Case had talked to her about those weird twin things. Somehow, someway, Theo was still connected to his brother. Theo could feel Case’s connection to her. “I feel the same way.”
“I’ll protect you. It’s going to be all right. What was your name again? I’m bad with names. I have short-term memory problems. Long-term ones, too. I hit my head one too many times on missions I think.”
She didn’t argue with him. He’d been through enough. She simply sat there and held his hand and swore that she would protect him, too.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Case looked at the woman standing in front of him. They were in the office of the small private airfield outside of Freetown, Sierra Leone. She was a petite woman who he knew was thirty but somehow managed to look like she should be in college partying with her sorority sisters and cramming for midterms. Dr. Stephanie Gibson had her hair up in a ponytail, her face makeup free. She was wearing a Captain America T-shirt and jeans.
He hoped he wasn’t about to get her killed.
“You sure you’re up for this?”
Her brown eyes lit up. “For the whole spy thing or for getting potentially shot by super soldiers with memory issues?”
“I think the spy thing leads into the getting shot thing,” Ten said with a nod as he set down a duffel bag that Case was pretty sure was filled with weapons. “So you should make sure you’re ready for both. Though being bad at the spy thing could make getting shot inevitable.”
“Don’t scare the doc,” Ian said with a frown as he strode in.
“Or I’ll have to take you out meself.” Liam O’Donnell followed Ian. The Irishman got a big grin on his face as he caught sight of the doctor. “Hello there, darlin’.”
Stephanie smiled and practically ran into his arms. “Li! It’s so good to see you. How is Avery? And the baby? She told me Aidan was having trouble with ear infections.”
Li hugged her and then stepped back. “Aidan’s fine. He’s growing like a weed and Avery’s already on me about giving him a sibling. She’s going to be here in a few hours with Erin and Charlotte and Kai. I’m sorry we had to move things up on you. And Case is right to be worried. This is dangerous.”
She held a hand up. “I know. I have already been lectured on what I’m supposed to do. I walk in, let them see me, maybe make some small talk, and then I hide behind my bodyguard. I’m going to be fine. You know I would do anything for Avery. Anything.”
A moment passed between Li and the doctor, one Case could only guess about. Stephanie had been a kid when she’d caused the accident that had killed Avery’s young husband and baby. From what he understood, the woman standing in front of him had gone into a deep decline, her guilt nearly causing her to take her own life. It had been Avery herself who brought her back, Avery who found forgiveness for a girl who’d taken everything from her.
How odd that an act of kindness so many years before would save everything Case loved now. It had been Stephanie’s solid base here that had tempted McDonald to take the bait. Had Avery chosen a different path, they likely would have no chance of saving Theo in the near future.
“I’ll do anything for Avery, too,” Case said quietly. “And you, Doc. You can’t understand how much this means to me.”
Stephanie turned and gave him a smile. “I can and I’m more than happy to help. Besides I’ve liked having the big guy around. He’s taught me some moves I didn’t know and the kids adore him. Though they all swear he speaks a different language.”
“Not me. I’m a right proper speaker, I am.” Brody Carter leaned against the doorjamb. The Aussie was the single biggest man Case had ever seen. He had a good two inches on him and probably an extra fifty pounds of muscle.
He worked for Damon Knight out of the London offices and when they’d decided on this course of action, they’d sent an agent down to train Stephanie and watch over her. He was undercover as her bodyguard. He’d played the heavy on occasion and cemented his reputation with the local bad guys as a man they didn’t want to mess with.
He would make sure the doc didn’t die in the fight they were about to go into.
“Sure you are, buddy,” Ian said, shaking the big guy’s hand. “And I’m not sarcastic at all.”
“Everyone move back.” Sean shook his head, bringing up the rear. He hefted the bag carrying the body armor they would all wear. “Lightning’s about to strike. Do we have any confirmation on when they’re going to land?”
“We’ve got roughly a half an hour to set up,” Brody replied. “I’ve already dealt with the locals. They’ve been paid and they agreed to stay in the mechanic’s office. I pulled all their mobiles and there’s no Internet access. I locked them in with an Xbox and two bottles of rum, so they’re perfectly happy.”
“Smart man,” Ian said. “Lawless will pay for any damage to the structure. You explained that to them?”