Activated, p.19
Activated, page 19
Cesare’s eyes narrow on mine. “If you call him now, Rafael’s blood and many others will be on your hands.”
The tension in the room is as thick as the darkness outside until my dad intervenes. “Hi, there. Piacere. You’re obviously Mila’s Italian friend’s father,” he says. “Let’s start over. I’m Jason Rivers.”
Cesare regains his calm, a gentleman taking over. “Si. I know who you are. Mila’s father. Famous businessman. Nailed for insider trading.” Cesare gives him a wink.
Dad clears his throat and gives me a sideways glance. “That’s right. Glad that’s out there.” Then he turns to Noble, making it obvious that he’s examining him thoroughly again. “My daughter has told me a lot about you. Thank you for helping her and Kai in Tunisia.”
Blood drains from my face and Noble’s eye twitches when my dad mentions Kai. Both Noble and my frequencies skip, as if even Kai’s name is an unspoken barrier between us. I can’t believe my dad just did that.
Noble shrugs it off and smiles at my dad. “Of course. Your daughter means a lot to me.” He pauses, folding his hands behind his back. “Welcome to Lapland. I, um…didn’t count on you coming here.”
“So I noticed.” My dad’s face is straight as a nail, the warning clear. Oh, great.
Noble’s lack of trust for older men shows in how he tightens up his posture. His numbers evaluate my dad, but it’s over within a couple seconds. He’s recorded enough to know he’s not a threat, no matter how he postures. Noble won’t find anything except a loving father, who never turns away a kid who needs a friend. He’s much like Qadar in that way.
On the contrary, Noble is very comfortable around Cesare, which means this isn’t their first meeting. They’ve already exchanged two glances where an understanding passed between them. This is a string worth unraveling. It also makes my insides boil. Noble, who confessed his feelings for me and then fled, told me to find him. Once I did, he told me not to come. After three months in the dark, an international crisis, and a trip to the North Pole to reach him, now he wants to kiss me. To top it all off, he’s housing Cesare, who is most likely the root of the problem.
“I don’t like secrets,” I say, my voice sharp. “There’s a lot of explaining that needs to happen and not a lot of time. Who’s first?”
Noble’s hand shifts. He’ll reach for my arm, if I don’t move. I soften when his touch clamps down on my elbow. His face is apologetic. “Things are more complicated than you know. And they just got worse.”
“Worse? You mean now that I’m here?” I ask, the hurt mixing with urgency. “Because out there, in Helsinki, and in the rest of the world there are blackouts and mafia stalking the ISC Banquet. Two things no one wants. The whole world is looking for you Noble…and you’re hanging around with a criminal.”
Cesare shoots me a dirty look. “Ex-criminal,” he mumbles.
I raise my eyebrows at him. “We’ll see about that. Private Global Forces is looking for you and Rafael. So are Palermo’s men. And I’ve been looking for you.” My face is heating up as the words keep coming out. “You don’t just run away without telling anyone where you’re going!” My words are directed to Cesare—but the emotion isn’t. Noble feels it loud and clear.
His grip on my arm tightens into a plea. I turn, not ready for what I see. The desert skies are hidden in his eyes, vast and endless. I had definitely imagined this moment differently. What’s worse is I can read his body language and he can read mine. He didn’t imagine our reunion like this either. Unspoken words still hang between us. It’s clear we want to be alone—to talk, to fill the silence with numbers and catch up on three wasted months. But it’s not possible when my father is standing to my left and a former Italian crime boss is standing to my right.
Three seconds pass before my dad elbows me lightly, breaking off our staring contest. “Things to do, remember?”
I linger for a moment longer before I tear my gaze away. My dad is right. The ISC launch can’t afford to wait for two teen geniuses to solve their relationship problems. And I finally found Cesare. My team is waiting on me, and Kai—who’s not waiting for me—is out there, mixed up in this too.
My dad pats Noble on the shoulder. “Great house you have here. Hope you have room for two more tonight?”
“Of course.” Noble relaxes.
My father then turns to Cesare. “You mentioned coffee? I, for one, could definitely use a cup. Please, lead the way.”
“Bene. Finally someone with a little sense.” Cesare steers him off in the direction of the kitchen.
Noble, still a bit hesitant, finally forces a grin. “Maybe it’s a good thing you brought your dad.” He shakes his head as he leads me into the kitchen.
Chapter 38
NOBLE’S REFUGE, ARCTIC CIRCLE, FINLAND
NOBLE'S COFFEE EFFUSES an aroma of cardamom throughout the house, but not Cesare’s. His coffee is short, bitter, and dark, like the amount of daylight here in winter.
Noble serves my dad and me a cup, and we settle by the fireplace in the living room under a darkening sky. Noble eyes the place beside me on the couch then glances at my father. He chooses a spot in the corner on a stack of pillows that reminds me of Tunisia.
The tension in the room is four-sided.
I set my coffee down. “I learned something about you recently that I’d love a bit of insight on,” I say to Cesare. “You’re the largest share-holder in Scale Tech. You also failed to mention that you are Palermo Ricci’s cousin and were in line to be the next boss in your mafia family before that alliance was taken down. An alliance that has now resurfaced.”
Cesare clears his throat. “Si. Everything is a big mess. My family has a long and complex history. Which is why I moved to China in the first place—to escape it all. My reputation, however, got around and I wound up with King. An old life doesn’t like to let go, which is why I need to deal with my past once and for all.”
I pause. “You were supposed to be starting a new life with Ghost Markers,” I say.
“You don’t know my family like I do,” he says. “A legacy doesn’t die easily. Palermo found us within weeks after the trial. He offered to free us as if we were prisoners. Offered me partnership. It was time to begin phase one of renewing our family’s great legacy.”
“Which is?” I ask.
“My grandfather knew his reign was coming to an end, so he made a plan to move forward in a new way. He called it Terra Liberata, a free earth. An elite and evolved mafia that would monopolize industries and gain power from within. A five-phase operation. One day, he promised, we’d own it all—military, medical, environmental, digital, communications. Then, power and domination would be ours. It was terrorism, but in a legal form.”
“When did your grandfather have this vision?” I ask.
“Years before he was caught,” he explains. “He collected secrets to blackmail politicians and used blood money to invest in everything. In his will, he divided it up amongst us, but on his deathbed, he chose me to carry out his legacy because I was the rule breaker in the family. The risk taker. The black sheep. He thought I’d be more ruthless because of it. Turns out, the only rules I wanted to break were his.” He sighs. “The vision was too much for me, but not too much for Palermo.” He sips his coffee.
“Tell me about your cousin,” I say. My father leans in, but Noble has evidently heard this before.
“Brillante e brutale. Like my grandfather, Palermo is obsessed with power, and he is smart like you. When I declared that Terra Liberata would end with me, Palermo declared himself the next boss. Half of the family followed him. Half remained loyal to me—but not for long. Phase one started with communications, satellites, and electricity. But most of my grandfather’s wealth is in my name. Palermo only had stocks in medical companies, so he approached me about buying my shares of Scale Tech. He wanted to gain influence in the technology industry and use it to advance Terra Liberata. I refused.” Cesare shakes his head “Palermo doesn’t take no for an answer. A year later, he asked again. When I said no, he killed my wife and threatened my son. After that I was done. I moved to China.” He rubs his hands on his legs. The anger I felt in him in China now makes sense.
“For years, I tried to ignore him,” Cesare continued. “To look away, not get involved. But after the blackouts started and news got around that Palermo’s acquisition of Scale Tech was turning hostile, I told Agent Bai. He looked into it, but Palermo has a spotless record. Thankfully, PGF believed me anyway and sent in an agent.”
“Kai…” I whisper.
Noble’s eyes dart to mine. “You saw Kai?” Noble asks, his face turning a shade darker.
I nod. “In Helsinki,” I say, flustered. “We bumped into each other. He was undercover with Palermo.”
“I see,” Noble says, masking an emotion I can’t pinpoint. “What did he say?”
“He advised me not to come north,” I say. Noble goes rigid again, hiding his numbers. Whatever he’s thinking, he doesn’t want me to know. “He said there’s a mafia war coming.”
Cesare grits his teeth. “I’m the only thing standing in Palermo’s way, which is why he took Rafael. That’s what he does. He kidnaps and threatens people. You may have read that Dr. Salonen’s wife is in a coma? Palermo put her there using a drug he created in his medical labs. As for the three scientists that went missing? Palermo forced them to work for him at the cost of their spouses, and then had two of them killed. Rafael and the third scientist are being held hostage at Scale Tech’s Arctic Lab until the scientist completes the weapon and positions the Super Satellite for use. Palermo’s blackout weapon is not quite complete. Up until now, he’s been using an experimental nanosatellite with a faulty design. His real weapon is in the Super Satellite.”
He exhales. “If I had stayed in Croatia or talked—I’d be dead. In our world, we deal with these things within la famiglia, which is why I called men who used to be loyal to me to come here. Together we will stop him.”
Aha. Back up mafia is about to arrive. Great.
“What is Terra Liberata’s plan?” My mind is computing, memorizing, forming predictions but I need more information.
“The ISC Super Satellite Launch will be used to create the largest blackout in history. It will cause unrivaled chaos. Evidence will show that a massive geomagnetic storm was the culprit, but that is not the truth. Using the Super Satellite as a weapon, Palermo will destroy over 200 satellites orbiting the earth and wreak havoc like wolves in a sheep pen. Terra Liberata will gain access to an enormous amount of data—bank accounts, missile codes, government files and secrets. Their power will be unrivaled. Not to mention the disruption and deaths caused by the blackout itself. The consequences will be unfathomable—unless we stop them.”
His words are a thousand tons of water.
“How do you plan to get into Scale Tech?” I ask, my mind buzzing with numbers. “The entire area is loaded with surveillance and armed security, and apparently Scale Tech has an impenetrable electromagnetic dome protecting the labs.”
“This is why I’m here with him.” He points to Noble. “This boy knows how to get us inside.”
Noble’s frequency spikes, but he avoids my gaze. I harden my emotions, so I can focus.
“So, what’s the plan once you’re inside?” I ask.
“My men will meet us there after Noble opens the southern gates. The patrols are fewer there. We go in and stop Palermo. Rescue Rafael. Noble will access the programming of the Super Satellite and set everything straight, preventing the blackout before they activate it. Finito.”
“You make it sound easy,” I say. “Kai called it a war. Palermo must know you’re coming.”
“He suspects I’m up to something, but he doesn’t have proof. Regardless, you’re right. There will be blood.” He rubs his belly as it growls. “Dinner?”
Chapter 39
WHILE CESARE PREPARES a pasta dinner with herbs and vegetables from Noble’s greenhouse, we continue discussing the plan for tomorrow.
I wrinkle my nose at Cesare. “You seriously want to talk about blood and stopping a mafia war and international terrorism while sautéing garlic?”
“What, do you think the mafia discusses everything with a cigar and grappa in a dark basement?” he laughs. “We still eat dinner. I’m hungry. I bet you are too; you just didn’t say anything.”
If I wasn’t before, the garlic wafting in the air makes me hungry now. “Fine. What were you saying about blood?”
“That it’s inevitable. In my family, there are two types of blood—one that is loyal, and one that is shed. Growing up, I didn’t know anything different. When men you respect live like this, it’s hard to see the truth. That’s why there will be blood—I’m betraying Palermo, who is family. But if we’re smart, we can reduce the amount.” He throws in the onions.
The word blood should scare me, but it doesn’t. I’m compelled to prevent it. I’m relieved that Cesare and Noble have a plan to stop the satellite takeover and the blackouts. But the plan is too simple, and my numbers scream it’s not enough.
“When is this break-in at Scale Tech happening?” I ask, thinking about the meeting Chan has with Palermo.
“We will meet my men at first light at the gates,” he says. “Palermo doesn’t arrive there until the afternoon.”
I bite my lip. “Do you have a map of Scale Tech’s facility? I need to see it.”
Noble clenches his jaw, reluctant to show me. He knows what happens when our minds see a map. But he hands over a device that has a detailed map of the area including the entire one hundred acres of Scale Tech Labs. My mind sets everything to scale. The roads, rivers, and lakes; the small homes and laavus; Scale Tech’s massive property and dozens of lab buildings.
I point to the map. “The Infinity Dome covers this whole area?” I ask in wonder. Noble nods. “There’s no way to disable it?”
Noble shakes his head. “No safe or easy way—it would require too much power.”
After factoring in the snow and temperatures, my mind has a clear idea of where and what everything is. There’s still one question plaguing my mind.
“How did you two meet?” I ask Noble, motioning to Cesare at the stove.
Noble jumps to answer. “The short version is I’ve had my eye on Scale Tech for a while, which led me to him.” It’s a half-truth. He knows how to get around lying, which he did to me in Tunisia. I let it go. It’s a question for later.
“What’s important,” Noble continues, “is that I can get Cesare’s men through the Infinity Dome without blood.”
There are holes in this plan, and my gut feels it. “I don’t know what you’re seeing,” I say, referring to his numbers, “but I think you’re going to need our help.”
Noble’s brow tightens. “No. That’s not what my calculations say. You’re not going anywhere near that place.” Noble’s eyes harbor a thousand secrets and an undetermined amount of pain. His eyes flick to my father.
“Don’t look at me,” my dad says. “She’s the head of this operation.” My dad looks like he wants to help too but we both know our job was to find Noble, who’s agreed to help the ISC debug the satellite. We didn’t come to stop a mafia war. Ms. T, who’s waiting for an update, won’t be pleased. But the numbers keep pointing in that direction.
I look at Noble. “The ISC mentioned the Super Satellite had a glitch. What do you know about it?”
He narrows his eyes for a split second. “It’s a hidden program that I’ll disable tomorrow.” His answers are too short, too vague. Something doesn’t add up.
“I’m sorry, but we have to come with you,” I say, thinking it over. “Rafael contacted me for a reason.”
“Yes, and Palermo’s men know who you are because of that,” Noble says indignantly. “He should never have called you.” Noble looks out the window. I look at Cesare.
“Don’t worry,” Cesare says. “I already told Noble about you and my son.” He winks, and I’m horrified.
“There wasn’t much to tell,” I say, inwardly cringing. “We were just friends.”
“Friends?” He laughs. “You two were so…carino. Cute. Fumbling over words. Awkward stares. Ha!”
I hold a steady smile to hide the pure embarrassment thumping inside me. It was partly true anyway. I never knew what I could or could not say in the Pratt. But we developed trust, a bond, a friendship I needed—one that brought hope to my life that it could be normal.
Cesare daintily pours a buttery herb sauce over the pasta, divvying it out onto four white plates. He removes his apron. “La cena è pronta. Dinner is served.”
We sit around a small wooden table with a glass skylight above us. Stars abound.
“Usually, I’d serve wine,” Cesare apologizes. “But he—” motioning to Noble “—doesn’t drink.”
Taking my fork in hand, I realize I’m parched. Before I can reach for the carafe on the table, Noble is pouring me a glass of lemon water. He sets it in front of me, a shy smile on his lips.
“Thank you,” I say, my numbers heightening.
I bite into a forkful of pasta, which is surprisingly delicious then turn to Cesare. “What else can I do to help?”
“Protect Rafael. He’s a good kid. I don’t want him mixed up in this life.” Cesare sighs.
Noble frowns, his expression like crossed out equations. “Jo, please,” he says, concerned, “don’t go anywhere near Scale Tech.”
“Noble, we can do this. Just like Tunisia,” I say. “You could never have delivered the holothumb to Kai without me, remember?”
He sets his fork down. “Tunisia?” He doesn’t look happy. He’s calculating something. “The circumstances here are much worse than Tunisia. Impenetrable electromagnetic security. A mafia battle. A crime boss bent on finding you. Global blackouts that could last for months. You can’t just walk into Scale Tech with a fancy watch and fingertip bombs and stop the bad guys. That won’t work here.”
