“I don’t get it,” Audrey whispered.
“If his plan with Eden fails, he has one more trick up his sleeve,” I remarked in a low voice. “And that’s to leverage himself if he has to.”
“Because Chandler still needs what’s in that vault,” Audrey said in understanding. “And it takes both of us—and both rings—to open the safe before it expires and someone gets their hands on it either way.”
Ryder nodded. “Mitch knows we need him alive, and the US government will do just about anything to contain this.”
“They’ll even cut Mitch a deal to make it happen?” Audrey unbuckled her seat belt and stood. “Would your grandfather really pay him off and then justletMitch walk away scot-free?”
“He wouldn’t pay him nearly as much as Mitch could get at the auction, but up to 10 million? Probably.” From the sounds of it, Gwen had already discussed this with the secretary. “But Mitch would have to sacrifice taking you with him as part of the deal.”
“Mitch wants you and a higher payout, though,” Ryder reminded her. “So he’ll do everything in his power not to rely on his backup plan.”
“I ... need a minute.” Audrey walked around her brother and went down the aisle, not making eye contact with any of us as she started for one of the five suites in the middle of the plane.
Hollis stood as if preparing to go after her, but Ryder called out, “No, you lost the best-friend privileges for the moment, remember?”
Hollis’s shoulders fell, but she pivoted to the side and nodded her okay to stand down.
“Keep working. Get me more intel to go on so we can get ahead of these bastards once and for all,” Ryder ordered, sweeping his gaze around the room. “And I’ll go, um ... be who she needs right now. Her brother.”
Chapter Forty-Four
Audrey
Queenstown, New Zealand
Now I understood what time travel must be like. It was Wednesday night here, but still Tuesday in Colorado. After nearly twenty hours on a jumbo jet and skipping eighteen ahead, I felt like I had two left hands. Not ideal for playing piano—not that I planned to. Or sleep. The other thing my brother kept insisting I do.
The last “day” had blurred together. Mission prep, theories, cyber-something-or-other stuff that flew over my head, and betrayal. Complex layers of it.
Eden was out there because of me. And Mitch had done exactly what we’d feared: offered her as a trade, demanding we fly to New Zealand. He’d texted proof of life of her on a plane, along with a threat and hisHellsignature. Then the usual:Wait for next steps.
And because Hollis apparently had a Rolodex that rivaled some legend named Carter Dominick, she had four SUVs waiting at a private hangar for us when we touched down.
Three were decoys, and we packed into just one to play a game of Follow the Wrong Suburban.
The team didn’t want to risk going to the hotel where the auction was being held until Friday, so we were currently holed up in the penthouse suite of a resort and spa on Hollis’s dime, and I couldn’t seem to breathe despite the size and luxuriousness of it.
“I need a minute.” I rushed from the living room, where everyone had gathered to talk mission stuff, and into my bedroom.
Out on the balcony, I went to the railing and braced my forearms over it, trying to slow my breathing, to calm down before Trevor arrived.
After Echo Team had confirmed Eden and Rhett were truly gone and went to Buckley, Trevor had worked on convincing them to catch a ride with them here. He’d even had their team dog, Bear, offer a paw as the tiebreaker vote in letting him join.
Based on my conversations with Chase while I’d been on the plane, he was excited for his dad to suit up again. And he was also excited Bear would be hanging back with him at base instead of joining Echo here.
Chase had proclaimed he now wanted to be a SEAL, not a hockey player. “Just like Daddy,” he’d told me. “But only if I get my own Bear.”
Chase is safe; everything is okay. I needed to keep beating that mantra into my brain. Right along withEden will be soon, too.
A chill slid up my arms as I stared out over Lake Wakatipu, the moonlight shimmering on the water. I needed the scenery to quiet the noise in my head.
If it doesn’t work soon ... champagne again it is.
“What are you doing out there?” Alejandro came up behind me, gently reaching for my arm. “I’m sorry, getting fresh air is not worth the risk.” He guided me back inside, then shut and locked the door.
“I wasn’t thinking clearly. Just couldn’t breathe.” I hung back by the door, keeping my eye on the scenery outside. “No one knows we’re here, though, right?”
