Page 208 of Renegade
“This isn’t a request.”
“No,” Greystone pushed back.
“I don’t have protective gear for you,” Forrest said.
“If the building blows, that gear won’t save you,” Greystone said. “Every second counts. Let’s get to work.”
Greystone had cheated death before. He had every confidence he’d do it again. Even if he didn’t, he wasn’t going out like a coward.
He was a Santini.
Courage, determination, and grit flowed through his veins.
CAROLINE
Before Caroline sat,she asked one of the attendants to escort her around the jet. Air Force One held seventy passengers anda crew of up to twenty-six. The Presidential jet was sectioned off to provide the President and his team with working quarters along with a sizable office, a conference room, and sleeping accommodations for the First Family.
The front of the craft held over thirty spacious seats. Two seats separated by an aisle, then two more seats, another aisle, and two more seats. As she walked through, she recognized several key figures in the President’s cabinet. The back section was a repeat of the center section, plush seats that would normally accommodate the press. But today, it held his closest employees. The jet was filled with political powerhouses.
While the weight of this flight could have bogged her down, it didn’t. She had one job to do. Ensure everyone on that five-hour flight landed at Area 51 in Nevada. Then, once the bombs had successfully been deactivated and the threat eliminated, she’d ensure their safe flight home.
Most of the passengers were heads down on their laptops. Several were engaged in conversations, a few talked on their phones.
When the flight attendant escorted Caroline to the front of the jet, she took her seat beside Evelyn Baker, the President’s Chief of Staff and, more importantly, Grey’s mom.
As she buckled in, she glanced at Evelyn’s laptop screensaver. Realizing she was full-on gawking, she flicked her gaze out the window.
“That’s from his winging,” Evelyn said. “It was a special day.”
“He looks different clean-shaven with short hair. Just as handsome, but different.”
“I’ve got several more pictures, if you’re interested,” Evelyn said.
“Good morning, this is Captain McAnter.” His calm voice filled the cabin. “We’re two minutes from taxiing. The flight is a little over five hours. Skies are clear with great visibility. Pleaseremain in your seats with your seatbelt fastened. As always, welcome aboard Mr. President and Mrs. Garrison. Always a pleasure.”
Evelyn had opened a folder on her laptop marked “Greystone” and had pulled up a number of photos. One of Grey at his college graduation. He stood towering over Evelyn and Sean with the biggest smile on his face while he proudly displayed his diploma.
“He graduated with honors,” Evelyn said, a prideful smile touching her eyes. “He’s not our biological son, but he’s still ours. We’re very grateful he came into our lives.”
She clicked on another picture of him dressed in a camouflage uniform, wearing sunglasses and a helmet. He was sitting in the back of an open-air Navy truck.
“This is during his SEAL training.” She smiled at the memory. “He used to text us that he was running and gunning.”
She shared a number of other photos with Caroline as the airplane taxied to the runway.
“Thank you for showing me those,” Caroline said when Evelyn finished. “He’s a one-in-a-million man.”
“I see you’re wearing the diamond earrings he gave you,” Evelyn murmured.
Caroline smiled. “They’re beautiful.”
“You’re very special to him,” Evelyn said.
“I feel the same. I loved working with him, but it was crazy stressful. He likes to push the envelope.”
As the jumbo jet raced down the runway, Evelyn chuckled. “That’s diplomatic. He’s a beast, a little insane, and very, very brave. I couldn’t do what he does.”
“Most couldn’t.”
