I push to my feet and follow Dominic out into the living room. Massimo is out here on the phone.
“Any word for Alejandro?” I ask Dominic.
“No. None. But try not to worry. Let’s just focus. At least we know where they are. All of them including Aleksei.” He gives me a knowing look.
I haven’t said much to anyone since we got back, but he and Massimo heard enough when I was talking on the phone. The only thing I managed to tell them was Jude had Eric doing his bidding, holding his mother and sister as leverage.
I didn’t talk about Aleksei because it was too hard.
“I saw him. He was with his grandfather.”
“His grandfather?” Dominic gasps.
“Yeah.”
“So it had to be him that betrayed you.”
“It had to be. The only thing I can think of was he had some running deal with Jude. Jude wanted Gabriella and me dead so he could get to her. I see why now Pearson was able to tell me Aleksei was still in Brazil. He knew his grandfather had him.”
“I’m sorry man.”
“It’s all shit and there are still missing parts because I don’t know how they were all in cahoots with each other, and the only thing that makes sense as to how Gabriella’s father knew about what I did with the Order is that’s maybe my father told him. He was one of my father’s Avtoryets so it’s plausible. He must have told him never knowing he would betray him.”
Knowing the plot was meant to kill me and not Gabriella made I came up with that analysis. I contemplated Gabriella’s father might have overheard me talking but it could have been that. I spoke to my father and Viktor in my father’s office and the room is soundproof for that very reason.
Dominic nods. “Yeah. I’m not really sure what to do besides wait. My device is doing what it’s doing but it’s going to take time. This is the first time I’ve come across a situation like this I couldn’t handle. I’m man enough to say I got cocky and comfortable in my skills thinking I was invincible and slick as shit. I got nothing on this kid.”
Massimo finishes on the phone and comes over.
“Hey guys,” he says. “I’m just trying to rally up more men. That was Alejandro’s second in command. He’s sending us another hundred men. We still have a hundred here and I’ve called in the Syndicate backup line. They won’t get here until late. I think this might be looking like a tomorrow thing. It’s best to go in as strong as we can be. At least we got a good look at the place today, and maybe Dominic’s device might work then.”
“If it works I’ll stay behind and guide you in. It will be easier. You won’t be going in blind and we certainly won’t have the type of shit we had from today. I’ll also makes sure they don’t come up with anything to block our transmission and track us.”
I nod. “Thanks guys. I agree, we have to go in strong. Who the fuck knew the guy we’d be going in to rescue would end up working for the enemy. Everything is working against us.”
Everything is working against us.
I freeze as the words process in my mind as an idea hits me.
“What?” Massimo asks.
“I think I just thought of something.” I turn to Dominic. “You found the location from the email right?”
“Yeah I did. I was able to locate the place even though the Ip address and email address were hidden.”
“Did you find just one email address?”
“Yes. Just one. What are you thinking?”
“Eric’s doing what he’s told because of the threat of his family’s lives. He doesn’t know we’re here to rescue him so he’s just doing what he’s told to make sure Jude don’t kill his family. But what if we told him what was really happening? What if we emailed him?”
Massimo’s eyes widen and Dominic’s face tenses.
“Jesus,” Massimo says.
“If he knew his own army was the way to rescue him and his sister, I’m sure he would help.”
“Fucking do it,” Dominic says and the two of us go over to the computer at the same time.