5 - Kodiak
5
Kodiak
—
I stab a hand through my hair, my thoughts tangled as tightly as my fingers.
“It’s just an offer.” Frankie turns on my lap and cups my face. “Not a demand. You can say no.”
An itch crawls between my shoulder blades, a prickle of suspicion that won’t ease.
It’s clear Monty’s playing at something deeper, something more than mere familial support.
The clothes, the food, a place to live, and now a job. Not just any job. My dream job. He’s putting his fingers in everything, pressing a little too hard.
It’s a show of kindness, maybe, but it feels like a claim, like he’s marking territory. I know, deep down, it’s not about me at all.
It’s about her.
My jaw tightens.
He wants her back, but there’s more to it. I need to find out what before it costs us more than we can afford.
“Why would he help me?” I put my mouth at her ear. “I’m fucking his wife.”
She goes rigid, her gaze darting toward the cockpit where Monty steers us through the skies, holding our fate in his hands. “I’m not his, Kody. Not anymore.”
Leo snorts, glancing out the window at the clouds racing past. “Monty doesn’t believe that.”
“You’re his brother.” She meets my gaze.
“And Denver’s brother. Let’s not forget they assassinate and rape their brothers.”
She sucks in a breath. “I’m sorry. You’re right.”
“Don’t apologize. Always speak your mind with me.”
“It’s just…he knows we’re facing a tough transition, and he’s offering a bridge to help us get established. It’s not just about the vodka. It’s about giving us a means to stand on our own.”
“The sooner we stand on our own,” I say, “the sooner we move you out of his house. He doesn’t want that.”
“Okay, fine.” She sighs. “It’s more than an investment for him. But it could also be an extension of trust, a way for him to make amends for hurting me.”
“Or a way to keep us under his control.” Leo folds his arms on the table, regarding her. “To bind you further to him.”
She nods, her hand finding mine and squeezing tightly.
“Nothing needs to be decided now.” I relax in the seat, tucking her against my chest. “We’ll talk it over later.”
This isn’t a decision I can make on my own. It affects all of us.
“What about you?” She tips her head at Leo. “Did you discuss your dream job with him?”
Before he answers, Tanya rolls in a cart loaded with more food than three people can eat.
She places the dishes on the small fold-out table between us. Gleaming silver trays covered with assortments of cheeses I can’t name. Slivers of smoked salmon that look like they’ve been cut with a surgeon’s precision. Tiny glasses filled with creamy soup topped with green herbs.
“Another vodka?” She smiles at me.
I decline, and she turns to Leo, who shovels in food like he’s still on rations.
“Water for everyone.” Frankie unfolds a napkin. “Thank you.”
“Would you like to move to the rear?” Tanya gives her a pointed look on my lap. “It would be more comfortable—”
“We’re comfortable.” I lock an arm around Frankie’s waist, holding her in place.
As Tanya pushes away the cart, Frankie plucks a wedge of cheese from the platter and arches a brow at Leo.
He meets her gaze, a half-smile breaking through as he inhales several slices of salmon. “Yeah, Monty brought up my career goals. It’s like he memorized your damn journal.”
“His mind is sharp and misses nothing.” She gulps down her bourbon. “Remember that.”
“He offered to help me get my pilot’s license.”
“You should.” I sample the soup, groaning at the burst of flavor. “Then what?”
“Then I have some decisions to make. Do I want to be an aviation mechanic? Run a pilot school? Own a seaplane base in Sitka? Or a private airport somewhere else?”
“All of the above.” She winks at him.
“You bet your sweet ass.” He winks back and pops the last of the salmon into his mouth. “Watching him fly this bird, seeing everything from the co-pilot’s seat, it’s a different kind of freedom.”
“More freeing than winging it out of the hills?” My lips twist.
“I risked your lives.” His expression hardens. “I almost lost you.”
“You saved us.” She reaches across the table and grips his hand. “No matter what you decide to do, you’ll be fantastic at it. You’ve always been good at fixing things and explaining how everything works. You taught me so much at Hoss.”
“But starting from scratch in an unfamiliar world? That’s different. It’s daunting.”
“I get it. Not too long ago, I was a fish out of water in your world, remember?”
“I remember, love.” His eyes soften.
“Kody and I will be with you. If Monty’s willing to help, take advantage of it. Or don’t, and we’ll find another way. You can make this happen. I believe in you.”
I watch him closely, trying to appraise his feelings about it. He’s intrigued, maybe even excited by the prospect, but there’s an uneasiness in his posture. A holdover from our trauma with Denver.
Trust doesn’t come easy for us, especially where Monty’s concerned. Like she said, he’s sharp. Perhaps as calculating as Denver. We can’t forget that.
Tanya returns, bringing out plates of steak, the pieces so tender they nearly fall apart under the prod of her serving fork, alongside heaps of golden buttery potatoes.
A basket of warm, crusty bread permeates the cabin with a pleasant, familiar scent.
Frankie explains what everything is, showing us how to eat it. Like the chocolate fondue set. Tanya places it on the table across the aisle with fruits and marshmallows for dipping and a separate plate piled high with assorted macarons in pastel colors.
Every dish is a statement, not just of wealth but of a world where food isn’t just survival. It’s an art, a luxury.
I’m not sure what to make of it all, but it’s obvious Monty is trying to impress us, reassure us, or weaken us into complacency.
Frankie puts away more food than I’ve ever seen her eat. And her moans. The pure bliss on her face. The only time she looks this satisfied is during sex.
I can’t help it. Watching her eat makes me hard as a rock.
Of course, she knows. Sitting on my aching cock, she twists around to peek at me, her eyes wide and mouth full.
“Stop wriggling.” I swat her hip.
With a laugh, she presses a piece of steak against my lips and wriggles again.
“It’s so good,” she says around another bite of meat.
It really is. Best fucking meal I’ve ever had.
I feed her a forkful of potatoes, just to hear her moan again, which she does exquisitely.
Leo’s in his own world, caught in the thrall of so much food.
“Look at him.” I nibble on her neck. “Diving into this spread like he won a Willy Wonka golden ticket.”
“Let’s hope he doesn’t turn into a blueberry or get mauled by squirrels.”
He stares at us with a straight face, his jaw working as he chews. “You know the moral of that story?”
“Greed is bad.” Her bright eyes stray to the chocolate fondue.
“Not as bad as denying you whatever you want.” I reach across the aisle and snatch a plate of dipped strawberries for her.
“The moral is…” He props an elbow on the table. “Billionaire CEOs can be crazy and diabolically cruel in ways the rest of us can’t.”
“And they can get away with murder.” My gut clenches.
“Exactly. We’re all in agreement we don’t trust Monty. Even if he plies us with meat and…” He devours a huge hunk of steak. “ Fuck. This shit melts on my tongue.”
Leaning across the table, she dabs his beard with a napkin. “You were saying?”
“His island will give us a place to figure things out, but we can’t forget that behind that smile is a…”
“Murderous CEO in a top hat?” I lift a brow.
“I was going to say a man hellbent on reclaiming his wife.”
“That, too.” I squeeze her thigh.
“I love that you guys know that movie.” She picks at the uneaten strawberries on her plate.
“But?” I touch her chin, capturing her gaze.
“It doesn’t fit.” She shrugs. “I mean, I’m not defending Monty’s bad behavior. But he’s not a murderer.”
We don’t know that.
“He’s a wildcard.” I rest my chin on her shoulder. “He has motives. Don’t know if they align with ours.”
“We keep our eyes open and stay sharp.” Leo eyes Frankie’s dessert.
She pushes it toward him. “When we land, we have a lot to sort out.”
“First thing,” I say, “we get IDs. Can’t do much until we’re legal.”
“Yeah, and we need to learn how to drive.” Leo finishes off her strawberries. “Cars, boats, whatever gets us around.”
“Phones.” The word tastes strange in my mouth. “Gotta communicate in this world, right?”
“And we train.” His voice rises, that aggressive fire always near the surface. “Self-defense, survival in this urban jungle. Ain’t getting caught off guard.”
“All essential.” She leans forward, her earlier fear gone. “But therapy is our priority. We heal. Then we learn.”
I grunt, not at all interested in sharing my story with a stranger. Frankie won’t let this go, and her reasoning is sound. But the primal part of me, the part that’s guarded my survival for so long, resists.
The scowl on Leo’s face sums up our thoughts on the matter.
“You guys.” Impatience laces her tone. “Therapy is non-negotiable. I’ll look into the best options for you.” She sips her water. “I loved my therapist in Sitka.”
“Hold up.” Leo straightens. “You had a therapist?”
“Yep. When my mom died, I struggled. A lot. The sessions really helped. So I kept going after I was healed. Until…”
Until she was abducted.
The plane rocks gently, the motion sending a shudder through her.
“Here.” Leo stands. “Let’s buckle you in.”
“That’s okay.” She curls into me. “I’m good here. Kody can do my seat belt when we start the descent.”
“I should head back to the cockpit.” He studies her features. “Unless you want me to stay.”
“Go.” She surveys the table. “Should we send some of this food to Monty?”
“He said he’ll eat later.” He catches her hand and kisses her knuckles. “If you need me…”
“I know where to find you.”
As he heads to the front, Tanya returns to collect the dishes, asking if we need anything else.
“All set here.” Frankie pulls her feet up on my lap, settling in.
“We’ll touch down in about two hours. Press the button if you need me.”
As she strolls away, I recline the seat back, taking Frankie with me.
Our earlier conversations play in my head, everything we need to do, the plan forming. A checklist of survival in this new wilderness.
Sitka.
A fresh start on Monty’s island.
My chest clenches at the thought.
She sighs, sensing my tension. “You’re thinking about Monty.”
“So are you.”
“I know it’s not ideal. But he’s offering us a place, security, things we desperately need right now.”
“Yeah. His house, his rules. That’s the game he’s playing.”
“So we set some ground rules of our own, carve out some space for independence. Like you did with the sleeping arrangements.” She scratches her fingers through the scruff on my jaw. “We’ll make it clear we’re there on our terms.”
“If he steps out of line or tries to control us, we walk. We’re survivors. We’ll find a way, like we always do.”
“We’re not captives anymore. No one will trap us, imprison us, or chain us down. Never again.”
Christ, I love her feisty conviction. It steadies me, reinforcing the resolve that’s been the backbone of my existence. Her unbreakable will draws me in, binds me to her more than any chains ever could. The way she digs in and doesn’t give up ignites a fierce pride.
And an even fiercer desire.
My hand follows the curve of her hip, her upper thighs, fingers sliding between her legs, sinking into her sexy heat. The urge to pull her onto my cock, smell her everywhere, and fuck her brains out thrums powerfully within me.
I lean closer, my breath chasing hers. “I want to be inside you.”
The plane cuts through the sky, the murmur of the engines a backdrop for her husky response. “We shouldn’t.”
She’s right. This isn’t the time or the place.
Yet her breathing doesn’t slow. Her eye contact doesn’t waver.
She smirks. “But we should totally make out.”
Her words are barely out before my lips crash against hers, a kiss laden with all the hunger, reverence, and raw adoration I feel for Frankie Novak.