Chapter Twenty-One Down, but Not Out
Adelina
The ride back to the hotel is…tense, to say the least.
Both Joseph and West tried to get in contact with Diana, but to no avail.
Those men who were after me might have had accomplices.
Maybe they planned on nabbing us both but took the opportunity to grab Diana when she left the boutique, figuring it would be easier (and cause less of a scene) if they went after us separately.
A divide-and-conquer approach. As we drive, it’s hard for me not to imagine the worst possible scenario, though I’m not ready to give up hope.
There’s a chance Diana got away, just like I did.
West sits with me in the back of the car. He holds my hand the entire time, absentmindedly stroking my thumb with his. Unlike on the airplane, I happily accept his comfort, grateful for his warmth and steadiness.
I don’t know what I would have done without him. I keep running the events in my head over and over again, my skin crawling at the realization of how close those men got to me. If West hadn’t shown up when he did…I can’t even imagine the kind of trouble I’d be in.
When we finally arrive at the hotel, the few yards between the parking lot and the main lobby don’t feel quite real. My steps are jittery, unstable. Like I’m tiptoeing over eggshells, my body ready to run off at the first sign of danger despite weighing a thousand tons.
“It’s the adrenaline crash,” West explains, as if reading my mind. “It doesn’t last long.”
“Really?” I grumble. “I feel like I need a year-long nap.”
He chuckles. “We’ll get you something to eat and you’ll feel right as rain. Carbs should do the trick.”
We don’t get very far into the lobby before Joseph, who entered first, comes to an abrupt standstill. I nearly knock into him as he points ahead, jaw agape. Sitting in one of the lobby’s blue guest chairs is a woman, her long black hair a windswept mess. Her knees are scraped up, as are her palms.
Diana.
“Oh, good,” she says upon seeing us. “You’re not dead.”
Joseph rushes forward, kneeling in front of her to get a good look at her injuries. There’s a deep notch between his brows and a tenderness in his eyes when he says, “T’as rien?”
“Ouais, ouais, ne t’inquiète pas,” she insists with a nod.
My relief is quickly followed by urgency. “Where were you?” I ask. “We’ve been trying to call for ages.”
“Two guys tried to jump me,” she replies. “I must have dropped my phone when I was getting away.”
“They hurt you?” West asks, drawing attention to her scraped knees.
“No, I stumbled while on the run.” Diana stands, Joseph diligently taking hold of her elbow for support. “I think we need to abandon this job.”
West frowns. “That isn’t an option.”
“Berruci clearly has the upper hand here.”
“We don’t know those were his men.”
“Oh, please,” she says with a scoff. “Who else could they be?”
“Diana—”
“We don’t have a full crew, we don’t have eyes inside, and now we’ve lost the element of surprise. I say we cut our losses and go home. You were in over your head then, and you’re in over your head now. Fifty billion dollars doesn’t mean anything if you aren’t alive to spend it.”
West’s jaw tightens. “That isn’t an option for me.”
Because of Jack, I think. This was never about the money for him, but I can understand where Diana is coming from too. This time was a close call. Next time, we may not be so lucky.
Game theory was one of the first concepts I learned in my introductory courses at MIT.
Understanding how to analyze scenarios and make decisions is a fundamental principle when it comes to most programs. Computers have to take in data, weigh the odds and understand what options offer the highest possibilities of success and failure within seconds. Game theory applies here too.
If we go through with the job, we might succeed. But there are so many variables to consider, so many things that could go awry.
If we don’t go through with the job, at least we’re guaranteed to keep our heads.
Maybe I can help West and Jack go into hiding.
Forge brand-new identities and get them to move to a far-off country well out of Berruci’s reach.
Opening up fresh bank accounts is kind of my forte, after all.
I’m sure building a new life for them will be a walk in the park.
And yet, I can’t help but wonder what will happen if West decides to abandon his plans.
Once he starts running, he won’t ever be able to stop.
He will spend the rest of his life watching his back, triple-checking the locks.
Constantly worrying that Jack might be snatched off the street like I almost was.
He knows just as well as I do—that’s no way to live.
What we need is some way to even the playing field. Not by a lot, but just enough to give us a fighting chance.
That’s when it hits me.
“The guard,” I mutter aloud. “The one Berruci beat up. What if we turned him?”
Diana blinks at me. “What guard?”
“The first night we did reconnaissance, West and I saw Berruci wailing on one of his guards. Working for a guy like that can’t be easy.”
“You mean you want to try for an inside man?”
“It’s exactly who we need to round out the crew.
Despite all of our prep work, Berruci’s a wild card.
With a man on the inside, we’ll not only learn the full layout of the villa, but we’ll have someone who can keep us informed about Berruci’s comings and goings.
What he’s plotting. And an inside man can connect me to the security network, which will give us a leg up. ”
There’s a murmur of tentative agreement. It’s a crazy idea, but if it works, this could be a huge breakthrough for us.
“Okay,” Joseph says. “But who’s going to talk to him?”
“I’ll do it,” West says. “There’s too much heat on the ladies. Stay here while I take care of it.”
I shake my head almost immediately. “I’m coming with you.”
“Ad—Qwerty, please. You need rest.”
“I’d feel safer.”
The moment I blurt it out is the same moment I want to die of embarrassment.
Did I really just say that out loud? I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself, but the thought of waiting around while West does all the work doesn’t sit right with me.
Not to mention I don’t want to be alone, twirling my thumbs in my room like some easy target.
If I’m with West, I won’t have to worry as much.
He nods. “Alright,” he replies. I count my lucky stars that he doesn’t tease me for it.
“Are you sure you can convince this guard of yours?” Diana asks.
“I think so. After what Berruci did to him? If I were in his shoes, I’d be pissed off enough to switch teams. I just need to talk to him.”
“And how exactly are you going to do that?”
“After a beating like that, he probably had to check himself into a hospital.” West turns to look at me. There’s a slight tilt to his head as he softly asks, “Do you think you’d be able to find him for me?”
I crack my knuckles. “Leave it to me.”