This was the cop from the picture with the ballerina. He wasn’t as tall as his brother Shawn, but he was built like a wall. And while his suit fit him, it didn’t match the body wearing it. Dark, no-nonsense eyes and a hard jaw covered with a few days of scruff, and a hint of aggression.
What struck me immediately was how much more American he seemed than Shawn. No German accent. Hewas a less refined version of his brother. This was the style of man I usually preferred, but Jason lacked the intense eyes and the intrigue of a much taller one I knew.
When we shook hands, Jason’s lingered a moment too long. “Where do I know you from?”
My breathing quickened. “I get that a lot. I must have one of those faces that looks like someone everyone knows.”
That had to go down as the worst lie in history, but he seemed satisfied.
There was a secondary, smaller jet in the Osterhägen fleet, an older Hawker the company used whenever the Gulfstream was transporting clients or on loan to a board member.
“Your situation’s temporary,” he said, “and I know you need to keep a low profile, but there’ll be a lot of international guests attending Shawn’s wedding. I can put you into rotation with the Osterhägen flight crew if you’re interested.”
Pleasant surprise washed over me and I nodded enthusiastically. Then I paused. “As long as it’s safe for everyone.”
He used the pad of his thumb to absentmindedly spin the wedding ring on his finger. “You’ll be abroad or in the air more than you’ll be in Munich. That’s what Ethan and I figure.”
“You talked to Ethan?” It came out sounding far much more interested than I wanted it to, and I fought the urge to cringe in embarrassment.
Jason looked surprised. “It was a short conversation. I don’t think he was able to talk long.” He stood. “I’ll take you down to HR, and they’ll get you started on paperwork. I think Shawn’s assistant has secured your work visa already.” A thick, business-sized envelope was pulled from the interior pocket of his jacket and set on the table beside me. “This is to get you through the next few weeks. Let me know if you need more.”
Inside the envelope was a stack of euros. I shoved it aggressively back toward him. “I can’t accept this.”
“That’s not negotiable, soldier.” He breezed out the glass door and waited for me to follow.
I clenched the envelope so tight, the sides dug into my skin as I trailed behind him. “How did you know?”
“I smell military all over you,” he said while moving at a quick clip. “I was with the Thirty-First Infantry.”
Oh. No.
23
ETHAN
I dreamedabout Olivia last night. Now I was annoyed I was in another crappy hotel room, and this time I was alone. I tried to go back to sleep where she lingered. Jesus, what had that woman done to me?
I checked in with Jason while heading to the airport to pick up Gio. Vitale’s plane had been cleaned and a new staff hired instantly. Did they not wonder what had happened to the last crew?
Gio hadn’t yet landed when I arrived at the hangar. I had a brief conversation with the waiting driver the Abramos had hired and watched the plane circle on its approach. It was surreal.
A little more than a day ago, I’d been in the cockpit of that same plane with her, worried half out of my mind about what was going to happen.
I would have put a bullet in Giovanni Abramo if it came to it. All my work, and all the CIA’s plans—I’d throw them away for a woman I barely knew.
Maybe that wasn’t true.
I didn’t know every detail of Olivia’s past, although that information was just a phone call away, but Iunderstoodher. And I felt like she understood me. There was an undeniable connection to her.
The wheels of the Abramo jet had just touched down when my phone buzzed.
“Can you talk?” Jason asked in English.
“You’ll need to be quick,” I said. “What’s happened?”
The marshal was smart enough to know not to contact me unless it was important. Jason had already blown my cover once, in Croatia. I’d forgiven the guy for that, but blowing my cover now would be a fucking disaster.
“Do you know who she is?”
