2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #2 discussion

Her passion is flying. As one of the best helicopter pilots in the naval reserves, Lieutenant Teri Howe is strong, dedicated, and highly skilled–until a past mistake surfaces, jeopardizing everything she’s worked for.

Rock steady Senior Chief Stan Wolchonok has made a career of tackling difficult challenges. So it’s no surprise when he comes to Teri’s aid, knowing that his personal code of honor–and perhaps his heart–will be at risk. But when a jet carrying an American senator’s daughter is hijacked, Stan’s unflinching determination and Teri’s steadfast courage are put to the ultimate test. The rescue mission will be daring and dangerous. But somewhere between peril and resolution, the line between friends and lovers begins to blur, pushing both their lives over the edge. . . .

Settings
Kazbekistan
San Diego, California
Denmark

Prologue
23 Chapters

Character List
(view spoiler)[
Stanley Wolchonok: Senior Chief, SEAL Team 16.
Teri Howe: Navy reserves, Lieutenant (jg),helicopter pilot.
Roger (Sam) Starrett: Lieutenant(jg), SEAL Team 16 leader.
Alyssa Locke: Former Navy sniper now a FBI agent in the Counterterrorism Unit.
Thomas (Tom) Paoletti: Lieutenant Commander, SEAL Team 16. engaged to Kelly.
Kelly Ashton: Tom's fiancée.
Casper (Jazz) Jacquette: Executive Officer, SEAL Team 16.
Mike Muldoon: Ensign, SEAL Team 16.
Kenny (WildCard) Karmody: Petty Officer Third Class, SEAL Team 16. He’s a computer specialist.
Danny Gillman: aka Gilligan. Petty Officer, SEAL Team 16.
Mark (Jenks) Jenkins: Petty Officer, 2nd Class, SEAL Team 16.
Jay Lopez: Medic SEAL Team 16.
John (Nils) Nilsson: Lieutenant, SEAL Team 16. Language expert. Married to Meg.
Frank O'Leary: Chief, SEAL Team 16 sniper.
Wayne Jefferson: SEAL Team 16 sniper.
Kate Takamoto: Navy Lieutenant.
Joel Hogan: Navy Lieutenant Commander who is harassing Teri.
Max Bhagat: Head of the FBI Counterterrorism Unit.
Jules Cassidy: FBI agent in the Counterterrorism Unit. Alyssa Locke's partner.
Rob Pierce: Member of the British Secret Intelligence Service (SIS). He’s an observer of the op in Kazbekistan.
Leonard (Lenny) Jackson: One of Teri’s mother’s former lovers who was a strong father figure for her. He’s deceased and is a former Navy SEAL. He enforced her decision to learn to become a pilot.
Gina Vitagliano: College student/drummer on a European trip with her school band mates. She’s on the hijacked plane.
Helga Rosen Shuler: Israeli envoy. Escaped from Denmark with parents during World War II, aided by Stan's mother’s family.
Desmond Nyland: Helga's personal assistant.
Hershel Rosen: Helga’s older brother.
Marte Gunvald Wolchonok: Stan's mother. Helga's childhood friend.
Annebet Gunvald Rosen: Stan's aunt who he knew as Anna.
Herr Gunvald: Marte's father, Stan's grandfather.
Mary Lou Morrison: Woman who Sam picks up at the LadyBug Lounge and dates for a few weeks.
Adele Zakashansky: WildCard’s high school sweetheart who recently dumped him.
Janine Morrison: Mary Lou's sister. Tries to pick up Stan at LadyBug Lounge and ends up with WildCard.
Kevin Franklin: Manager of LadyBug Lounge.
Karen Crawford: Daughter of US Senator who missed the flight from Greece.
Casey: Gina’s friend and member of of the jazz band on the hijacked plane.
Trent Engelman: Gina’s boyfriend, a university student who’s a member of jazz band on the hijacked plane.
Andrew Crawford: US Senator and Karen’s father.
Gruber: Nazi soldier in Denmark. In love with Annabet.
Bob: Terrorist/hijacker. Real name is Babur Haiyan. He speaks English well and is very attractive.
Al: Terrorist/hijacker. Real name is Alojzije Nabulsi.
(hide spoiler)]

Spoiler Info
(view spoiler)[
The hijackers never intended to leave that tarmac. They wanted to blow up the plane with Navy SEALS on it during the rescue. There was a woman hidden among the passengers wearing a suicide bomb. Stan shot her before she detonated it but it had a failsafe that would automatically detonate it 15 minutes after she lost a pulse. She shot Stan but he was able to carry her body off the plane, get on Teri’s helicopter and dump the bomb over the ocean. He was severely wounded.

Mary Lou turns up pregnant and Sam feels bound to marry her after he and Alyssa had agreed to be together.

Teri and Stan are engaged. He used the engagement ring that Herschel had given Annabet. (hide spoiler)]