Chapter 22

Four days later they were all at breakfast when Nate's phone rang.

"Ford." He answered in his usual way.

"Mr Ford…you are in danger." Juan Morero's voice came through.

"Juan…Juan is that you?" Nate asked now fully alert as he heard the desperation in the boys' voice.

"Mr Ford, my father is dead…Bronovich killed him, he is here in Mexico. I don't know what to do."

"Where are you? Are you safe?"

"I am at a safe house my father has I don't think Bronovich knows about it."

"Juan what happened?"

"He came to the house and there was a fight, my father was killed along with most of his men. I think my dad told him you were still alive, I think he will come for you Mr Ford, he was so angry about what happened. Anyway I thought I should warn you."

"You going to be alright?"

"I should be." Juan said. "Like I said he does not know about this place, and I don't think I am his target, I think that was my dad because of what happened to get me out, he was very angry about Novich's death, apparently they were family. Anyway, I managed to get away but I heard him when he spoke to my dad, before he…he…killed him, he told Bronovich you were still alive Nate, he hurt him and I don't think he would have otherwise, my dad was not…"

"Of course not Juan. Ok, I understand and thank you for calling. Now you make sure you stay safe, stay out of sight, Bronovich will want you as well, you interfered with his business and he won't let that go. I will let you know when it is over, and you are safe. If I don't then somebody will ok Juan?" Nate said looking at Eliot as he spoke. "Tell me you understand."

"I do. Mr Ford I am so sorry this is my fault…"

"No Juan not your fault, just is what it is, and I will deal with it ok." Nate said closing his eyes as he spoke, he should have known this was coming, Bronovich was not one to let something like what had happened go, especially with the death of Novich who was his sister's husband. "Now be careful and stay safe and I will be in contact." Nate said and after Juan agreed he hung up.

"Nate?" Sophie asked putting her hand on his.

"Bronovich took care of business in Mexico, Morero is dead but according to Juan before he died he told him I had made it out of Russia alive." Nate said rising and pouring himself a glass of whiskey before taking his seat again.

"Dammit." Eliot cursed.

"Ok, so what do you know about this?" Nate asked looking from one to another.

"Nate…"

"None of you look surprised at the mention of Bronovich Sophie, so I take it you knew something about this?" Nate said sitting back and sipping on his whiskey. They had done a good job of keeping it from him though he had to admit. He was not angry with them he knew they were just trying to protect him but now it was passed that. The man was coming, and he was coming for him and that would put them all in danger and they needed a plan to deal with it.

Eliot sighed and then nodded. Before telling him that Hardison had picked up on Bronovich's presence in LA although they did not know if he was there on business or after Nate.

"I don't think he was after me." Nate said after Eliot had gone through everything. "No, I think he thought I died there in Russia when the car went over the cliff."

"But not anymore."

"No Sophie, not anymore, now he knows I am not dead. Morero told him."

"So he will be coming for you." Parker stated.

"Yes he will." Nate said downing the last of his whiskey.

"We will be ready for him we have taken precautions and we are ready for anything." Eliot said hoping to reassure Nate that they would be ready for the man and keep him and his family safe.

"Yes…well no Eliot I don't think so. Bronovich is a different prospect to our other marks. He will be mad as hell, firstly that I was responsible for Novich's death and secondly that I tricked him not just once, getting Juan out but then again when he thought I was dead. No we are not nearly ready to take this man on." Nate said then closed his eyes before speaking again. "I think Sophie and Michael need to…"

"Don't even think it Nate, I am not going anywhere." Sophie interrupted him.

"Sophie this man, Bronovich, he does not play games, he will come at me head on and he will take anything and everything in his way out. So yes you will be going somewhere because your only job is to take care of our son and keep him safe. Now I will not take any arguments on that front understand?" Nate said reaching out and taking his wife's hand in his. "I need to know you and Michael are safe Sophie, please for me."

"So what do you want me to do Nate?" Sophie asked locking eyes with him. "Sit around and wait, just like we did in Russia, not helping and then you…you were nearly killed, and we did nothing. Nate you can't expect me to do nothing again."

"Soph you will not be doing nothing you will be taking care of our son. Now we have houses all over the place Soph, pick one." Nate smiled at her. "Parker and Hardison will go with you."

"No." Parker said shaking her head.

"Yes." Nate said looking at the woman. "I trust you Parker, I trust you to make sure Sophie and Michael are safe until all of this is over. Now I have Eliot and we will deal with this."

"You need us all to deal with this Nate." Sophie said softly.

"No Sophie I don't. Bronovich will know you, all of you, there will be no con, no game, this will be a straight out, head on fight and you will not be here for that do you understand?"

"You know I can take care of myself Nate."

"I know, but you are not taking care of yourself Sophie you are taking care of our son and I am not debating or arguing about this like I said. Eliot and I will stay here, you, Parker, Hardison and our son are not and that is final."

"You need intel Nate." Hardison said looking at the Mastermind.

"Yes I do but you can give me that whether you are here or not, I need you to make sure that they are safe Hardison, I am trusting you and Parker to do that so that me and Eliot can deal with this without worrying about them." Nate said. "Please guys, Sophie, I can't do this if…if…"

"Ok. Ok my darling." Sophie said seeing his angst and desperation.

"Good. Good ok, ok then..." Nate said with relief. "So I think you should leave tonight."

Sophie looked at him and nodded. She loved this man so very much and for him to think she was going to sit back and let him deal with Bronovich on his own, well he had another thing coming. But she was not going to say that now and he was right about one thing. She had to make sure her son, their son was safe first and she needed time to arrange that.

"Ok Hardison I want it all, everything you have, where he went and what he did and most importantly who he saw, can you get that?" Nate said turning away from Sophie and looking at his Hacker. "Also see if you can find out if he has returned to the US from Mexico now that he is finished there."

"I'll get it man." Hardison said but he knew it was easier said than done.

"Eliot we need to find another place, I am not having my house shot up by Bronovich and besides, we need to give ourselves a little more time before any confrontation happens." He said turning to Eliot.

"I'll get us a place, a secure one." Eliot said, he was quite happy to be moving, this place was nice and Hardison had ensured that they had good security, but it was big and would be difficult to defend in the case of head on attack from Bronovich. He needed somewhere more populated, make Bronovich work to get at them.

"Good." Nate said smiling at him. "Now I think I am going to go and spend time with my wife and son." He said standing and holding his hand out to Sophie who smiled taking it and standing before walking towards the nursery with the three watching them leave.

"I am not leaving you alone Eliot. You and Nate can't take on Bronovich on your own." Parker said as soon as they had both disappeared into the nursery.

"Parker."

"No, I will make sure that Sophie is safe, and that Michael is safe, but I will not hide away while Nate faces Bronovich."

"I'm with her." Hardison said taking Parkers hand in his.

"Yeah I am aware." Eliot smiled at them. "Trust me Sophie feels the same and I am sure when you have got Michael to a safe place she will not be hiding away and leaving Nate to face this alone…" He knew it was no reflection on him and his abilities but rather their need to be there to help Nate face this problem.

"Ok, so what's the plan?" Hardison asked.