As the saying goes, three years pass, then another three. Just when Anna thought her series of spectacular assassinations would earn her freedom, her superior, Vasilev, crushed that hope with a single sentence.
"There's only one way to leave the FSB. Do you want to know what it is?"
As he spoke, Vasilev held a gold-plated Czech CZ75 semi-automatic pistol.
——
"Vasilev? That scumbag is still alive?" Frank's cheek twitched slightly—not at hearing the name, but at the sight of Jack casually downing half a bottle of Romanée-Conti straight from the bottle.
They were in Frank's third safe house in Paris—a seemingly ordinary woodland cabin, yet it had a well-stocked wine cellar.
"I thought that bastard was purged during the FSB's internal clean-up."
"He's now my boss's boss," Anna muttered, looking down like a scolded schoolgirl.
This little troublemaker had no problem acting up around Jack, but when facing Frank, she turned docile—like a misbehaving student being confronted by a terrifying principal.
From the start, Anna's plea for help had always been directed at Frank.
All the seduction and suicidal dramatics she'd pulled on Jack weren't entirely fake, but they were calculated—an act of survival.
That shot she took at herself? 100% real. If Jack had been even half a second slower, he'd be burying a body right now.
And Jack's earlier outburst of anger? Not entirely fake either. A more gullible man, touched by her plight, might have already started begging Frank to help her.
That was precisely what Frank had been hoping for.
After all, Jack had done him a huge favor by saving his granddaughter. In return, wouldn't it be fair to gift him a stunning little assassin girlfriend?
Problem was—Jack didn't see it that way.
Sure, Anna was beautiful—gorgeous face, flawless figure.
But he wasn't lacking in women.
More importantly, he knew himself well.
Would someone like Anna—a highly trained intelligence operative—sincerely throw herself at a man just because he saved her from a few human traffickers?
In the movie Anna, she had zero regard for her body. She was willing to seduce anyone, male or female, if it meant gaining her freedom.
Even if the auction had gone through, she would have suffered some indignities, but ultimately, she wouldn't have been trapped.
With her skills, no average place could hold her. At worst, she'd have bitten the bullet and escaped—just another price to pay.
Because both Frank and Anna had their own agendas, neither of them spoke when Jack lashed out.
Everyone here was too smart. No one was going to bullshit the other.
And the truth was—Jack had already helped her.
Earlier, he had deliberately spoken about her situation with Frank—fully aware that she was eavesdropping.
He was giving her an opportunity.
But she was too smart for her own good.
Or perhaps, she felt she didn't have enough leverage to sway Frank, so she doubled down on Jack—hoping to use him as a bargaining chip.
But she had miscalculated.
Jack never played into her game.
That wasn't to say Jack had no interest in her.
Just not in a romantic way.
Ever since his time in Korea, Jack had realized something—
Outside of the U.S., he lacked reliable contacts.
Chris and Braxton had their own responsibilities—one building a business, the other raising a family.
Most of Jack's other friends also had steady jobs. None of them could just drop everything to assist him overseas.
Jack never planned to wander internationally.
But after encountering familiar storylines in Korea—and again in Paris—his perspective had shifted.
He knew Rossi's tactics.
Officially, they had agreed on five overseas cases per year.
But a $30 million Bombardier Challenger 850 wasn't just a "gift."
Think back to how he was lured from L.A. to New York—
At first, it was just one year.
Now, nearly two years had passed, and Jack hadn't even thought about leaving.
Same three-year trap, just without the death threat Anna had hanging over her head.
Rossi's strategy worked far better—showing favor first, then reeling him in.
And Jack knew it.
Which meant he would be traveling overseas more often in the future.
And if he ran into more familiar plots and wanted to capitalize on them—
Chris and the others wouldn't always be able to back him up.
He needed someone local.
Someone highly capable.
Someone expendable.
Like how Frank had multiple safe houses in Paris, Jack figured—why not do the same?
The world he lived in wasn't normal.
It was a chaotic melting pot of movies, shows, and fiction.
If a catastrophe like The Day After Tomorrow or 2012 happened, that was one thing—no man could fight nature.
But Hollywood loved destroying America specifically.
Jack couldn't shake the feeling that even the Statue of Liberty looked suspicious.
The Twin Towers were gone, yet somehow that damn statue was still standing?
In a movie universe? That was a miracle.
What if one day, the U.S. did get "scripted" into collapse?
Wouldn't it be wise to have backup plans—places to take his loved ones and disappear?
Anna had no ties.
To intelligence agencies, she was an untrustworthy discard.
But to Jack?
She was a perfect recruit.
A government-trained killer who had taken out 27 targets in two years.
She was skilled in assassination, evasion, and improvisation.
If he gained her trust, she could help him both abroad and in setting up safe houses worldwide.
——
As Anna spoke quietly with Frank, a rhythmic knock sounded at the cabin door.
Jack stood and opened it.
Castle and Bryan were there, with the two girls in tow.
For safety, they had driven halfway around Paris before following Jack's instructions to this location.
Kim seemed more stable—probably exhausted from crying. She clung to Bryan, wary of strangers, though her eyes held curiosity upon seeing Jack.
Alexis, on the other hand, was completely fine.
The moment she saw Jack, she leapt into his arms, kissing his cheek multiple times—
Leaving Castle behind with a very frozen expression.
——
It was late, and everyone was starving.
Fortunately, Frank had prepped this safe house in advance.
Fresh eggs, milk, and vegetables were stocked. The freezer held plenty of steak.
They worked together to prepare a quick meal.
After coaxing the girls upstairs to sleep—with Castle staying to watch over them—
The rest returned to the living room, continuing the real conversation.
______
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