Page 59 of Russian Rescue

You look so good I want to crawl across this car and... stop it, Piper!

“Yeah. You look good,” I said instead. “The tailor really got the cut just right on you.”

“I still think it’s crazy that there are specialized tactical tailors who work for special agents hidden in each major city. And gun suppliers and safe houses. It’s like a whole secret society exists, and regular people have no clue it’s happening all around them. I knew it existed because I’ve coordinated shit for you guys, but it’s nuts getting to be part of it all in person.”

“It’s not just special agents,” I reminded him. “This underground network works for anyone with the dough to pay. Assassins, terrorists, and yeah, special agents too. But we need them, so we all turn a blind eye to the fact that they’ll sell the same guns to a known terrorist or wanted assassin as they will to a CIA or FBI agent. Or us.”

“Crazy.” Wes started the car.

“You know where we’re going?"

He flipped his phone onto his lap and pointed to the GPS map. “Yep. Got it here.”

The engine revved, and he slid into gear and pulled out of the underground parking lot. We wound through the city until we reached the outskirts, then followed the GPS to the marker on the map. When we arrived, we pulled into a line of other expensive cars all inching up to the gated entrance.

“Damn. Terrorism really pays well,” Wes said as he crept forward in line.

I nodded my agreement as I looked past the wrought-iron fence to the mansion situated in the center of an expansive, manicured property. “Yep. Petro has certainly done well for himself.”

“You guys there yet?” Knox asked into my comm.

“Pulling up to the gate,” I answered.

“Hey, Knox!” Wes said with a smile. “Or I guess today, Overwatch. Everything still working?”

“Yep. I’ve got live feeds from all the cameras inside the mansion. Jesus. That place is fucking huge!”

Wes looked out his window. “Yeah. We’re looking at it now. Pretty sweet pad.”

“And you remember where the server room is?” Knox asked.

Wes nodded even though Knox couldn’t see him. “Yeah. If our predictions are correct, third floor, East wing, fourth door down.”

Wes had set up Knox to play the part of him while we went in. He’d remotely accessed Knox’s home computer and installed software that let Knox be our eyes in the sky for the night. He’d sent layouts of the house, video feed access, and everything Knox would need to keep us informed as we tried to breach this fortress.

“I’ll be here watching everything you two do in there. I’ll only jump in if I see something. Otherwise, I’ll be quiet so I don’t distract you from the mission.”

“Thanks, Knox,” I answered. “We appreciate you doing this.”

“Just take care of our Pretty Boy, Piper. He may think he’s tough shit now, but he still needs you watching over him.”

I snorted. “Yeah. I will.”

“Hey!” Wes laughed. “I am tough shit now. Piper even taught me how to gouge someone’s eyes out last night.” Wes pulled a face. “I mean, eww, gross, but at least I know how to do it if shit hits the fan.”

Knox laughed. “Just try to get in and out undetected, Pretty Boy. That’s the goal.”

“Incredibly Handsome Man will be like a stealth fucking machine in there. They’ll never know I was in.”

I held in my internal groan. From the security around this place, Wes’s plan was practically impossible, but none of us could deter him. The only reason we’d agreed to this at all is that he was right in the fact they wanted him alive and likely wouldn’t kill him.

My stomach twisted at the thought of losing Wes.

“This is it, huh?” Knox said. “If all goes well, you guys will be able to get out of Russia probably tomorrow. Do you need me to arrange a lift, or are you flying home commercial?”

Wes and I each slid each other a glance. This was it. Probably our last night together.

“We’ll just fly commercial under the fake identities Wes made us. I’ll let you know if something changes. Just keep an eye on Wes tonight, and we’ll figure out our departure from Russia as soon as we have hands on the data.”