Chapter 106: Chapter 106
The team members sat crossed legs on the floor around the coffee table. Blake ordered Finn to report what he was able to know about the area and showed the map to Brianna. Lucien and Tatum were watching behind, standing next to the sofa chairs. Brianna remained in her seat ever since she spoke to the team.
Blake called each one with anything to report and presented what they have for Boss B to understand what the mission is expected to be like.
Ramil Finn was to run down the details of the routes they were supposed to take.
Andrew Hoggins was assigned to prepare the weapons they should prioritize to carry.
Max Beckett was assigned to take a sniper post to secure the clearance of their entry. They have to be discrete as much as possible. Having someone who can see the situation ahead of them, even a step only, would be very much beneficial. The rest of the team will have to deal with on-the-spot scenarios.
Brianna raised a single eyebrow. She noticed these men were forgetting something too important.
"This place is way too far from civilizations. How do you plan to get there?" Asked Brianna.
She did not make herself sound like she was already doing the mission with them. She made her words clear that she would listen to their plans and see if their propositions could be acceptable. But she also gathered that helping them would mean having her own team to do her tasks with the Michaelson's, protecting Lucien. As a result, B was contemplating. Their presentation of what to do was not bad, although she can do better if she joins them.
The team fell quiet. Their eyes jumped from one another. No one was brave enough to voice out what they could tell Jack Foster earlier. But as a team leader, Blake had to come forward and tell the truth about their shortcomings.
"It would be best to have a chopper send and pick us up, to and from there, but we do not have any connection with anyone who can lend us. Charles had never let us engage in such things, and sadly, now I know why I should have insisted." Blake was obviously blaming himself.
"We are still finding anyone with possible ways to rent one is such a short notice," added Andrew.
"How do you plan on getting in and out of there?" she asked again. She was looking at a digital blueprint of the whole building they were supposed to get into. Now, her gaze turned at the geographical map with a red dot blinking, indicating their target location. A vast measure of nature surrounded the place. Sea and forest. The map shows that it will be a farther distance to cross if they choose the route on the sea. But if they decide to choose the land route from Brianna's place, they could move by vehicle, but they will have to travel by foot from the beginning of the forest, and it will take them almost eighteen hours to get to the target spot. That was the rough estimation. They still have to see what will happen once they get inside the forest, if it isn't too dangerous to get through, considering the wild animals and the fact that they do not know the precise path once they get in it.
"We will try to provide a lift to take us there within five hours. If not, we will have to move and cross the forest route," Blake answered.
"Do you think they will wait for you? You might make it to get there, but you have to prepare yourselves. Because the chance of you collecting your families' dead bodies will be more possible," Brianna stated coldly.
Everyone in the team felt shivers run down their whole being. Boss B's estimations rarely fail. She is cold and frank, but her words are mostly the truth that everyone wants to avoid hearing. It makes them see the reality of their mission's possible results.
"Boss B, please help us. They have my pregnant girlfriend. Finn's diabetic mom, Andrew's half-brother, Jules' younger sister, Garrett's uncle, and Chad's twin brother," Blake pleaded.
"Let's say I help you. The problem here is not me not joining you. I would like to help if you have a better plan than this... Because this...? ...is clearly useless," Brianna crossed her arms above her chest. "I can use a team to protect my client if you get indebted to me by helping you with this, but you have to come out with a chopper or anything that can get us there and finish this task within twelve hours or less," she decisively stated.
Tatum, who was quietly listening, although he kept checking the yard for any intrusions, glanced at Lucien. And the latter frowned. Lucien was clueless about what Tatum's gaze meant.
"The old Michaelson may have one," Tatum blurted out in the midst of silence.
Everyone's eyes turned to Tatum Elliot. He was feeling awful for these men who have their families in the hands of their enemy. He himself wouldn't be calm if his family were in such a life-threatening situation.
"And since the man who has their family is against our Boss Lucien, it's like the enemy of my enemy is my friend for these men and for the Michaelson's, don't you think so?" Tatum asked with a calm manner. He wanted to state his spectator's view. These men were brave enough to come forward and ask Anna's help despite knowing her capabilities to end their lives if she was not convinced with their intentions. They must really know Anna too well to be confident that she will take their propositions for the simple reason that she is comfortable working with them before she had a memory loss. And it might return soon, with them around.
"If old Michaelson declines your request, I can also introduce you to someone with a military cargo plane and suggests you skydive your way to get into your target," Tatum spoke with the same tone while he peeks out the window once in a while. He did not make his statements as serious as how the people around him were taking them.
Blake and his team wanted to grab Tatum's every suggestion, but they waited for Boss B's reactions.
With an arm still crossed on her chest, Brianna pressed her temple with the other hand. She stared blankly and looked at Lucien.
"I think Tatum is right," Lucien affirmed his driver's words. "If they want me alive, by having your families held as hostages, then we better cut the tree from its roots to end all of this problem. And we can join forces. We can assist your mission with the ride going there and the backup to take you out of there as fast as possible."
"If we are going to do this, we have to move now," Brianna stood from her seat. Then she turned to Blake. "Call Jack to keep track of that caller. Tell him to make sure he delays their threat to execute the hostages." Then she went into her armory. Everyone was left with awkwardness. They were literally enemies before this hour.
The group of mercenaries who wanted to take Lucien Michaelson with his driver/ bodyguard, Tatum Elliot, were left by themselves in the living room.
Blake came forward to shake hands with Lucien. Tatum was quick to stand in between, but when he saw the sincerity in Blake's face, he moved back.
"We, my team and I, would like to apologize, Mister Michaelson, for everything that occurred between us. I am glad we failed to do the job. I don't really trust whoever has our family will release them alive even if we were able to bring you to them," Blake extended his right hand to offer a handshake as a sign of declaring peace between them. They are one team now against whoever is after the Michaelsons and the ones who have their families. They will have to unite and claim victory over these evil people. Lucien accepted Blake's hand and shook it firmly.
"Let's go!" Brianna came out in full gear. She already saw where they were going, and she had her estimations of what she would need, so she prepared according to her preferences. "I am expecting you can deal with the transportation issues along the way to the ride of whether a chopper or a cargo plane. We don't have much time to waste," Brianna directed her words to Lucien.
The authority in her tone was undeniable. Tatum was worried she would offend Lucien, but his boss seemed to be fascinated by her autocratic demeanor. Her words were accurate and frank, no doubt about that, but Lucien was the employer here among them. Shouldn't she be slightly polite, at least? Her tone and words were like a freshly sharpened sword. Had it been anyone else to talk to Lucien Michaelson in such a way, this young realtor would have had shot daggers of glares and fired whoever dared.
"Let's get their families home," Lucien nodded with a faint smile. He dialed a number as he walked along with Anna out of her place.