Chapter 31
She rested a hand against her mouth, wondering where the thoughts had come from. Although she supposed this wasn’t her first flight with Lachlan. Maybe she’d flown with him dozens of times on this private jet, which would explain why she felt so comfortable here.
Lachlan didn’t respond as he flicked several levers and punched a few more buttons. They’d reached flying altitude above the clouds. There wasn’t much he needed to do for the next twenty minutes until it was time to land on St. Basil.
Britt tried again. “I thought you would’ve put up more of a fight about me coming with you to talk to Hunter Quaid.”
Lachlan turned to her. His amber eyes smoldered as he studied her face for a long moment.
“Would it have mattered if I explained how dangerous it is for you to be seen by any member of Quattro specifically because you’re the presumed dead daughter of their now-dead former leader?
Especially since we have no clue who can and can’t be trusted in the gang. Hunter could be The Visitor—”
“He’s not. Hunter would never hurt me,” Britt said, then clamped her mouth shut.
“So you did recognize the name when Bobby mentioned him.” It was a statement, not a question.
Britt looked at her hands, trying to make sense of the memory that had crashed into her mind. There were no images, just a conversation running through her head. No matter how much she tried, she couldn’t picture where she was, but she knew she was talking to her father—Titus Freeman.
“Why him?” he’d asked.
“He was trained by the best. We know him. He’s like family. No, he is family. The only kind that counts. I trust him with my life, but more importantly, I trust him with yours.” She’d given the answer rattling in her heart.
“He’s so fucking young—”
“We’re the same age. That hasn’t stopped you from—”
“Point taken.”
“Fine. It’s your choice. But if you don’t want him to protect you, then I’ll take him. He can protect me.”
“Alejandro ain’t going to like that shit.”
“Alejandro don’t run shit around here.”
“Touche.” He chuckled. “But don’t tell him that.”
“I’m leaving. Let me know what you decide.”
“Hey.” His hand rested against her arm. The warmth comforted and soothed her. “I’ll take him. Tell him he’s been reassigned.”
Britt clenched her eyes. The conversation was as clear as it was confusing. She knew the person they were talking about was Hunter Quaid, even if he was never mentioned. She had no memory of what he looked like. If she didn’t have those answers, how could she explain it to Lachlan?
Lachlan’s words broke through her thoughts.
Thoughts she’d lost herself in for almost fifteen minutes as he waited.
“Were you going to tell me you remembered Hunter Quaid?” He asked.
His mouth settled into a tight line as his jaw muscle jumped.
He gripped the controls tighter, his knuckles whitening from the force.
Britt bit her lip, barely able to contain her delight from the tell-tale signs of … jealousy. Not that Lachlan had any reason to be. He was the only man she wanted, even if he was keeping secrets of his own from her.
“It depends,” Britt said, shifting in her seat to stare at Lachlan.
“On?”
“Were you going to tell me why we moved to Dove Island?” Britt asked, heart pounding in her chest. “I remember the house on Nova Lane. I lived there, and it had to be with you. But I don’t know why we left or how that’s connected with the island feds or the car bomb.”
“It’s complicated,” Lachlan said, his hands moving effortlessly over the controls to start their descent toward the lush mountainous island coming into view through the clouds.
“Those are memories you should remember on your own, when you’re ready to remember them.
I’m not going to tell you something that could set you back—”
“I’m not fragile, Lachlan. I can handle it,” Britt insisted.
“If you could handle it, you’d already fucking remember,” Lachlan snapped.
“Don’t forget you spent the last year with that fucker forcing facts about your life into your head.
How did learning about your life that way work out for you?
You still don’t remember me. You don’t remember us.
I’m not going to push you by dumping more memories on you.
I’m already fucking up by keeping you with me and Paloma.
I can’t take a chance that I’ll do something that will make you shut down. ”
“Okay, okay,” Britt said, reaching over to grab his hand. She pulled it to her, kissing his knuckles softly. “I’m sorry. I forget this is as hard for you as it is for me.”
“Don’t do that. Nothing I’ve been through compares to what they did to you,” Lachlan said, running a hand through her hair.
His voice dipped lower, tinged with a deadliness that whispered of the lengths he’d go to keep her safe.
“I promise ye, I’ll make them pay for every second of your life they stole. ”
Britt nodded, then unhooked her seatbelt to lean over to him.
She draped her arms around his neck and peppered his face with kisses.
He turned and claimed her lips with a hunger that stole her breath.
Their kiss was fierce, hungry. A collision of need and desperation to make up for all the lost time.
His tongue swept against hers, the sweet taste of mint lingering in his mouth as the kiss deepened.
He gripped her waist with his free hand.
She melted into him despite the awkward angle across the cockpit.
Her arms tightened around his neck, holding him close as a fear that she might forget him again gripped her.
Heat flooded her core. She wanted more, craved more, needed more—but the plane dipped slightly, reminding her where they were.
Three words lingered on her lips, but she stopped herself from saying them. It wasn’t fair for her to tell him. Not yet. Not until she knew for sure that she was Brittany Freeman. That the feelings for him were real and hers.
Instead, she mumbled an apology.
“Don’t be,” Lachlan said, eyes burning with desire that made butterflies take flight within her. “I can land this thing with my eyes closed.”
“You can prove that to me another time,” she joked.
Kissing his temple one last time, she hopped back to her seat and buckled the seatbelt.
She watched his profile as he focused on the approach, strong jaw set in concentration.
The passion between them crackled like lightning as the jet descended through wispy clouds.
St. Basil emerged beneath them—a crescent moon-shaped lush jewel ringed with pristine beaches and dotted with exclusive resorts.
The Basil Mountains jutted toward them, covered in dense vegetation.
Another place from her past she couldn’t recall.
The landing was smooth as silk, the wheels kissing the tarmac with barely a bump. Waiting for them was a sleek black SUV.
Lachlan opened the door, helped her inside, and then rounded the vehicle to the driver’s side. He got in, pulled a box from under the seat, and handed it to her.
“What’s this?” Britt fumbled with the package before opening it.
“Gift from Bobby,” Lachlan said. “Everything you’ll need to hear my conversation with Hunter … as you wait inside the SUV for me to return.”
“You said I could come with you.” Her voice rose with indignation as she glared at him, fighting to control her temper.
“To the island. Not to the meeting.” Lachlan’s tone warned her not to push.
She ran a hand through her hair and forced herself to calm down.
He was only trying to protect her, and with the contents of the box—an encrypted comms unit, a wireless earpiece, a burner phone, and a Beretta M9—she wouldn’t miss anything.
She lifted the weapon, marveling at how familiar it felt in her hand. “Is this necessary?”
“I hope not,” Lachlan said, cranking the engine. “Don’t worry, you’ll remember how to use it if it comes to that.”
Her days of doubting Lachlan were in the past. She placed the gun back into the box. “Has Hunter texted the meeting location?”
As if on cue, Lachlan’s cell phone chimed. He glanced down at the device. “The Bluffs. Meadows Weep Hiking Trail in one hour.”