word. But still.
A small smile crossed Sydney’s lips. More unexpected emotions from a woman Ella had pegged as icy. Maybe she was just guarded, and she had every reason to be. “The story of Romeo and Juliet doesn’t end well. In any version or remake.”
True. And yet, Ella knew Savanna’s romantic heart would try to rewrite Sydney and Gray’s ending. But hell, maybe Sydney was right. Some stories were meant to end tragically.
Not hers and Jesse’s story. No damn way.
Before either could say more, Jesse jerked his head back as the train began to slow. They must’ve been approaching the station in Frankfurt for the fifteen-minute stop there.
Jesse immediately locked his focus on Ella, his eyes bloodshot from fatigue. How was he supposed to operate tonight without rest? And that’s what the team was planning. They had no intention of dragging out their time in Austria.
“We’re here,” Sydney announced and abruptly stood. She set the iPad on the couch as she reached for a thin gold handle by the window. She ducked her head and kept her attention on the window as the train slowed to a stop.
Jesse stood from the swivel chair, crossed the cabin in two strides, slid onto the couch next to Ella, and reached for her hand. His touch and the way he peered into her eyes stopped the flurry of nerves that’d been relentlessly abusing her insides. “I got you,” he mouthed, and she hoped that meant forever-forever. No steps backward, no matter what.
“I’ll go check on the boys. I assume you’re staying with Ella?” Sydney turned toward them, and Jesse nodded.
Yeah, like hell would he leave her alone in the cabin. He wasn’t armed, but his body was a weapon in itself. She’d seen what he was capable of back at Rochella’s.
Once they were alone, Jesse wrapped his arm around her back and tucked her against his frame before setting a kiss to the top of her head. “You okay?”
“I’m trying to be,” she returned, willing her lips to stop quivering, worried he’d notice. She didn’t want his attention divided. He needed to focus on the mission and not on her emotional state or well-being.
“You’re not going inside that mountain. Bomb in the village or not.” The gritty tone of Jesse’s voice had the hairs on her arms standing beneath the long sleeves of her blouse.
She twisted in his embrace to face him, but he didn’t pull his arm away at her movement. “You don’t have a choice. I can’t let anyone die because of me.” Her nerves came at her full swing again. Harder punches than before.
Jesse tipped his head, his lips in a tight line. A “fuck no” written in his eyes and growly expression. “You want me distracted? If you’re there, then I’ll be distracted, and I might die.”
“Don’t you play dirty with me,” she quickly snapped through clenched teeth. “I’m part of this, whether you like it or not.” Squeezing her eyes closed, she shut out the dark look on his face—irritation that she was refusing to comply with his demand that she stay out of danger as well as determination to compel her to listen to reason. To be honest, she was terrified. Absolutely freaking terrified to go inside some 7,000-year-old salt mine with the world’s most dangerous assassin waiting for her. “The only thing keeping me sane is that I’ll be with you. And I know you’ll never let anything happen to me. Or to you. Because you know I wouldn’t survive losing you either.”
The conversation they’d had in the courtyard yesterday felt like years ago, and his confession resurfaced in her mind. It broke her into a million pieces to know he’d fought to prevail over his internal battles because of his love for her. She was certain they would get through this night. Their love could piece everything back together, couldn’t it?
“What’s that sappy saying? Love makes the world go round? Well, we’ll prove that tonight. Somehow. Some way. You all will conquer this asshole, and he’ll get what he deserves. Zoran too,” she said, doing her best to channel some of Sydney’s badassery.
When Ella opened her eyes, she found Jesse staring at her with parted lips. “Ella, I—” He let go of his words when the door to their cabin flew open, and Gray stood there breathing hard.
Jesse sprang to his feet. “What happened?”
“One of Yuri’s men boarded the train to give us this phone.” Gray held out a phone as Jack and Sydney filled the cabin behind him. “Yuri will call us when he’s ready to meet.”
“I assume the guy got away?” Sydney asked.
Jack nodded. “He wasn’t armed, but he knew we couldn’t make a scene.”
Ella peered at the image Gray had pulled up on the screen. “That’s what I think it is, right?”
“Too zoomed in to help us ID a location, but that’s C4,” Jesse answered. “The C4 is the main charge, and it’s attached to a fuse.” He pointed to the screen, keeping his tone steady, clearly doing his best not to frighten her. But that was impossible at this point. “And the fuse is attached to a trigger. Once the fuse ignites the charge, that’s what causes the?—”
“Explosion,” Ella whispered, drawing her hands to her abdomen. “So, Zoey was right. If we don’t do what he says, he’ll set this thing off.” She turned to Jesse and set her hands to his chest. “You don’t have a choice, you hear me?” She tipped her chin to cast her gaze on his face. “You’re not sacrificing others for just one person.”
“ Just one person?” He clutched her arm and guided her away from the others and toward the window before gripping her biceps. “You’re not just anything, damn it. You’re my whole fucking world. I’m not losing you.” Jesse’s raspy words were coated in something more. Absolute terror.
If she went into that salt mine, he really was worried she might not make it out alive . . . wasn’t he?