His heavy sigh highlighted the frustration I felt. “What I’m trying to tell you is that there is no need for you to feel guilty about what happened. The man deserved his fate.”
“Someone might need to explain that to me one day. And here I thought I was so tough both inside and out.”
When he reached over and placed his hand on my leg, a heated tingle rushed through me. “I’m glad you’re exactly the way you are. A little tough on the outside but caring and loving on the inside.”
His touch felt both amazing and wrong. Maybe I didn’t believe I deserved any kindness at this point.
“The thought was to use me in some manner against the family and Alexander’s rule. A weakness that no one in the family would be able to ignore. Right?”
“Yes. That’s my thought.” He pulled his hand away, scanning the mirrors in the small vehicle once again as he’d done a dozentimes. We’d headed toward the airport, watching oncoming traffic, both fearful of another incident.
“Another marriage to form an alliance?” When he grinned and shook his head, I almost laughed although nothing was funny. “You didn’t think I knew. Trust me. Very little happened in my family I didn’t know about.”
“Yeah, I get that now.”
“The Brotherhood? Do you think they’re strong enough to pull this off? They did use muscle with another cartel before.”
Shrugging, he glanced into the rearview mirror as he slowed his speed. “It’s definitely possible. They are rich. They are powerful and they have thousands of members. We need to send off the pictures we took and maybe we’ll get lucky.”
“What if we don’t?”
“Don’t worry, babe. No one is going to touch you again.”
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”
He’d shown the kind of bravery that few men were forced to display in their lives. I knew in my heart that he’d do anything to keep us alive.
Maybe what he’d learned was that I would as well.
He pulled to a stop behind a piece of machinery used to load the private jets, which was nestled behind a small group of hangars. There were several airport employees on the ground, moving throughout the area. When he cut the engine, pulling the keys, he didn’t look at me right away. “I would tell you to stay here, but I have a feeling you won’t listen to me.”
“I’m listening. I’m just afraid of being without you.”
Every sigh was heavier, every expression on his face turning darker. “Then stay behind me. If the plane has been compromised, we’ll need to stay off the main roads and find a place to lay low until reinforcements arrive.”
“Understood.”
“You have your weapon.”
“Yes.” I pulled it from my jacket, the steel piece feeling heavier in my hand than before. Perhaps from the weight of decisions made.
“Come on. Let’s get this over with. I’ll double back and get our things if Jack is still alive.”
Hearing his frank, unemotional statement brought a new wave of fear. He was used to dealing with danger.
I was used to going home after a tough day at work, pulling out a bottle of wine and enjoying music, not gunfire.
“Stay behind me. You will follow those directions. Period.”
We left the car, remaining in the shadows as we moved a small collection of planes, staying behind the buildings until he noticed the family’s plane.
I inched beside him, both of us peering at the sleek jet.
And the four men who even I could tell were standing guard while trying to appear as if airplane employees.
“Fuck,” he muttered, placing his arm in front of me and pushing us further out of sight.
“Do you think Jack is inside?”