Maybe this wasn’t over.Andshoot,his chest filled with hope at that thought.
“What’s in Montelena?”he asked.“I looked.It’s a landlocked country in the middle of nowhere.”
“It’s in a valley in the middle of the Dolomites.It’s about as big as Liechtenstein, with only one city—Luciella.It’s in a valley, stays green most of the year despite the snowcapped mountains.And it’s ruled by a king, a whole royal family.”
She sat back, folded her legs.She’d purchased a sweatshirt at the airport.Deep green that matched her beautiful eyes and...Stop.This kind of thinking wouldn’t help...well, him, at the very least.
She was describing Luciella.“Gorgeous old city, it was nearly destroyed twenty years ago.Meticulously rebuilt.Underneath the facade of the cobblestone streets and the Baroque and Renaissance architecture, you’ll find state-of-the-art technology.And...the world’s most secure cybervault.”
“A cybervault?”
“Montelena is the world’s bank for all things crypto.Has its own cryptocurrency, and its own dedicated, unhackable satellite.Countries use their system for international trading because they have impenetrable security.They’re the Switzerland of digital currency.And virtually anything digital that needs protecting.”
“Now I understand why Declan parked Axiom there.”
“They also have a secure lab where Luis and Declan can create the virus.”She glanced at the hacker.“He’s brilliant.And with Declan’s help, he’ll figure it out.”
She turned back to Stein, considering him.“But that’s not what you’re worried about.”
“I just want to deliver the package.”
She quirked an eyebrow.“And go home?”
He met her eyes, held her gaze.“I?—”
The pilot came over the speaker and announced their descent into Montelena.
She looked away, and his response died.
I don’t know.I...don’t want to.
Except, there was Jack again, in his head.“Don’t pursue this woman with the hope that she’s going to give you some sort of purpose.Only God can do that.”
Stein looked out the window.Below, an azure-blue river curved through the city with jewel-crowned trees—ruby, amber, emerald—tufted along the banks.Hugging the shoreline on either side, the city was a clutter of red-roofed apartments and whitewashed stone buildings.A drawbridge connected the city, with an Oxford-looking university on one side, an old town on the other, and a row of stately embassies at the foot of a palace on a cliff.On the old-town side, the buildings circled a central cathedral with tall Gothic spires.
He half expected a dragon to appear, swish its tail along the cobbled square.
They touched down.A trio of SUVs waited for them on the tarmac.
Declan had kept his promise.He stood in front of one wearing a suit jacket and a pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses, his expression pensive, alongside another man with a military bearing and short brown hair, wearing wraparound sunglasses, also in a suit coat.And with them, a petite woman with short dark hair, wearing black pants, a Blue Ox sweatshirt, and a computer satchel over her shoulder.
He recognized London, her blonde hair tied back in a sleek ponytail, wearing a leather jacket, black pants, and aviator glasses, but not the man next to her.He’d expected Roy, maybe, and this man was about his size, solid, with brown hair and a solemn expression on his face.
Steinbeck grabbed his backpack, disembarked, and walked over to them.He threw a glance at Luis, who had followed him down the stairs, and held out his hand.“London.”
“Steinbeck.”She turned to the man next to her.“This is my fiancé, Shep Watson.”
Interesting.He shook Shep’s hand as London hugged Phoenix.
“Emberly.Good job.”She turned to Luis with her hand outstretched.“Luis.So glad you’re safe.”
Steinbeck approached Declan and shook his hand.Declan gestured to his companion.“Logan Thorne, head of the Caleb Group.”
Right.He’d heard of him through his cousin Colt.“I heard you were on Team 5.”
“A long time ago,” Logan said.“This is Coco Marshall.”He smiled at the woman beside him.
“Your husband plays goalie for the Blue Ox,” Steinbeck said.
