Chapter 17
The door in front of Adria was large. A soft light glowed just beyond the threshold. Something about the door didn’t feel right. She wanted to move away, but when she tried to retreat, she found she couldn’t. Glued to the spot.
She watched the door. It was dark blue with four recessed panels. When Adria reached for the handle she was surprised that her hand stretched up rather than down.
Her small hand wrapped around the brass metal, and as she pulled, she felt a wave of cold air. She recoiled and tried to move away, but again, Adria found she could only move forward.
The door swung open fully, and Adria’s breath caught in her throat. Choking on a scream, her eyes locked on the form in front of her.
Jonathan’s piercing blue eyes held her in place. His face was peeled back from where her knife had expertly carved it.
As soon as the thought of the knife occurred to her, Adria felt the object in her hand.
“Please, Adria, kill me,” he whispered. His voice rattling with each breath.
“You’re dead,” she said, surprised by the coldness in her tone.
Fingers wrapped around her shoulder, and a firmer voice said, “Adria, you shouldn’t be here.”
Adria’s eyes flashed open, and she tried to calm her racing heart. She loosened her hands, gripping the comforter, and felt the warmth of Kaydon at her back. She tried to close her eyes and fall back asleep. But every time she did, Jonathan was staring back at her.
So instead, she just watched the clock. Counting the minutes until they left.
Adria was still staring at the ceiling when the knock on their door came. Elena stood in the dingy hallway, suitcase in hand.
“It’s time,” she said.
Adria looked to Kaydon, who nodded.
As planned, they all tried to leave at staggered times.
It was late in the evening, and the night air was cold compared to the humid heat they had arrived in. The winking perimeter lights cast eerie, sickly halos across the empty tarmac.
She hugged herself, shoulders hunched, until Kaydon wrapped an arm around her.
Eric and one of Elena’s bodyguards were already there. Ten minutes later, Bryson and Seth arrived.
The two of them looked tired, and Adria felt a wave of guilt. She and Kaydon had slept together. The four of them hadn’t had time to talk about what this was and what the rules were.
Seth brightened when he saw the two of them, but Bryson’s gaze was preoccupied by something far away.
His distance pressed into her, like the darkness waiting just outside their dimly lit surroundings.
Seth paused a few paces away. It was as if he wanted to hug them but didn’t know if he could.
Maybe they were all feeling just as unsure as she was?
Seth raised his hand in a feeble attempt at a wave.
“Hi,” he said as he stiffly lowered his hand, his face breaking out in a blush.
Adria could feel Kaydon shaking next to her, and she looked up to see he was laughing.
“Hi?” he said, continuing to laugh.
With his other hand, Kaydon pulled Seth into their shared embrace.
Adria’s heart melted as Seth’s body pressed into hers.
Kaydon buried his face into Seth’s blond locks, and Adria breathed the two of them in.
The subtle fresh rain scent was Seth. Adria’s body remembered it and folded around him like a soft blanket.
“I have good news and I have bad news,” Elena said, crossing the runway.
The three of them broke their embrace.
Adria noticed that Bryson was still standing just a few feet from them. His eyes fixated on Kaydon. Not just Kaydon, but his neck.
Adria opened her mouth to explain, but Eric cut her off.
“Bad news first.”
“Turns out the money we spent to keep the ground crew quiet wasn’t enough.”
She showed them her phone.
There was an image of Adria, Bryson, Kaydon, and Seth. All four of them had a sanctioned price on their heads. Under each of the bounties was their last known location.
Sinaloa.
Everyone instinctively glanced around.
Eric rubbed his beard. “And the good news.”
Elena brightened. “The good news is that I am not on the hit list. That means the Triune doesn’t know we are working together, which gives us an advantage. AND,” she explained excitedly, “I found some new phones. Everyone dump their old ones in here.”
She snapped her fingers, and her bodyguard brought out a black bag.
“Put any number you absolutely need in the new one. I’ve already programmed our new numbers into them.”
A sinking feeling grew in Adria’s gut.
“That doesn’t make sense. How would they have time to get a sanctioned hit out?” Kaydon said.
Elena shrugged.
Normally it took a majority vote to gain a sanctioned hit.
Under extreme circumstances, the Triune could step in and, with a three strong vote, they could side step the tribunal.
Adria did the mental math in the event the Nine had gone the former route.
That meant they needed a five-to-three vote.
It left room for her to trust Helen, and maybe even Finley.
Bryson said, “Someone must have already been working on one when they found Jonathan.”
“Who?” Seth asked.
Bryson didn’t answer.
“Where is our flight plan registered to?” Adria asked.
“Chile,” Elena said.
Adria’s gears were turning. They needed a cooler trail before they went to X’s house. She couldn’t risk blowing his cover.
Bringing out her phone, she sent a text.
Adria: Is there someone we know that we trust near an airport?
X: A few, and only one is going to let you land there.
X: But you aren’t going to like it.
Adria: Just tell me.
X: Vega.
Adria’s mouth dropped open.
“What is it?” Elena and Bryson asked at the same time.
“What do we need in order to land in Polanco?” Adria asked.
Elena shook her head. “That’s a major airport. We can’t just pay off customs there. We could ask your contact.”
Adria’s jaw clenched. Maxim. Her mind raced through the short list of people who knew about their landing spot. The bounty. The timing. Her stomach twisted as the pieces clicked into place.
“What about Cole?” Eric said.
“I don’t want to bring him into this,” Adria said defensively.
“Maybe we can fly into a more desolate airport and drive up to Polanco,” Kaydon offered.
Elena took out her phone. “The nearest back alley runway in that sector is a three-day drive from Polanco,” Elena said. “Bryson needs less traveling and more rest.”
“I’m fine,” Bryson said.
Elena and Adria turned to face him. Adria took in his color and the way he held himself. He looked better than two days ago, but Elena was right; more traveling would be hard on him.
Turning to face Adria, Elena said, “Flying into Polanco is safer. Now is not the time to grow a conscience.”
“If Adria doesn’t want to call Cole, we’ll find another way,” Seth said, stepping closer to her.
Adria was happy for the assistance, but she couldn’t help but notice the jealous tone in Seth’s voice.
“Because of the added security, no one will be expecting us to land in Polanco,” Eric said. “Most likely they’ll be watching the pirate ports and runways more heavily. Plus we have new identities.”
“I don’t trust Maxim,” Adria said, her voice low and only for Eric.
Eric glanced at Bryson before saying, “Dri, we don’t really have a choice.”
“Okay,” Elena challenged back. “Before I’m out voted again, can we get going? Because I’d estimate we have about one hour, two tops, before this entire runway is crawling with bounty hunters.”
Elena made a show of looking around. “Probably less.”