Chapter Fifty-Seven
Within minutes of the explosion, the BBC brothers jumped into action, pooling resources to get Fernando and Sophie home as swiftly as possible while Anthoney, Gabriel, and Enrique worked to assess the situation and minimize the damage.
Marcus and Jace, the two security agents who had been shadowing him and Sophie while they toured Europe, swiftly transported them from Lucerne to Milan’s Malpensa Airport. There, the Braveheart Securities plane Julio’s team had been using for their previous top-secret mission was being prepped for the team’s return home.
Upon arrival at the airport, they were met by a stern-faced operative who quickly and efficiently ushered them onto the modified military cargo plane equipped for rapid deployment. The interior of the plane was stark and utilitarian, loaded with equipment and two armored vehicles, ensuring the team could handle any situation. Seats were bolted to the metal floor, and cargo nets secured equipment along the sides. Despite the military-grade appearance, the seats were surprisingly comfortable, designed to provide maximum support during long missions.
The operatives had set up a small cordoned-off area that provided privacy for the pair. Whether it was for them or to protect the team seemed like a moot point. Net hammocks, complete with blankets and pillows, were arranged for them to sleep in. Though the surroundings were spartan, the setup was efficient and comfortable enough for the long journey ahead.
Marcus approached, his tall head easily clearing the stack of equipment containers used to create their tiny room. “You two need to strap into the seats during takeoff. Once we level out, you can decide if you want to sit or sleep during the flight. The lavatory is right over there. The team just completed a highly classified mission and will be conducting their after-mission briefing and equipment checks. You will remain in this area during the flight to provide maximum security for all parties. Please do not look over the wall or attempt to open any of the gear that has been stacked to provide you privacy. None of these security agents are assigned to your details. You should not consider this a secure location.” He paused, encouraging them to take a seat and buckle up with a wave of his hand as the plane engine roared to life and the taxi began. Once they were situated, he continued, “I talked to Sarge, and the team is happy to see you home and provide any assistance you need when we arrive. Those orders will come from Enrique before we land. Julio stayed back to wrap up loose ends with the gondolier. He wanted Sophie to know that his memory is intact, and he will be joining the BraveHeart team once he gets cleared. Turns out, after analyzing surveillance footage and listening to our security reports, that you were not in the canals during your little conversation but out in the open waters of the lagoon. Your gondolier, Paolo, is a highly decorated officer in the Italian military and immediately picked up on the conversation’s sensitivity. He is also a romantic and didn’t want to tell you to be quiet, so he protected you the best he could. He’s safe, for now, and may become a familiar face in your future security details as E and J want as few folks to know about Sophie’s past as possible. Do you have any questions or concerns?”
Fernando and Sophie both shook their heads. “Please thank the team for their support and quick actions that are making it possible for us to get home with all due haste. I’m sure this made things difficult for them, and I want them to know I’m grateful,” Fernando expressed.
“This was my team before I was reassigned to you. They are good people. They are more than willing to help even without knowing the situation. This is what they do. Oh, if you get hungry or thirsty, you’ll find snacks and drinks in that cooler tied down over there. I’ll see you in L.A.”
The flight from Milan to Los Angeles typically took around twelve hours. However, with the specialized equipment and skilled crew, they could make the journey without the usual commercial delays. As the plane ascended into the night sky, the reality of the situation began to set in. Someone had blown up his movie set; he knew it in his gut. The question was, why ?
After they settled into their hammocks, exhausted from the day and needing to be rested when they landed, Fernando connected with Anthony through a secure line, eager to get more information about the situation. He sent the call through his earbuds and gave one to Sophie so she could hear the update firsthand.
“Anthony, what’s the latest?” Fernando asked, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside him.
“Unfortunately, I don’t have much to share yet. There was an explosion on the “Ring of Fire’ set,” Anthony began, the tension in his voice palpable. “Callie, Cory, and Brice were injured. Callie and Cory seem to have mostly superficial injuries and minor burns. Brice was closest and has a few cracked ribs, a sprained wrist, and a concussion. The last update I received from the medical team was that they were waiting on test results. The McKenzie’s are on their way and will likely arrive just before you. The local fire department and law enforcement are investigating. Enrique is scrubbing all available security footage, but until we have more data, we don’t know if it was an accident or sabotage. What I do know is that after what happened on the set of ‘Rust,’ the media is going to be all over this. A full debrief is scheduled for 7 am, and a press conference is arranged for 10 am. Gabriel will be flying in to provide support; I am unfortunately tied up here, but I will come tomorrow if you need me. Hannah sends her love. Get some sleep. There is nothing you can do from where you are, and honestly, until we get more information, there is nothing any of us can do but pray the kids are okay. I’ll call if I hear anything important before you land.”
“Thank you, Anthony. I’ll talk to you later,” Fernando said, disconnecting the call and returning the earbuds to the case.
Sophie’s face registered concern as she reached for Fernando’s arm. “Do you think our recent conversations had anything to do with this?” she asked, her voice trembling.
Fernando reached out, taking her hand in his, and kissed the back softly. “Sophie, we’ll get to the bottom of this. Whether it’s related or not, we’ll find out and protect our loved ones. Right now, we need to focus on rest. The next few days are going to be challenging, and sleep deprivation won’t help.”
Fernando tried to sleep, but his mind was racing. He kept replaying the meetings for this mini-series over and over in his head, the conversations with casting, costume, and lighting. He couldn’t remember any upsets or demonstrations of frustration. The production should have gone smoothly. When he left, it was running on schedule; everyone seemed happy with how it was turning out. As for pyro techniques, they are all computer generated now. There should not have been any fire on his set at all, even though there were explosions in the finished version of the show. His studio had the highest safety rating, not a single ding on their record. All of this further convinced him that his gut was right, and something was off about this whole situation.
Sophie, exhausted from the emotional rollercoaster, finally drifted off to sleep. Fernando watched her for a moment, her face peaceful despite the chaos around them. Having Sophie by his side gave him strength, but in light of the potential danger, he thought it would be wise for her to stay safely tucked away behind bulletproof glass and solid concrete walls.
Taking a few cleansing breaths, he focused on relaxing his own body. He knew that once they landed, it would be a whirlwind of activity, and he needed to be sharp.