Chapter 17

17

The ornate, high-backed chairs and heavy wooden tables of the Estonian embassy's hidden suite belonged to another century. Paige's fingers traced the intricate carvings on a nearby armrest, her mind struggling to reconcile the old-world charm with the cutting-edge security system that put Redemption Inc.'s headquarters to shame.

The air hung thick with unfamiliar spices, a constant reminder of their displacement. Paige's gaze flicked between the multiple high-definition screens lining one wall, each displaying a different angle of the embassy's grounds. The juxtaposition was jarring, much like the tension simmering among the team members.

Worry for Jason gnawed at her gut, mirrored in the tight expressions and clipped exchanges of her companions. Twelve hours since leaving Cerro Flaco, and the strain was beginning to show.

A movement on one of the screens caught her attention. A serious-faced man in an impeccably tailored suit strode purposefully down the hallway, acknowledging the cameras with a curt wave. As a sharp knock echoed through the room, the team froze as one.

Hands flew to holsters, muscles tensing for action.

Only Mason didn't move. He raised a hand, his voice low but firm. "It's my contact. Koit. He's a friendly."

The door opened to reveal a mountain of a man, all broad shoulders and icy blonde hair. Mason greeted him with an elaborate handshake that morphed into a bear hug, the two men slapping each other's backs with enough force to make Paige wince.

"For you. Darja knows you love it." Koit thrust forward a nondescript Tupperware container, his face impassive. "You need anything?"

Mason's face lit up like a child on Christmas morning. "Thanks, man. You're a lifesaver."

A ghost of a smile flickered across the man's rugged face before he turned and vanished down the corridor.

As Mason pried open the lid, a wave of pungent aroma assaulted Paige's nostrils. She fought the urge to gag, noticing similar expressions of disgust rippling through the room.

Tai's voice was strained. "What is that?"

Mason inhaled deeply, eyes closed in bliss. "Vürtsikilu."

Blank stares met his proclamation.

He snapped the lid shut, cradling the container protectively. "Pickled fish. And it's mine. Keep your hands off."

Tai made a theatrical retching sound. "Not a problem, dude. Seriously."

Paige's eyes met Cody's, and a small smile passed between them. The familiar warmth that bloomed in her chest was quickly followed by a jolt of nervousness. She looked away quickly, her heart racing.

A little shared humor didn't mean anything. He didn't like her, or respect her. That's what she needed to remember.

Turning slightly away from him, she focused on her dual laptops, her gaze flicking between the screens as she pored over the schematics of the Smithsonian Castle. The iconic red sandstone structure, with its medieval revival architecture, captivated her even in blueprint form. Turrets and spires reached skyward on her screen, a stark contrast to the utilitarian embassy room surrounding her. Despite the gravity of their situation, Paige couldn't help but admire the intricate details of the Castle's design—the asymmetrical layout, the decorative cresting, the distinctive Great Hall. It was a building out of a fairy tale, hiding secrets worthy of the darkest legends.

Despite her best efforts to focus on the fascinating architecture before her, Paige's mind kept wandering to the past, replaying memories like a frustratingly catchy tune.

A younger Cody materialized in her mind's eye, all charm and easy smiles. The memory of his hunky handsomeness sent an unwelcome flutter through her stomach, quickly followed by a wave of bitterness as she recalled his betrayal. Paige gritted her teeth, forcing the image away.

Her father's face replaced Cody's, stern and unapproachable. The revelation that he'd been designing security systems for the Consortium during their estrangement felt like a punch to the gut. Had he known who his real customers were? Cody's words echoed in her ears, suggesting that her father's prickliness had been a shield, not just for himself, but for her.

All this time, she'd imagined him wallowing in grief over her mother's loss, painting him as self-centered and distant. But what if she'd misjudged him? What if, in his own misguided way, he'd been trying to protect her?

The conflicting emotions swirled in her chest, a maelstrom of anger, confusion, and a reluctant glimmer of understanding. Her frustration mounted as she toggled between floor plans and security protocols, finding no trace of the hidden lab Cody had mentioned.

Was he toying with them? Leading them into a larger trap?

With a growl of exasperation, she slammed her hands down on the table. The sharp sound reverberated through the room, drawing curious glances from her teammates. The laptops wobbled precariously, mirroring her own unsteady state of mind.

"This is ridiculous," she muttered, glaring at the screens as if they had personally offended her. "There's nothing here. No secret passages, no hidden elevators, not even a suspiciously large broom closet."

Cody joined her at the table and pointed at her laptop. "Can I?"

She leaned back and nodded.

Layers of screens splashed past as he commanded the keyboard. Finally, he grunted in satisfaction. "Here they are. I downloaded these blueprints before I went off-grid."

Paige printed the sheets and brought them back to the wide desk and leaned in, her eyes widening as she took in the intricate details of a hidden basement lab and a network of tunnels snaking beneath the Smithsonian Castle.

"Three security checkpoints," Cody explained, his finger tracing the path. "The last one requires Paige's DNA as a key."

Bridger's voice cut through the air, sharp as a knife. "Where did you get these?"

Cody's hesitation was palpable, his shoulders tensing visibly. Paige could almost hear the gears turning in his head as he formulated a response.

Tai stepped forward, his usual easy-going demeanor replaced by steely determination. "We can't assess the accuracy without knowing the source, man."

Cody's gaze swept across the room, meeting each pair of eyes in turn. When he reached Paige, she felt a jolt of electricity run through her. "I get your concerns," he said, his voice low and earnest. "But I can't divulge my source. All I can tell you is that I'm willing to stake my life on the accuracy of these plans."

The room erupted in a chorus of protests. Kate's voice rose above the others, "That's not good enough, Lassiter. You're gambling with our lives, too."

Cody stood his ground, his jaw set in a stubborn line that Paige found infuriatingly attractive. "I gave my oath to protect my source. You can come with me or not, but I'm going in regardless."

Before she could second-guess herself, Paige heard her own voice cutting through the tension. "I'll go." The words hung in the air, heavy with implications. "The rest of you can secure the perimeter, be ready to help us escape once we have the virus."

Graham shook his head, a wry smile playing at his lips. "Not a chance. We're not leaving you to handle this alone."

Fenn nodded in agreement, his eyes never leaving Cody. "But we will have eyes on him. Every. Single. Second."

She met Cody's gaze once more, seeing a flicker of something—gratitude? relief?—before his mask of cool professionalism slipped back into place.

As the team began to hash out the details of their infiltration, Paige felt a curious mix of anticipation and dread settle in her stomach. Whatever lay ahead in those underground tunnels, she had a feeling it would change everything.

Paige's eyes darted between the blueprints and Cody's face, her mind racing. The tension in the room was palpable, pressing against her skin like a physical force. She could hear the subtle creaks of the antique furniture as her teammates shifted restlessly, their unease manifesting in small, fidgety movements.

The scent of Mason's peculiar fish dish still lingered in the air, mingling with the musty odor of old books and polished wood that permeated the embassy's hidden suite. It was an odd backdrop for planning a high-stakes heist.

As she studied the schematics, her fingers traced the path they would need to take, feeling the slight roughness of the paper beneath her fingertips. The complexity of the security systems marked on the blueprints made her pulse quicken. This was far beyond anything they'd encountered before, and the fact that her own DNA was somehow involved sent a chill down her spine.

Cody's refusal to reveal his source gnawed at her. Part of her wanted to trust him implicitly, while another part—the part shaped by years of betrayal and hard-learned lessons—screamed caution. The conflict must have shown on her face because she noticed Kate giving her a concerned look.

She caught herself wondering, not for the first time, what secrets he was hiding. What had happened in the years since she'd known him? Who was this new Cody, and could she trust him with not just her life, but the lives of her team?