Chapter 15
Major was both jealous and impressed. His mate was a badass, he knew this, but witnessing her fly the helo as though she were born to do it was something else.
He wasn’t the only one impressed with Tabitha.
Craig had muttered how hot it was that she took the controls, but Major heard him.
What he also heard was Craig’s burner phone ringing, but with his ears covered by a headset, Craig didn’t move to answer it. At least that’s what Major assumed.
Major asked Tabby a few questions about the controls, but other than that, there was no chatter during the flight.
Tabitha remained focused, and when they neared the airport, Major scanned the area for anyone wishing to do them harm.
Mason and Cailín waited for them on the tarmac, allowing Major to relax.
Tabitha landed the helo with just the slightest of wavering, and she let out a “whoop” before flipping the switches to turn the rotors and motor off.
They removed their headsets and hung them on the hooks over the doors before climbing down once it was safe to do so. Cailín jogged up to Tabitha, a huge grin on her face. “How long’s it been?”
“A couple of years. Uncle Frey took me out when he came to visit.”
Cailín’s smile fell. “I’m sorry. I should have checked his body for a tracker.”
“Don’t do that. Who the hell would’ve thought someone would trick Craig pretending to give him a shot?”
“Still.” Cailín kicked at a rock.
Tabitha wrapped her arm around Cailín’s neck, pulling her in for a hug.
Major got it. Cailín had failed to find the second tracker, and that allowed the mercenaries to get close enough to shoot at the jet.
Major helped Gabe with the bags, letting the females have a second.
He wanted to dig out Craig’s phone to see who had called.
Major still didn’t trust the actor not to tell someone where they were headed.
Gabe left them to go do his preflight checks on the other plane.
While they waited, Mason had an update. “Cabretti’s in the wind.
The Trio is trying to locate him, so we need to stick to the plan.
Craig, until we locate Cabretti, no phone calls.
Olivia is safe with a couple of our guys, and she is aware of the trouble you’re having. Radio silence on your part.”
“Fine. Just find the bastard.”
“We’re working on it. As soon as you’re in the air, Cailín and I are headed home. Check in when you arrive, I don’t care what time that is.”
“Got it, Boss.”
Thirty minutes later, they were back in the air, headed to New York. Craig removed his coat and placed it over an empty seat. He took the recliner next to it and closed his eyes. Tabitha fixed herself and Major a drink, and they cuddled on one of the leather sofas.
“Longest day ever,” she whispered.
Major gently tugged Tabby’s head down onto his shoulder.
When her breathing evened out, he took the glass from her hand and placed it on the table beside the sofa.
His mate was rock solid, but she’d had a helluva day.
Major had never killed someone, not even when he went with Sebastian to confront the wolves in West Virginia, so he couldn’t commiserate with her.
Couldn’t begin to understand what that did to her soul.
He had grown up with mercenaries. Both his parents had killed, but they didn’t talk about it.
Major figured they dealt with it in their own way.
All he could do was be there for her if she felt guilty and her emotions got the best of her.
It was close to four a.m. when they touched down in New York.
Major was glad to be back in his home state where he was familiar with the landscape.
Tabitha had her friends and family in Atlanta to help, and now Major had his own.
The Steele Securities office was over an hour away from the private airport, but Mason had called Hallie to have one of their vehicles delivered for Major to drive.
When they deplaned, Gabe shook hands with Major and Tabby, telling them to call if they needed him.
The Goyle was staying at the hangar where an efficiency was set up for the pilots.
He would make sure the jet was fueled and ready should they need to leave.
Safehouse five had been Tabitha’s grandparents’ compound.
Xavier built it for Elizabeth back when Tabitha’s mom and uncle were babies.
Major knew the history from Tabitha, who had spent much of her childhood there.
Unlike most of the safehouses which looked shabby on the outside to give the wrong appearance, five was a sprawling estate with state-of-the-art security, installed by Tabitha’s uncle Julian.
All the Steele Security employees visited each safehouse when they first hired on with the company.
Major had been impressed with the place upon his first visit, but learning it was owned by Tabitha’s family made it all the more special.
Tabby’s family wasn’t the only one who was rich.
Living so long, all the Gargoyles had amassed fortunes, passing an inheritance down to their offspring with each generation.
Tabby was loaded, but Major wasn’t worried about the imbalance in their bank accounts.
The fates chose them to be mates, which meant they were perfect for each other.
When Major pulled up to the gate, he rolled down the window and said, “Tolly, Lolly, Lollipop,” and Tabby giggled.
He had told her all about Natalia being his and Marshall’s “Lolly” when they were little.
Hell, he still called her that, and he was a grown man.
He and his twin couldn’t have gotten luckier than when the lavender-haired pixie came into their lives.
Craig leaned forward. “That’s the codeword to get in this place?”
Major eyed Craig in the rearview mirror.
“No. The sensor is set to a select few voices. I could have said anything, really.” He didn’t bother to explain exactly who Lolly was.
The gates rolled back, and Major eased down the long driveway.
When the manor came into view, Tabitha let out a breathy sigh.
“What the…?” Craig scrambled out of the SUV as soon as Major put it in park.
“Now this is a safehouse.” Being human, he couldn’t see the surrounding property, but the outside of the house lit up automatically when someone entered the gate.
It was another security measure. A gentle snow swirled in the air, glistening in the floodlights.
Major loved snow. Always had. He and Marshall had built many snowmen, had plenty of snowball fights with their daddo and Lolly, as well as their cousin Mateo, and his parents.
There was something magical about the white stuff, but the best part was when the ground was blanketed, and the world was quiet.
Major grabbed his and Tabitha’s duffels, leaving Craig’s in the vehicle.
When Craig noticed, he rushed back to grab his bag.
By the time he joined them on the landing, Tabitha had already scanned her hand on the biometric reader.
Once inside, Craig whistled low. While Major adjusted the thermostat, Tabitha gave Craig a brief tour of the house before announcing she was going to get some shuteye, telling Craig to pick a room.
He chose the one off the kitchen that used to be the housekeeper’s suite.
The bedrooms had been renovated since Tabitha visited as a child, but she still marched down the hall to the last door on the right.
Major followed but didn’t join her. There was no way he was staying in the same room as his mate.
If he did, they wouldn’t get any sleep. He entered the room across from hers and tossed his bag on the queen-sized bed.
He then crossed the hall and leaned against the doorframe, staring at Tabitha.
“Being professional?” she asked with a smirk.
“Yes, because Zeus knows if I stay in here with you, neither of us will get any sleep.”
Tabitha sauntered across the room, stopping when her toes met his. She cupped his cheek, rubbing her thumb through his beard. “That’s a shame.”
Major grabbed her hips, pulling her closer.
“A real shame.” He dipped his head and took her mouth, keeping the kiss somewhat chaste.
It was next to impossible not to get carried away.
His Gryphon sent out a wave of energy, and after a few seconds, a returning pulse hit Major in the chest. “Holy shit.”
Tabitha laughed against his lips. “That was new. I have a feeling when we seal the bond, those two are going to let loose.”
“I’m looking forward to it.” Major stepped back, tapping her on the nose. “I’m going to text Mason and make sure our guest is behaving.”
“What do you mean? He’s locked in.”
“Yes, but his phone rang on the helo ride back to the airport. I want to make sure he isn’t sharing our location with anyone.”
“Gotcha.” Tabby stood on her tiptoes and kissed Major again. “See ya in a few hours.”