*****
Jessie had to make one more call. She dialed Brian’s number. “Hi. It’s me. Can you talk?”
Brian could hear in Jessie’s voice something was really off. “What’s wrong? Hold on a minute.” There was some shuffling and muffled voices, and then it was all quiet before he spoke again. “You okay?”
After a long pause, Jessie exhaled, “Not really. I’ve had better days. I need to tell you something that’s going to sound so unbelievable you might think I’m crazy. But, every word of it is true.”
“I don’t like the sound of this. You’re making me nervous.”
“When we met, I told you that I owned a Network and Security Management Firm. Which is true. But, what I didn’t tell you is that it’s a little more intricate than just protecting internet passwords. I’m the leader of an elite Black-Ops team who works mostly with a world organization that nobody really knows exists.”
Jessie paused for Brian’s reaction. He was silent…too silent. “Brian are you still listening?”
His voice was tight, “Yes. We’ve known each other over a year now, why are you just now telling me this?”
“So many reasons but mostly to keep you safe. I can’t imagine how angry you must feel, but I’m hoping you can put that aside for now because I really need you to trust me.”
“Are you serious Jessie? You’ve lied to me for over a year! I let you into my hea…my house. You know I live in a world full of cut-throats and lying snakes and how important honesty and trust are to me.”
Jessie threw her head back onto the headrest. She whispered to him, “I know and I wanted to tell you so many times. As angry as you rightfully are, I need you to put it aside and trust me one last time. I need you to drop everything you are doing and go home. Pack a few things and wait for a couple of my men to pick you up. They are going to bring you to a safe place.”
“Are you kidding me? What are you talking about? You’re right, you do sound crazy. I have the opening of my movie tonight! Don’t forget the press is still having a field day with the mini-PR crisis from this morning. I can’t just up and disappear.”
“Brian your life depends on it.”
All the anger drained from his body, “What? Is this some kind of a sick joke?”
Sounding more and more exhausted, “I wish it were but it’s not. You and Michael are not in a safe place.”
“Is there like a crazy assassin looking for me because of the work you do?”
“No. It’s bigger and broader than any one individual.”
“Then tell me what it is?”
“I can’t. Not over the phone. You’re line is not secure.”
“If this is not about me, then whatever is happening, will it affect other people I care about?”
“Yes.”
More silence. “Is Brigitte safe?”
“No.”
“Then, I want her to come with me.”
“You’ll have two hours to get your things together, and I’ll tell my men to expect three.”
Chapter 20
There was a flurry of activity at the MEGA-AX1 compound. Jessie uploaded the video she’d gotten from Wellington so that everyone knew the magnitude of the situation.
There was a steady flow of family members coming to the compound and being set up for who knew exactly how long. M-AX1’s headquarters could comfortably house more than a couple hundred people. The underground bunker was like a self-sufficient city.
Téa was nervous. She’d just gotten confirmation that Michael, Brian, and Brigitte had arrived. They were on elevator 3. She hadn’t had an opportunity to tell Michael about her secret life before this situation arose. She’d planned on doing it this weekend. However, when they talked briefly on the phone she could tell he was beyond angry.
So there she was anxiously standing around with other M-AX1 employees waiting for her loved ones to arrive. The elevator dinged and the door slowly opened. It was full of people. It took a moment, but there they were, Michael, Brian, and Brigitte.
Michael’s eyes connected with hers immediately. He was furious. Both he and Brian were furious while Brigitte looked on like a deer in headlights.
Téa stepped up to them, “I’m glad you made it.”
Michael couldn’t believe this was his Téa. Instead of her carefree low-rider jeans and midriff-baring shirts, she was dressed in all-black wearing some kind of military pants and jacket with the MEGA-AX1 logo on it. She wore a military hat with her blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail just like Jessie. She was also wearing her weapons on the outside of her uniform. Her carefree persona had been replaced with a woman who looked like she could take care of business.
“We need to talk.”
“I know, but not here. Let me take you to where you’ll be staying first. After you’re settled and we’re in private, I’ll answer all of your questions.”
They followed Téa past the throngs of people. As she took them to their quarters they entered the wing where the guards were stationed. Each one stood at attention when Téa walked past. She was their superior. This was all so surreal for Michael and Brian.
Finally, they’d made it to where Brian and Brigitte would be staying. Brian had so many questions, first and foremost where was Jessie? Téa promised she’d answer their questions once they were settled. He would have to wait just a little while longer.
“This is where you’ll be staying. Your access and keycards are on the coffee table. You’ll have the freedom to explore the compound with those cards. However, please wait until I come back before you begin to explore.”
Brian and Brigitte nodded. His glare unlike Michaels was cold with suppressed fury. They went inside and closed the door behind them.
They walked several yards from Brian’s room to
