Chapter 44
Sean
As the truck walls close in on me, Dante and Schlagle exchange a meaningful glance but say nothing.
“We’re not using my fiancée as bait.” I dare anyone to argue. “I don’t care what the text wants. Hell, we don’t even know if it’s Boyle.”
“This may be our only chance.” Eyes pleading, Lillian holds my hands.
My fucking chest constricts. This is my Waterloo, my Bunker Hill. If I don’t let her go, we are done as a couple. If I do, her father may snatch her. This time, she’ll be lost to me forever.
While my internal debate rages, the rest of my team shares almost imperceptible nods. They trust Lillian. Hell, so do I. But what kind of man puts his woman at risk?
Fuck me. “Fine.” Emotions switched off, I stand. “What the hell is a River Walk?”
Daed taps his tablet. A series of images appears on the truck’s monitors. Lights. Shops. Restaurants. Stone bridges arching over a narrow canal. Tour boats carrying forty people glide beneath them. An outdoor shopping and entertainment district with a narrow waterway winding through it.
A smile tugs at my lips as a plan takes shape. “Give me the burner, babe.”
After he hands it over, I open the text window.
Me: Need proof or no go.
UNKNOWN: Trust me.
Me: 5 mins or I smash this SIM.
“You’re not in charge here, Clark.” Face red, Special Agent Schlagle snatches the device from my hands, but she’s too late. The challenge is out there now. Backing down isn’t an option.
About four minutes later, when the burner pings, a scowling Schlagle glances down. “It’s a chemical equation.”
At her hesitation, Dante takes charge. “Daedalus can decipher it faster than your team. Give it to him.”
Lips pressed into a thin line, she surrenders the phone. Without missing a beat, Daed crowds the guy at the laptop.
Cursing, the agent moves aside, handing off the keyboard to Daed.
Finally, our resident genius swivels his chair toward us. “AI Stanley has identified it as an antiviral, but it’s missing key components.”
“So, what now?” Schlagle relinquishes command so fast, I wonder if this is her first rodeo.
Dante catches my eye, and I nod. Yeah, bro. Time to take charge.
I clear my throat. “Text him we’ll do the swap tomorrow at 8:00, then destroy the burner. No more negotiating.”
When I open my mouth to explain my plan, Daed gasps. “Holy shit. AI Stanley has a cure.”
His fingers fly across the keyboard. “And it gets better. There’s a vault filled with antidote in a government facility in Wisconsin. We don’t have to do the swap.”
“Yeah, we do.” Lil rises to her feet, facing the team. “My father must be stopped.” Ignoring everyone else’s stares, she meets my gaze. “You with me, Big Balls?”
Chuckling, I stride to the back, open the doors, and breathe in fresh air. “Only if you agree to follow my instructions. No improvisations.”
As Schlagle starts to object, I turn, lifting an index finger at her. “I have the plan. Dante has the resources. What are you offering?”
Not waiting for an answer, I motion to the team. “Let’s move out.”
Hopefully, the Feds didn’t confiscate our van.