CHAPTER 2 #3
“Accidents,” Alexios corrects, making air quotes with his free hand.
“Try your best to avoid him, but if any of you come in contact with Elijah at the party, don’t stress.
He is extremely risk-averse and spends millions to appear legitimate, so he will never create a scene or get his hands dirty in public. ”
He taps a key, and a photo of a stunning woman with long, wavy blonde hair and dark brown eyes appears.
“This is the newest wife, Serena. Late-thirties, obnoxious socialite, and mother of the youngest child, six-year-old Clara, who is away at a boarding school in Switzerland most of the year. Serena is completely harmless, but is known for being over the top and always making a scene, and that can always bring unwanted attention.”
“She’s hot, though,” Bjorn whispers to me, leaning in close.
“Nah… too much maintenance,” I whisper back. “Look at that hair. That’s a three-hour blowout, minimum.”
“How do you even know that?”
“It’s called having a sister.”
“Now, the danger of going to this party comes from the sons. If any of you come in contact with one of the sons, consider the mission failed. You see them, you abort immediately, and whatever you do, do not let them drag you into the house. If you go inside, you’ll most likely be killed.”
“Understood,” we say.
“The oldest son is Oliver, twenty-nine.” Alexios swipes the screen, and a new photo expands.
Dios mío….
I actually stop breathing for a second because that man is beyond stunning. He’s not just handsome… he is beautiful.
He has sharp cheekbones, light hazel eyes, messy sun-bleached hair, and a pouty mouth that looks like it was made to be worshiped.
In the photo, he’s on a yacht, with two men hanging from him while he is holding a champagne bottle loosely by the neck, looking drunk and unaware of everything around him.
“That’s the heir?” I lean forward. “He looks like an angel.”
“Yeah, don’t be fooled by the pretty face.
He is a monster,” Alexios warns. “Word is Elijah dotes on him, wants him to take the throne, but Oliver is too focused on drinking, sleeping with half of the world, and doing mountains of drugs to care about the family business. Still, he is a mass murderer who uses Elijah’s contacts to transport the corpses and drop them in the middle of the Atlantic. ”
“Bloody hell,” Law says, while polishing his favorite Barrett rifle.
Logan picks up a tablet and scrolls through the data. “The FBI thinks his personal count is in the high eighties, and he doesn’t just go for people in the drug world. It says here he has killed ex-lovers, people that accidentally ran into him at clubs, and even entire families.”
I look at the picture again. It’s terrifying to think that someone who looks that heavenly could be that rotten.
Fuck… Qué desperdicio.
Alexios brings up the final photo of a younger man, perhaps in his early twenties. He looks like Elijah but with blue eyes and softer features.
“This is Rafael West, twenty-five. Son of the third wife, and he’s a fucking sociopath. He is as violent as his father, maybe more so, just without the charm. His confirmed death toll is over fifty.”
Bjorn shudders, adjusting his vest. “What the hell do they feed this family? Arsenic and coke?”
“Probably,” I say.
“Now to the mission.” Logan places a box with four encrypted satellite phones on top of the table, and the whole team turns to look at me.
“The plan is simple,” I start. “Infiltrate, blend in, locate the informant, make the drop, and get the fuck out.”
I slide my hand into my pocket and take out a small red velvet pouch.
“Since we don’t have an ID on the contact, you will need to check everyone’s jewelry.” I open the velvet bag and tip a large, ornate earring into my palm.
It’s made of gold, with chains and rubies cascading from the setting.
“Find whoever is wearing the match to this.”
I hold it up to the light so they can all see the design.
“The code phrase is: ‘That earring reminds me of a cathedral in my hometown.’ The countersign must be: ‘It was a gift from my Italian grandmother.’ If they say anything else, abort. If you feel a tail, abort. If you think your cover is blown, abort. And if you successfully make the drop, you radio it in and then immediately leave. Any questions?”
Everyone shakes their heads.
“Good. The mission is a go.” Logan looks at each one of us. “I understand we are built to stay and trained to find a way to finish the mission, but I ask you to ignore that instinct today. If you are in danger, leave immediately; do not stay. Am I clear?”
“Yes,” we all say in unison.
“And if one of us is taken, no matter who it is, you’re forbidden to go after them, stall them, or break cover in any way. Understood?”
“Yes, sir.”
Logan nods and checks his watch. “You have five minutes to call anyone you want in case it’s your last time. See you in the van when you’re done.”
Oh mierda…
Ok, we’re doing this… I take a deep breath and let it out slowly.
Now relax, Damián, and please, please sound normal.
I take out my phone, scroll until I find the number, and click ‘call’. I close my eyes and take another deep breath, but this one I’m only able to let go after hearing her voice.
“Bueno?”
“Hi, Mom.”