“How far is that leap?”
“Six, maybe seven feet?” Blake was betting on seven.
“And how wide is the wall?”
“A foot, maybe a bit less.” He looked over at Rook. “Don’t give me that look. I’m planning on parkouring that fucker. Land on one foot and then dive down the wall to the outside. From there, I’ll book it to the conduit and exit the same way. I have a cache of cash and an emergency passport if I can’t get here.” In the hours after the attack, confusion would still be settling.Security protocols would lock down, but by then, he would be on the road with Elise and Rook,
“Okay, anything else? Anything we’ve overlooked?” Rook asked as he picked up the map again and stared at it. Blake drew a deep breath and closed his eyes. He ran the plan through his head once, then again. Everything was in place. The window was small, but it was there. Zajac would arrive. Blake would make sure he did not leave. Then he would disappear into the night, taking Elise and Rook with him.
“No. The operation is a go. Zajac is dead. He just doesn’t know it yet.”
CHAPTER 18
Joseph sat at his desk, staring at the blank screen. He’d never admit it, but he was what a normal person would call a helicopter parent. Blake’s next assignment go-no-go meeting was scheduled for today’s discussion. He would be brought into the meeting by Jewell. Yes, Blake was an adult. Yes, he trusted his boy. He had the best instincts of anyone he’d ever trained, but it was the father in him that insisted he know what was going on with his kid. Jason had approached Blake to ask permission to include his father in the briefings. Blake had laughed and called him back within two minutes.
“Dad, are you fucking joking?”
“No, damn it. I want to know what you’re doing. If I didn’t, I’d go fucking insane. I know the job. I know you have a penchant for working alone, so I want to know where I have to go to bail your ass out if you need help.”
“One, I’m an adult. You don’t get to say yes or no for me, and I won’t need your help.”
“I didn’t fucking say that, Blake. I said I want to know what you’re doing. I’m not going to stop you. Unless you’re doing something astoundingly stupid. Then you’re on the same planeas everyone else. I’ll fucking hook you up by the short hairs and remind you of your training.”
“Two, I set my mission parameters; you don’t. If I say I can do it, I can. I’m not going to get into a debate with you in front of my employers.”
“I can deal with that as long as you accept my call afterward, and we can discuss my concerns.”
“Discuss. Yelling isn’t discussing.”
Fury rolled his eyes. “Noted.”
“Good, now, for the third requirement …”
“Yes?” He grit out that word. He hated not being able to affect Blake’s decisions, but he’d raised him the best he could. He’d taught him how to feed the animal inside him but to keep his humanity. It was a thin line, but it was a very important one. One his mother probably helped establish more than he did. He’d take Ember’s help every day, all day.
“Third, none of the job goes to Mom. She doesn’t need to know about it.”
“I can’t do that, son. If she asks, I’m going to give her the information.”
“If she asks, that’s fine, but don’t let my work cause you to be more of a dick. She’ll figure out you're worried about me or about Beth.”
Yeah, when he was worried about his kids, he could be a dick. Fury nodded his head and then frowned. “More of a dick?”
Blake laughed, “Yeah, Dad. You’re a dick, we all know that. I think you take pride in it.”
“That’s true, and I’m never a dick to your mom. I mean …”
“Holy hell, Dad, I don’t want you to finish that statement. Jesus, I’m begging you, don’t finish that statement.”
He smiled at the computer screen. His kid was his best friend. Didn’t matter how much distance was between them.
“What caused that smile?” Ember’s hands gripped his shoulders and started to massage them. He leaned back into her chest and closed his eyes. God, this woman was the best thing that had ever happened to him. If it weren’t for her, he’d be dead by now. Because of her, he had Blake and Beth and a life he’d never imagined he’d have. She was literally the air in his lungs and the blood in his veins.Shewas the reason he was alive.
“Come on, fess up.” She kissed his ear and held him tightly against her chest.
“I was thinking of Blake and a one-liner he said to me.” Which wasn’t a lie.
“Is that why you’re at your desk? He has another mission?”
