Chapter Fifty-Four
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
LEENA
W e cannot be doing what I think we’re about to do.
There’s no fucking way. There has to be a better way.
Any other way. Anything at all.
If they think I’m about to leave the comfort of my motorcycle to swing on a fucking string below a helicopter, they are deeply mistaken.
I watch Luke pull forward just enough so he’s directly beneath the cable.
No, no, no. I don’t like this.
Well, I do like seeing Luke on a bike. I enjoy seeing both of them on one, actually. There’s just something about a man on a motorcycle, and then there’s my men on motorcycles. Watching how well all those muscles handle them like this? As much as I would probably enjoy being plastered to one of their backs on one right now, I’m happy to be over here so I can appreciate the view properly.
My heart races as I watch Luke study the harness above him. It’s way too high up for him to reach, which means Colton will have to–
I let out a panicked gasp as... Luke. Stands. Up.
Holy fucking shit.
My heart nearly falls out of my chest as I watch the love of my fucking life stand on the seat of a moving motorcycle.
Reaching up, he grabs hold of the swinging cable. Then he wraps the strap around his waist in that casual way of his, buckling it and making sure it’s secure. He’s as relaxed as if he were doing this standing on the fucking ground.
But he’s not.
He’s standing on a goddamn motorcycle.
“Show off,” I hear Sebastian grumble, but his complaining doesn’t hide the clear amusement and adoration in his voice. And that pisses me off too. He should be more freaked out by this, more… upset. That’s the love of his life too, and this is fucking insane.
They’re fucking insane.
On top of my utter panic and exasperation, I’m also dealing with how my brain is involuntarily lingering on how the wind is blowing Luke’s shirt against his toned body, outlining every muscle.
Luke pulls his weight up on the cable, then turns completely around so he has one foot on the seat, the other between the handlebars. He glances at me and I have absolutely no doubt there’s a smirk under that helmet.
Maybe Sebastian and Colton will help me wipe it off his face later.
And at that thought, my eyes flicker down to where his shirt is now flying up, no longer covering those damn Adonis lines that are guiding my eyes straight to the place I should not be staring at right fucking now.
“Fisher, lift off in three… two… one…” Luke says, and on his mark, he’s being hoisted into the air faster than I can blink. My eyes track him, then shoot back to where his bike is now jammed under the front bumper of the vehicle behind us. The nose of the truck launches up into the air, causing it to barrel roll off the side of the fucking road.
The sound of screeching tires, buckling metal and breaking glass behind me is deafening.
The other car manages to swerve around the mess, barely avoiding the collision and staying on track behind us.
I focus my eyes back on the road ahead, then glance over at Sebastian, making sure he’s okay and that I’m still matching the speed he’s setting. And fuck me if that tourist shirt he’s wearing doesn’t do anything to hide the muscles beneath it either.
Then I hear Luke laughing.
They’re all laughing, actually.
“Fuck yeah-ha! Nice fucking shot, Campbell!” Colton laughs out.
“Thanks for the fucking lift, man!” Luke says, and I can hear the smile in his tone.
Sebastian is still laughing.
Luke is dangling from a fucking cable below a helicopter that Colton is flying right above where Sebastian and I are fleeing for our lives on goddamn glorified dirt bikes, and they’re fucking laughing.
This is my life now.
I shake my head as Luke comes into view up in front of me, lowering slowly until he’s level with my eyes, matching my speed. He’s removed his helmet, so I can see how calm he looks, how steady he sounds, even if he’s only that way for my sake. Then he gives me directions in that soothing way Colton did to calm me down during my tattoo.
“Okay, Leena, Colton’s going to bring me a little closer, when he does, go ahead and lift yourself up off the seat, then left hand on the cable here,” he says, tapping at a spot on it in front of him. “Once I’ve got a hold of you, right hand above the other and lift yourself up to straddle my lap, alright?” he explains.
“Alright,” I say, because it makes sense.
But actually doing it sounds fucking terrifying.
“Okay, Fisher, easy does it,” Luke says, giving a thumbs up.
Colton guides Luke closer, and the comm lines go silent as I repeat the instructions over in my head. Stand up, left hand, right hand, jump.
Fuck me.
I cannot believe I’m doing this.
I stand on the foot pegs, and the second Luke is close enough, I put my left hand on the cable, keeping my right hand steady on the throttle as I do. Luke immediately wraps a strong arm around me, and I already feel better about this when he does.
“Ready?” he asks.
“Ready.” My heart is beating out of my chest.
“Right hand and jump in three, two, one,” he says, and I slap my other hand to the cable and push up on the pegs. He helps as I pull myself up high enough to wrap my legs around him, locking my ankles behind his back.
I hear my bike hit the ground hard and slide. The metal scrapes against the pavement and I cringe, thrilled I’m no longer on it.
“Well done, sugar,” Sebastian says, and I let out a breath for the first time.
I did it.
I smile as Luke removes my helmet, tossing it to the roadway below.
“That’s my girl,” Luke whispers only to me, brushing a quick kiss against my lips just as I feel the pull of us being hoisted higher.
I look down and immediately regret it. I gasp as the pavement grows further away at an alarming speed.
“So… you guys have done this before?” I say warily as my stomach drops out from under me. All three men laugh at my wary disbelief.
“Adrenaline junkie, remember?” Colton reminds me.
“Well, last time wasn’t a motorcycle. It was the bed of a truck. But same idea,” Sebastian chimes in.
“Okay, we’re talking about that later,” I grumble at them. Because this is so fucking dangerous, I suddenly feel the need to know what other dumb shit I can expect my men to get up to.
My men.
All three of them.
When the fuck did that happen? I shake my head.
“How about a lift, kid?” Sebastian shouts, swerving to avoid the bullets as they ricochet off the pavement around him. He draws his own weapon, firing back.
“You got it, old man.” Colton replies, and I feel the helicopter drag Luke and I through the air until we’re out in front of Sebastian’s bike.
Nope. Don’t like this.
They all chuckle. I might have said that last one out loud.
Sebastian removes his helmet, then tosses it at the car behind him. It bounces off the windshield, shattering it and causing the vehicle to swerve, slowing it for the time being. Then he speeds up until he’s close to us.
“Alright, Seb’s legs need to be where yours are. Lift yourself up, baby girl,” Luke says, shamelessly using the endearment to calm me.
It works.
Damn him.
I grab onto the cable then gasp when Luke grabs my ass with both hands, helping lift me up off his lap far enough to make room for Sebastian.
I hold tight, not looking down as we grow closer to the blurring ground beneath us.
“Hop on, sugar, ” Luke shouts toward Sebastian, and after all their jokes land flat, that’s it.
That’s the one that finally breaks me.
I burst out laughing.
I laugh even harder when I hear Sebastian grumbling through our comms, but I manage to pull it together when his large hand grips the cable at my stomach. I lean out, giving him room for the other. His biceps flex as his arms wrap around me, the cable bows as he lifts up, then tucks himself under me. I look back at him, smiling at his smirk and loving the feeling of him pressed against me as I lower myself down into his lap.
“Hold tight, love birds. Let’s get you out of range then I’ll haul you up,” Colton says just as the vehicle chasing us starts shooting again. I grip the cable tighter, and feel Sebastian and Luke’s arms lock around each other, pressing me between them as we’re hauled quickly upward.
Colton takes us back out over the water, and even though we’re dangerously high over the crashing waves, being over the ocean instead of land somehow makes me feel better.
Not being shot at also makes me feel better.
When my fear finally subsides to a steady pulse, I look around. It’s gorgeous up here. The turquoise water rolls up onto the perfect sand, the trees beyond are a vibrant shade of green. Even the hum of the chopper above is somehow comforting as we hang here, weightless in the breeze.
I look at Luke, finding his gorgeous blue eyes watching me curiously. He’s smiling just enough to show off his dimples and jawline. His features are so striking that I suddenly forget all about the views surrounding us.
“What?” I ask him, returning his smile as I brush a hair out of my face.
“Nothing. I just love you, Leena.” He smiles wider.
“I love you, too.” I cup his perfect face in my hand, letting my fingers trail over his jaw.
Sebastian presses a kiss in my hair, the gesture so soft compared to how he normally is. I like his roughness, but my heart melts in these special moments when he chooses to be gentle.
As scary as this situation is, I feel the comfort of being this close to them, in knowing that Colton is the one keeping us all safe.
We hold each other tighter, all of us knowing that this could have gone very differently.
I look out over the water, my heart aching again as I worry about my sister. About how dangerous this is. How it would only take a second for it to all be over. I stare at the horizon, as if willing her boat to appear, for her to be okay. Hoping that she can hold on long enough for us to save her.
When we are far enough from land, the helicopter slows to a hover. I look up, finding Colton standing in the open doorway, holding onto the rail above him so he can lean out to see us. His tourist shirt is completely unbuttoned, blowing in the breeze and showing off all his muscles as he smirks down at us, his pants hanging a little too low, like they always do.
I smile at the sight of him, relieved that he’s safe too.
I stare between the man who can handle a helicopter, the man whose reckless driving saved us back there and the man who can handle a motorcycle like a stunt driver. How did I wind up surrounded by so many incredible, capable men? Men who truly care about and would do anything for me?
How did I wind up falling in love with all of them?
Because I have no doubt that I’m in love with Colton too. I know that now. And I know he has feelings for me, but I still don’t know what’s going to happen when all of this is over and we go back home. Will he fit in with the life I already have with Sebastian and Luke? Will they want him to? Will he want to?
I let out a breath. Whatever happens, I intend to keep my promise to him. He can have my heart for as long as he wants it.
I never thought I would be the type who would commit themselves to another person. But after finding Luke and Sebastian, a lifetime doesn’t seem like long enough to spend in their arms. And I’ve been slowly starting to feel that way with Colton too. Like there’s never enough time spent with him. I love Sebastian and Luke even more for allowing me to be with him, for letting him share our bed. I know they didn’t sign up for that.
Waking up with so much love surrounding me sometimes makes me wonder if I deserve it. I crave to be near them, all of them. But how selfish does it make me to find so much joy when my sister has been kidnapped and the rest of the world is fighting or falling apart?
I think about that for a moment. About whether or not I deserve to have the world.
I stare at Colton again, then back at Sebastian, at Luke.
Maybe I don’t deserve it.
But I’m going to fucking take it.