AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I continued to stare at this man in shock, unable to process everything. Was he lying? Was the security guy always the threat to me, both in Cape Town and on the show? “I don’t understand,” I cried.
“I let you get away that night eleven years ago because you’re Claudia’s daughter. I bought you as much time as possible so you could escape. You really think I did that just for you to wind up in my brother’s grasp again? And now with his sickness, he’ll think you’re her. Fuck.” He cursed again, cupping his jaw. “I’m not a good man, Charlotte, not even close.” His arm fell to his side. “But my brother’s a monster. We’re not the same.”
“I don’t understand any of this.” Tears I’d managed to hold back began to slip down my cheeks.
“I won’t let him touch you.” Erik’s attention shifted to the house, and I followed his gaze to see Security Asshole coming out. “And I won’t let Jordan hurt you either.”
Jordan? So, the asshole had a name. I liked Asshole better.
“I’m sorry, Charlotte,” he added, then motioned for the helicopter before taking hold of my arm, his touch surprisingly gentle.
I forced myself to move with him. “Why should I believe you?”
Erik paused outside the helicopter door and leaned in and whispered, “Because you’re my daughter. That’s why.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
JACK
“The bullet went clean through. I’m fine,” I hissed as Oliver stabbed the needle into my arm against my protests. “I don’t have time for this.”
“You’re not fine,” Mya snapped out, joining us outside the tunnel. “Let him help you. You’ll be useless on the op otherwise.”
I grunted, then bit down on my teeth as Oliver did something to my shoulder that was less than pleasant. I focused on Gwen, sitting on the ground near the entrance of the tunnel. Using the SUV’s headlights to see, she monitored Lucy and Charley’s location through the charm bracelet on her laptop. God bless Wyatt’s obsession with his daughter’s whereabouts.
In an interesting turn of events, Gray’s father managed to not only pull the police off our team’s plane at the airport, but he requested they also help us out on behalf of the President. Starting with the team being Uber’d to the tunnel via police cruisers. And once the Feds—who’d miraculously survived the ambush in the tunnel—let their FBI headquarters in on the betrayal, the Bureau was willing to play ball without a nudge. It was now a joint mission of sorts.
Thankfully, a couple of the Feds’ SUVs had only suffered fender benders, so we had adequate transportation for the op. I honestly didn’t care about their condition as long as we all made it to Charley and Lucy in time.
“Never thought I’d see the day Carter worked with the Feds,” Oliver said as he finished whatever patch job he was doing on my shoulder.
“I’ll work with anyone as long as it means getting to them in time.” I did my best not to say too much—to keep my mouth shut about what else I knew. I was still worried about Camila’s warning.
“We’ll get to them.” Mya was working hard to sound confident, which I appreciated.
“Okay, you’re all set for now.” Oliver patted my good shoulder. “But since you won’t take morphine, you’re going to need to use your anger as a pain reliever for now.”
“Yeah, that won’t be a problem.”
As my team finished prepping for the mission, I went over to Gwen and squatted alongside her to view the screen. “They haven’t moved in a few minutes,” she announced. “I think they’re at their final destination.”
I winced at her choice of words. Final destination. Please, don’t say that.
“Where?” Carter came over, kitted up for war. I needed to prep too, but seeing their location on the screen made me feel like we were closer to getting them back. And honestly, I wasn’t ready to give up that reassurance just yet.
“I’ve got an address. They’re at an estate that was rented out two years ago to a British investment banker. My guess is that’s their cover story for being here,” Gwen explained while Oliver helped me stand. I gestured to Jesse, acknowledging I was ready to gear up.
“How far away?” Gray asked, strapping on his Kevlar vest. Like me, he insisted he was fine to operate, brushing off being fried by a taser as a mere flesh wound. I wanted to protest him going in less than one hundred percent, but knowing he would be at my side also brought a level of security and comfort I needed.
“Ten kilometers, give or take,” Gwen said, shooting to her feet while balancing the laptop on her palm.
“Here.” Jesse helped me into the Kevlar vest since my shoulder made it difficult to lift my arm. I strapped a Glock 19 to my side and confirmed he’d already packed the vest with 30-round magazines. “And this bad boy is courtesy of Camila’s lead sniper.” Jesse offered me the M4A1 Carbine rifle. It was more ergonomic and had a better trigger response than the regular M4.
I nodded. “This will work.”
Next, Mya handed over the wireless comm, and I shoved it into my ear. “You’re Alpha Four tonight,” she said, unable to mask the worry in her voice with fake confidence.
Yeah, I’m worried, too. “Roger that,” I answered as she gently hugged my good side.
