The flight from London Heathrow would be much longer than the initial flight from Vienna, but it would give Giovani and Zabrina a chance to strategize, and there wasn’t too much to complain about while sitting in first class, sipping champagne.
“What is your plan once we arrive in Philadelphia?” Zabrina asked, absently flipping through a fashion magazine.
Giovani turned his attention from the clouds outside the window and took another sip of his Chardonnay before replying, “I contacted some of our brothers and sisters in the area, and they recommended I get in touch with an ex-Black Op by the name of Frank Howard. They said if anyone can arrange to extract Gibbon from a high security hospital, he’s our guy. So… we’ve been chatting, and he’s going to meet us as soon as we arrive. He has a few compadres who will likely also be on board.”
Zabrina raised an eyebrow. “If he’s a Black Op, why doesn’t he just go ahead and get Gibbon now? Why wait?”
Rolling his eyes in annoyance, Giovani shot back, “Because I told him not to. I want to be there when this goes down, Zabrina. This is my coup d'etat. While I’m willing to share some of the credit, when this is over, it must be clear that I alone am the Vampire Leader.”
“It’s hardly a coup,” Zabrina muttered, returning her attention to her magazine.
“Pardon?” Giovani replied, the volume and tone of his voice showing his agitation. “It most certainly is, in every sense imaginable. We are throwing off the bonds of a despot. No longer will Guardians and Hunters tell us what we can and cannot do. This is epic, Zabrina. Surely you see the significance of what we are about to do.”
Realizing there was no point in arguing with him--especially since doing so may lead him to believe she thought his plan had flaws--Zabrina changed the subject. “Well, I’ve spoken to my contact, and Nina has assured me that everything will be in place beneath Jeweler’s Row by the time our plane lands.”
“Everything?” Giovani clarified.
Now it was Zabrina’s turn to be annoyed. “Yes, everything,” she assured him. “But no news from Robert, correct?”
Giovani returned his attention out the window. While white puffy clouds continued to surround their aircraft, off in the distance he could see storm clouds brewing. “No, nothing yet,” he replied quietly. “But he will get her. I’m sure of it.”
“Then all we have to do is lure in the rest,” Zabrina reminded him.
“One doesn’t necessarily have to proceed the other,” he answered. “I’m sure LIGHTS will be on our heels shortly, regardless of whether Robert’s mission is completed first or last. It may actually make it easier if we can get our portion moving forward first.”
Again, the eyebrow went up, but there was no need to ask for clarification. If Giovani had already decided how things should--or could--be, then there would be no convincing him otherwise. “Well, it’s a solid plan, the best one anyone has ever had. Now, we just have to pull it off.”
“We will,” Giovani assured her. “It’s just a matter of time.”
* * *
Jamie had an operating room near his office, and after considering what had happened when Cadence Transformed, he decided that would be the safest place to go through with Brandon’s procedure, since his father was also of powerful stock. Though he didn’t anticipate needing anything other than the tools he always carried with him in his medical bag, it wouldn’t hurt to be precautious.
The walk from Sam’s cell to Jamie’s building had been a quiet one. Brandon and Cassidy were clearly shaken up a bit from their encounter with the trader, Cadence still felt like dragons were fighting in her stomach, and Aaron had to endure a lengthy explanation from Eliza regarding the botched Czech job. It wasn’t turning out to be a fabulous weekend after all.
“Wow, you guys all look super excited to be here,” Jamie said as they made their way into the operating room. He was just finishing setting up his supplies and equipment on a small table next to the bed Brandon would be occupying for the next several hours.
“Oh, I can hardly wait. Lots of pain and an indefinite amount of time unconscious. Who wouldn’t want that?” Brandon joked, eyeing the bed cautiously.
“Well, I thought this would be the safest place to do it, but I don’t foresee any problems,” Jamie assured him.
Brandon plopped himself onto the bed while the other three hung back a bit, Cassidy standing a few feet away, her arms crossed in apprehension. “May as well get it over with it,” he sighed, managing a small smile in her general direction.
“I know the procedure has been explained to you, but do you have any questions?” Jamie asked.
Pondering the question for a moment, Brandon finally shook his head and said, “I don’t think so. You’re gonna stick me, and a few minutes later you’re gonna stick me again, and then I’m gonna take a nap. Right?”
“Basically, yes,” Jamie assured him, reaching for a clipboard that was hanging on the end of the bed. “If you don’t have any questions, then, will you go ahead and sign this consent? It basically just says I’m not doing anything to you that you didn’t agree to, but feel free to read it if you’d like.”
As Brandon glanced over the document, Cadence said, “You didn’t make me sign anything like that.”
“This is different,” Jamie explained as Brandon scrawled his name across the bottom of the form. “Your parents had already given us permission and knew precisely where you are. I don’t want Ms. Keen showing up in a few hours threatening to sue me.”
“I’m an adult,” Brandon reminded him.
“I know,” Jamie nodded, “and that’s why you’re able to sign this. I just don’t want to be accused of coercing you.”
Jamie crossed over to the table and re-checked that he had everything as Brandon slipped his shoes off and tossed himself back onto the bed. “How many times have you done this?” he asked, rolling up his sleeve.
“Thousands,” Jamie assured him. “You’ll be fine, I promise. If it gets too painful, I can take care of that, too, although I’m hoping I don’t have to throw myself on top of you the way I did Cadence. That might be a little awkward.”
Brandon chuckled. “Yeah, please don’t.”
“It’ll be all right,” Cadence assured him, stepping over to the bed. “And when you wake up, you’ll know immediately that it was worth it.” She patted him on the arm and gave him a reassuring smile before stepping out of the way so that Aaron could speak to him.
