Is this destiny?

~ Los Angeles ~

Sarah and Aiden are in a restaurant, having lunch with Jarred and Charlie.

Charlie is excitedly explaining about his upcoming surgery.

Sarah can understand his feelings. Even though JoAnna didn't give him more than one in three chances to walk again, it is much better than zero.

"Surgery is in three weeks, did Anna give you any instructions until then?", Sarah asked.

"Not really. She said to rest. But I'm sitting all the time. What more rest I need?", Charlie responded.

"She probably implied to rest your head.", Jarred glanced at his overly-excited nephew. Even though it sounded that he is scolding him, Jarred was smiling. It's been a long time since he saw Charlie in such high spirits.

Charlie looked at Jarred and frowned for a second before rolling his eyes dramatically. "My head does not need rest. I'm optimistic. That is a good thing."

They laughed.

After few more minutes of casual chat, Jarred pulled a stack of papers and put it in front of Sarah and Aiden. "It will be ready in ten days."

Aiden gave Jarred a side look before glancing at the papers. His eyes lit up at the sight of a technical documentation for a helicopter.

"What is that?" Sarah asked.

"That, little girl, is your future helicopter." Jarred proudly announced and leaned closer. He spoked in a hushed voice: "It's a modified UH-60 Black Hawk equipped with radar jamming, stealth technology, and modified rotor blades which make it as close to soundless as it gets."

Sarah could see that old man is excited. But she cares only about few things: "How many people can fit inside?"

"Pilot, copilot and 12 people when fully equipped." Jarred answered and added: "Besides equipment it can carry, you can add 1800 kg weight internally and 5000 kg of cargo externally by a sling without degradation in performance."

"Degradation in performance?" She was not sure what it means.

"Mostly impacts the speed." He pointed at the papers which Aiden was reading through. "That helicopter cruises at the speed of 300 km/h, and it can reach maximum speed of about 400 km/h."

"Fast!", Sarah exclaimed. Speed was another of her requirements, and she is happy with what she heard. She lowered voice to ask: "What about the weapons?"

Jarred answered in hushed voice: "It's equipped with machine guns, miniguns and gatling guns. These are all hidden within the fuselage, so unless you use them, no one will know they are there."

Sarah was listening to his explanations and was happy that he didn't use many technical terms. She is aware that helicopter has many more features that can be discussed but Jarred kept it simple because she is not an expert. She appreciates that.

Jarred turned to Aiden and added one more paper from his briefcase to the stack. "There is also an option for hellfire laser guided air-to-ground missiles, stinger heat seeking air-to-air missiles and hydra unguided rockets. However, these can't be tucked within fuselage and will be visible. Do you want these included?"

Aiden turned to Sarah. "What do you think? If we add these, we will not be able to fly within city limits without alarming everyone who sees us."

Sarah was thinking for some time. She is not sure what those missiles and rockets are exactly, but she knows that they are powerful weapons. "Can we have two helicopters? One with and one without additional firepower?"

"We could. But why?" Aiden wanted to understand her motive.

"The one with only hidden weapons can be for here. And the second one with additional firepower we can keep in the Castle." Sarah explained.

"In France?" Aiden could not hide his surprise.

Sarah confirmed. "It's closer to Eastern Europe. I have a feeling we might need it."

Jarred stared at Sarah. "Little girl, are you staring a war?"

Sarah smiled. "Don't worry, old man. It's only for defense, we are not starting anything."

Jarred looked at Sarah with a complex expression. He sees her as a young lady, bright and cheerful, and he likes her. If his sister and his wife are still alive, he is confident that they would like Sarah as well.

Jarred met Sarah while gambling in Las Vegas where she cleaned the tables without batting an eye. At that time, he thought of her as an extremely smart and confident young lady. And when she gave him that blue diamond, he realized that she is generous as well. Definitely not greedy. Recently he found out that she is connected to White family, so she can't be just some random person. And now they are buying a helicopter (or two) which can literally wipe off a small country for defense? Who is after her that she needs such protection? He feels sorry that instead of enjoying her youth she seems to be living in some world where she needs to always watch her back.

Aiden understood Sarah's intention, but having those additional weaponry might be a problem. If anyone sees it, they will need to do a lot of explaining. He turned to Jarred. "How difficult is to remove and add these additional weapons?"

"Are you interested to do it yourself?" Jarred was surprised when Aiden nodded. He quickly composed himself and answered with a straight face: "If you have the right screwdriver, it's not difficult."

Aiden thought how Jarred is trying to be funny. How can it be so simple as the right screwdriver? But as long as there is an option to remove weapons if they are not needed, it will work. "OK. Then, we want two helicopters. The lighter version for Los Angeles, and the one with heavier weaponry will head to France. Close to Paris. Let me know when it's ready and you will get the coordinates where to drop it off."

"Delivery to Europe will cost you extra." Jarred added with a serious expression.

"With all the money we will give you, make sure to include all the screwdrivers needed." Aiden matched Jarred's serious-business tone.

After few seconds of silence, they all laughed.

Jarred's impression of Aiden is good, and now that he saw how this young man is fearlessly countering him, he likes him even more.

"You two are really a good match!", Jarred exclaimed. "I hope I will be invited to your wedding."

Sarah and Aiden glanced at each other and then confirmed that they will invite him.

"You too, of course!", Sarah quickly added when she saw Charlie pouting in protest that he got neglected.

Jarred said that the version for Los Angeles will be ready in ten days, and second helicopter with added weapons will take longer. He will let them know as soon as he has estimates.

Aiden thought how that is perfect. With added time, he can arrange for a helipad and also for something to keep the helicopter out of sight when it's not in use at their French castle property.

"Master, Sophia turned on facial recognition on her brooch.", Eve sounded in Sarah's earpiece.

Sarah tapped her earpiece. "Where is she?"

"LA Medical Center.", Eve responded.

"Connect me to her.", Sarah commanded and glanced at people at the table. "Excuse me..." she took few steps away.

"What is going on?", Sarah asked Sophia as soon as the call connected.

"Hi Sarah, I had some stress and we came to LA Medical Center to make sure everything is OK.", Sophia quickly explained assuming that Sarah found out she is in the hospital and that is why Sarah is calling. Sophia didn't want to talk about being stuck in an elevator, that was not important, and it would make Sarah worry.

"Why are you using the brooch?", Sarah went straight to the point.

Now Sophia understood what alerted Sarah. "It's just that something made me uneasy… We completed the check up and they said everything is fine and that we can go. But before we left, another nurse came and asked us to stay behind because they want to do some additional tests...."