"Why?"
The question hangs in the air. I could give him the strategic answer. The investigation. Project Omega. The evidence Jonah carries in his fractured memories. All true. All relevant.
But that's not why I'm calling.
"Because I can't let them have him," I say quietly. "Because he's mine."
Jace exhales. When he speaks again, his voice is softer. "Okay."
"Okay?"
"The jet is in a private hangar outside the city. I can have my guys have it fueled and ready in two hours. Elliot will file a false flight plan. Where do you need to go?"
"Geneva. We've identified a facility connected to Phase Two. Kreiss is the financial link. If we can get to his records, we can expose the whole thing."
"Geneva is hot right now. Lots of Silent activity."
"I know. But it's where the evidence is."
"Then come stay with us first." Jace pauses. "The cabin in the Alps. It's off-grid, secure, and close enough to Geneva for operational planning. You can regroup here, and we can figure out next steps together."
"You and Elliot?"
"He's already nodding. He says, and I quote, 'Tell your idiot brother to stop being a lone wolf and let us help.'"
Despite everything, I almost smile. "He talks to you like that?"
"He talks to everyone like that. It's part of his charm." Jace's voice warms. "Two hours. I'll send coordinates. And Jagger?"
"What?"
"It's not weakness. Choosing someone. I know it feels like it is. But it isn't."
He hangs up before I can respond.
I stand in the dark living room, phone in hand, and think about the word "choosing." I didn't choose this. I didn't plan to fall for the man I destroyed three years ago. It happened the way avalanches happen.
Slowly, then all at once.
But Jace is right. I'm choosing now. I'm choosing to run instead of comply. To protect instead of process.
The bedroom door opens. Jonah stands in the frame, hair mussed, wearing nothing but boxers, squinting at me through the darkness.
"Why are you standing in the dark looking constipated?"
"We have to go."
"Go where?"
"Geneva. Eventually. But first, we're meeting my brother in the Alps." I cross to him, cup his face in my hands. "The Ministry issued a retrieval order. They're coming for you."
He processes this faster than most people would.
"How long?"
"Twenty-four hours. But we're not waiting. Jace is arranging a jet. We leave in two hours."
"And the Ministry?"
