Chapter 21

“We’ve got to hit him fast,” Brody said, and for the first time since the man had returned to his team, Jude noticed the sandpaper roughness of his voice.

It wasn’t so much that he hadn’t noticed before, but that he’d ignored it. After losing and then finding himself inside Ella’s body and heart, he couldn’t help but hear the pain in the man’s voice—the echoes of the torture he’d suffered in that room with Ella.

“We’ve got the layout now,” King said. “Rook, you’ve got point. Brody, you’ve got Keeper. Ella’s with me.”

Jude nodded. It was best that Ella stay with King. She messed with Jude’s mind, and he absolutely couldn’t have his thoughts divided when he got a bead on Dresden. “I’m good,” he said easily.

King inclined his head, accepting that. “It will take about two hours to reach Simferopol. Dresden’s place is on the northern outskirts of the city. It’s walled, but we’re heading in with the cleaning crew.”

“Fedir, the guy who gave me the plans, is driving the truck,” Jude pointed out. He shrugged his shoulders when Rook threw him a look. “I had no choice. He provided those worthless plans. Says his sister was hired by Dresden and can’t leave. He’s got a scheme to get her out.”

“And he’s using our attack as cover? Great. Who else are we dragging along?” Brody asked, his tone grumpy.

“Nobody. Georgia is out. She’s in the Piper’s pocket. Said she was heading in for Loretta Bernstein. The Piper wants Loretta in a bad way apparently.” Jude sighed and ran a hand down his face. His mind was on the planning. His heart was back in that tiny bed with his woman.

“We don’t need Loretta, but if we get her, it’s a bonus,” King said. “Vivi?” he called out.

“Your Highness?” she answered via the satellite phone.

“I need coordinates sent to my GPS by oh six hundred. Will you have satellite coverage for this op?” King asked.

“You’ll have two hours to get there, but my satellite access should not be in danger on this op. In spite of that, you need to get in and out. Dresden doesn’t have a huge contingent of men on his property, but he does have access to more men, if he needs them. Operational details have been sent to your personal comm units. Full disclosure, guys—my reach in Ukraine is limited. You’ll be pretty much on your own, should the local police or, God forbid, the Ukrainian military get called in.” She hummed a bit to herself, which wasn’t unusual. Vivi was always all over the place. “Oh, one more thing. I received video of the occupants of the plane disembarking in Anchorage. It’s much clearer than the Provo video.”

Silence held sway as Jude looked at King, confusion swimming through him. King held up his hand.

“Baby, come on, what’d you find?” Rook prompted.

“Facial recognition confirms it’s Nina Lassiter,” she told them, her voice hushed.

“You have got to be kidding me!” Jude exclaimed. “She’s alive?”

“According to my software, it’s a positive match. I’m running further analysis as we speak. I’ve also asked a friend still with the Agency for help in locating the woman,” Vivi announced.

“No,” King said emphatically. “Call them off. I don’t want Broemig having this information.”

“Future father-in-law is a real gem, isn’t he?” Brody teased.

King threw him a sardonic grin. “Vivi, call your friend off.”

“Done,” she stated. “I’ll do the legwork.”

“Wait until we get back stateside, Vivi. You and Allie lock up tight. Black is headed your way. Fill him in on things, and keep an eye out for Chase and Knight to be headed your way too.”

“Ten-four, Your Highness.” She cleared her throat, and then uttered a tentative “Rook?”

“Yeah, woman?” Rook was staring out one of the cabin windows. Jude followed his line of sight and noticed the Black Sea, an endless, velvety blackness beyond the glass.

“Come home to me,” she whispered.

“Done.”

“Good night, Vivi,” King singsonged and then disconnected.

Jude rubbed his chest. Vivi wasn’t cut out for wet work. She sucked in the field. But without her, Rook was only half a man. Much like Jude without Ella. It was the first time he didn’t envy Rook and Vivi. He had Ella here with him, and even though she was soft, she’d proven she more than had the chops for fieldwork. She was a damn fine soldier.

He’d have to tell her.

“I’m going to bed down,” he told his teammates. “I’ll take last watch.” He glanced at his tactical watch. “I’ll be up at oh three hundred.”

He made his way back to Ella. She was quiet, but he could feel her attention. He wondered if she’d eaten over the last couple of days and decided she probably hadn’t. The woman was too thin. When they got home, he was going to keep her fed. And sexed up. Definitely sexed up.

She curved her body into his as he settled back down on the bed with her. “Hey,” she murmured sleepily.

“Shh, go to sleep. I’ve got you, El,” he whispered against her hair.

His hands calmed her back down into sleep, and Jude just held her there against him, feeling waves rock the boat.

He fell asleep with her scent in his nostrils and her heat against his skin.