Gray and Carter exchanged another look, and Gray took one step forward. They’d clearly come to an agreement as to who would be taking point on the logistical details.
“We split up and drive the two SUVs to the airport in Paris. As soon as we’re within range of restricted airspace and the Agency's drone is no longer overhead . . . we make our move,” Gray explained. “We’ll all hop out, except Savanna and Griffin, who will head to the hangar where we assume the DGSE officers will be waiting. And while the officers are busy discovering the rest of us aren’t with them, we’ll have already boosted two cars from the terminal parking lot and have left the airport.”
“Griffin and Savanna won’t be stopped from flying home. Thatcher and the DGSE don’t care about them. Just me.” Carter peered at Jesse. “And maybe you, if what Thatcher said on the phone is to be believed, and he really doesn’t want to see you die.”
Jesse almost laughed at the idea Thatcher actually cared. No, that ship of belief had sailed the moment he placed Ella in danger. Hell, more like when he killed Zoran’s wife for the sake of a mission. And Jesse would have to confront him face-to-face once this op was complete and the team was Stateside.
“Not sure Thatcher will fall for this plan or expect it.” But Thatcher has to know there’s no other way. Could still all be a mind game, and he really wants us there. “He might stick around as the CIA or DGSE jump through the hoops of attempting to stop us, but ultimately, like you said, Thatcher knows we’ll find a way to Austria if we set our minds to it.”
“We’ll be divided into two teams when we leave the airport in the new vehicles. One team heads to Austria by train, the other by car,” Gray told him. “Sydney, myself, and Jack are with you and Ella. We’ll be taking the train. Carter, Zoey, and Oliver are heading there after swapping the boosted car for a legitimate ride.”
Carter took one step closer. “We reserved a private compartment on a luxury train that departs early tomorrow from Paris. Unlike the high-speed passenger trains, there’s only one quick stop in Frankfurt. And you’ll have privacy in case there’s the need to discuss operational details.” Carter paused for a breath. “It’ll take you longer to get there since it’s not quite as fast, and it goes to Vienna instead of direct to Hallstatt, but I think this is the best course of action. From Vienna, you can catch another train ride to Hallstatt.”
“About a three-hour ride between Vienna and Hallstatt,” Gray noted.
“I understand why we’re separating,” Jesse began, “because—”
“Because if something happens to us, Carter can save our asses.” The casual, almost joking comment had come from Jack, standing at the entrance to the living room, coffee in hand.
“And the reason half of us are taking a train instead of driving is to put our faces out there for Yuri to confirm we’re en route?” Bait. Ella as bait.
“I know it can’t be easy for you to take Ella to Austria, but Zoran wants to watch you two die himself, so you’ll be safe on that train,” Gray slowly explained, and frustrating as it was, Jesse knew their options were limited. “Yuri will assume Carter’s coming to Austria as well, but he’ll know that we wouldn’t risk putting all three of you together on a train.”
Jesse pinched the bridge of his nose and dipped his chin to his chest. They’d be unarmed on the train, which had Jesse nervous. He could protect Ella in other ways, sure, but not having a gun wasn’t ideal.
“And, uh, what about the rest of your guys scattered about Europe? You already have guys in Hallstatt watching over Dragan’s place, right?” Jesse let go of a deep breath and lowered his hand to look at Carter.
“We have guys in Austria now, and I’m bringing more in as we speak.” Carter went over to the Keurig machine, Jack’s cup of java likely a reminder he needed some. Better than shooting scotch like he’d done before.
Jack stepped farther into the room, sipping his coffee. “If we’re assuming Zoran and Yuri are expecting we’ll show up in Austria, that means they’ll have almost as much time as us to cook something up.”
“For all we know, their plans began last night once they confirmed we were in France, and they’re just going to alter them for Austria,” Gray replied. “It’s also possible Yuri has men en route to Bama as we speak too.” A spark of anger ignited at his comment, at the idea Ella’s family might be in danger and that Ella would be heading straight toward a psychopathic hitman and another man who wanted her dead.
But as much as it pained Jesse, in order to keep Ella safe . . . he had to do the last thing in the world he wanted—place her in danger.
Chapter Thirty
“Zoran’s in Austria.” Sydney rose from her chair as she made the announcement around nineteen hundred hours that night. Her palms landed on the dining room table Jesse and the team had dragged into the living room earlier that day. Based on the color and pattern, Jesse guessed it was red oak.
And now he couldn’t help but think back to his workshop in Bama and the unfinished table sitting there. How long had it been since Thatcher had shown up like a wrecking ball to his life? Jet lag and time changes and a hell of a lot of stress had made it feel like it’d been weeks, not days. Today’s January third, right? He shook his head. And who am I kidding? My life was fucked before Thatcher showed up because Ella hadn’t been mine. I’d yet to take the leap and share the truth with Ella like my therapist had encouraged me to do.
Jesse pushed his hands into his pockets, doing his best not to fidget. The closer it came to leaving for Austria in the morning, to Ella leaving the safety net of the bed-and-breakfast in Versailles, the more worked up he was getting.
“Local CCTV footage in Salzburg outside a bank caught Zoran getting out of a limo and into a wheelchair,” Sydney added.
“I think it’s safe to assume my asset successfully relayed the intel to Zoran about his brother and son if Zoran’s in Austria,” Zoey said, sending a smug look across the room to where Carter leaned back against the bar, elbows propped on the surface and ankles casually crossed.
Carter stroked the scruff on his jaw, seemingly unaffected by her comment, maybe waiting for an I told you so, but Jesse doubted she was the type.
“He’s about seventy kilometers away from Hallstatt. My guess is he heads there tonight,” Sydney shared.
“He won’t hurt the kid if he finds out he’s not really his son, right?” Ella’s soft voice and concern for the son had Jesse’s heart squeezing.
“No. I mean, God, I hope not.” Sydney righted herself and visibly cringed. “He raised him from birth, believing him to be his biological child.”
“Once we get there, Yuri won’t be able to resist a chance to get all three of you,” Zoey remarked, and when Jesse stole a quick look at the MI6 officer, she was resting one red nail against her chin, eyes intensely focused on Carter.
“But we’re obviously splitting y’all up for the trip to Hallstatt. Don’t want to hand the cocksucker a three-for-one special,” Jack tossed out his two cents again as he settled himself on the hearth. “He’s not dumb enough to think we’d put the three of you in the same room with a come-and-get-me sign around your necks once we arrive.”