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“Okay, now we need the manpower for the cabin.” Code said.

“I can take care of that,” Nolan piped up. “I’ll pull in Kai and Beau. See if Michael's available."

“Who?” I asked.

"Kai Davies, he’s former Delta," Nolan said, and I heard the shift in his tone, confidence replacing fear. "Beau Beaumont, his twin brother former Marine Raider. I’ll also pull in Michael Rankin. He might not have been a Raider, but he served as a Marine for eight years—that’ll outdo any fucking Russian that comes our way. Between them, the SEALs, and Code's intel capabilities..."

"Seven Americans with home ground advantage versus eight Russians and Viktor who don't know the territory," Code finished. "Plus we have two hours to prepare defensive positions before they even land."

"I'll pull Renzo too," Jase said. "He knows the cabin, knows the terrain."

"Do it." Simon's commander voice was fully engaged now.

"What about me and Sophie?" I asked. “Where do we go?”

All four men on the call went quiet. Sophie was watching us from her seat, looking terrified.

“The orchard would be best,” Jase finally answered. “It’s the exact opposite way of the mountain.”

“I’d prefer it if we left them in Knoxville,” Code said slowly.

“So would I,” Simon said. “But with us still not knowing where Russell is, we still might need them to draw him out.”

Code’s body went tight. “That’s absolutely unacceptable.”

“I’ll do whatever it takes,” Sophie spoke up. Everyone turned to look at her. “I love my brother, but what he’s doing is wrong. And maybe he can get to us first, before Viktor… before he…” She blinked rapidly. “He’s better off in custody than dead. I can leave a message and tell him I’m on my way to Knoxville with Kit Lord. He’s not answering me and I don’t know if he’s checking his messages, but it’s worth a shot.”

Simon nodded at her. “Thank you, Sophie. We’ll do our best not to hurt him, and if he comes in easy, we won’t have a reason to.”

“Can I call while we’re on the plane, or will I crash us?” Sophie asked as she pulled her phone out of her purse.

“It’s safe to call,” Simon told her.

She nodded, then punched in a number and put her phone to her ear.

“Russell? It’s me again. Look, you really need to call me back. I’m on a plane with Kit Lord and we’re headed to Knoxville. There’s Russians after us, Russ. They want—” her breath hitched. “They want to use me to get to you. I’m safe for now, but who knows? Please call me, Russ. If you don’t then…then I’ll never forgive you. I’ll never speak to you again. You’ll be dead to me.” She wiped away a tear. “So, please call me. I love you.”

She disconnected and closed her eyes.

“I’m sorry you had to do that, Sophie.” I’d never heard such tenderness in Simon’s voice.

Without opening her eyes, she nodded. “Thanks for giving him a chance to survive.”

Simon turned back to Code. “With everybody we have, they’ll be covered, Code. But we have to think strategically.”

Code nodded, and pulled me even closer.

"Two hours until we land," Simon said. "Then we have maybe ninety minutes to get into position before Viktor touches down. Let's make them count. Jase and Nolan, you know what you’ve got to do. We brief at the cabin in three hours.”

The call ended, and Simon got up and sat in a seat up front, as far away from Code and me as possible.

“I want to do more,” I whispered.

“I want you in Knoxville,” Code replied. I could see the pain in his eyes, and it wasn’t from his injured ribs.

“Do you think Russell will show up?”

“Yeah, I do. Everything is crashing down all around him. His easy mark, Eddie, refused to pay him, he has Russians out after him, and now after his sister. I think that he still hopes to get money from the others, but he loves Sophie, and he doesn’t want anything to happen to her. I think he’ll show.”