Joe quizzes Cruz over the phone on Chesapeake Bay Bridge as she drives to meet Aaliyah. She advises Cruz to remain as dull as possible, preps her on what to do if she needs help before she ends the call, and tosses her burner phone.

Joe and Kaitlyn meet in D.C. to check in about the operation. After they chat, a senator swoops in to meet with Kaitlyn as Joe departs. When Joe leaves the restaurant, Kyle, who was seated at the bar, follows her out. He asks about her operation, but Joe doesn't provide any answers. Kyle says he's in a bind and could use her team for assistance in an operation he's running. She's uncertain but reluctantly says she'll help Kyle.

Cruz arrives at the compound in Chesapeake and is met by security, who scans her car and runs her plates. Aaliyah introduces Cruz as Zara to her friends, then gives a rundown on the drama happening in their friend group. When Cruz strips down to her bathing suit, Aaliyah isn't satisfied and brings her inside to find something else to wear. Aaliyah gives her a bikini, but Cruz's bruises are severe, and when Aaliyah sees them, she grows concerned.

Joe meets the team in a hotel room where they're doing their best to monitor Cruz. They plan to rent a yacht to monitor Cruz, where a doctor has been called to check out her bruises, but Joe tells them she needs three of them to take on Kyle's operation.

Aaliyah's doctor meets with Cruz, and he can tell she wasn't in a car accident. As they listen in, Bobby says they should pull Cruz out, but Joe stops her and says it'll blow the entire operation. The doctor tells Cruz he's legally obligated to report abuse, and Cruz lies, telling the doctor she's already reported it and hopes he can leave it between them. She explains she's simply trying to make friends, and her abuser has already been arrested in North Carolina. Joe tells the team she was the one who pushed the S.E.R.E. team to go so hard on Cruz, so if this gets blown, it's on her.

Everyone but Aaliyah leaves for dinner, and the doctor tells Aaliyah that Cruz is just fine, but she'll be sore for a few days from her bruised ribs. Aaliyah and Cruz go down to the beach alone, happy to have it to themselves. The pair talk about Aaliyah's upcoming wedding, Aaliyah sharing details of her life and about her friends. Aaliyah is highly aware that her life has been chosen for her, from her partner to her friends, and though she isn't phased by it, she doesn't like it, either.

Joe returns home late to find Kate and a boy, Michael, getting physical in the living room. Joe calls the boy's mother and asks her to pick him up. Kate lashes out and the pair fight. Kate storms up to her room.

Joe finds Neil on their porch during a work conference and lets him know about Kate, only to find that Neil has established rules about this with Kate already. She's not happy about things being established without her but relents.

Late at night, Cruz explores the house, catching Aaliyah's friends out in the backyard after their return from dinner. She makes it to the kitchen before one of the guys, Sammy, catches her. Though he's quick to put his hands on her, Cruz punches Sammy and warns him to stop. He tries to follow Cruz back to her room, but security is watching and escorts him away from her door. Back in bed, Cruz notices the red light of a camera in the vent covering an air duct on her ceiling.

Kyle's operation in Van Horn, Texas, proves more difficult than anticipated as Tucker, Two Cups, and Randy must leave carnage behind to save their mark.

In the morning, Aaliyah tells Cruz that Sammy will be leaving for a while, and her fiance shares that they'll be going somewhere as well, but it's a surprise. Joe and the team follow along but soon realize Cruz will be flying private and need to recalibrate quickly. Cruz realizes the team will need the tail number to get more information and reads it out so the team can pick it up and follow her.