Chapter 18
Mile High
The city blurs past as the SUV seems to go at breakneck speed, Rudy weaving expertly through traffic.
Leo speaks low on his cellphone, keeping his arm draped over my shoulders.
I stare out the window as the city passes.
My heartbeat thunders in my ears, remembering Xavier laying in his own pool of blood.
I look away from the outside that’s now making me nauseous, and press my face against Leo’s shoulder, questions swirling in my head.
Who hired those men? Matteo? Gabriel? The crime bosses? How long had they been waiting? They were in our building.
“Check in,” Leo murmurs against my ear.
“Yellow.”
“Breathe. I’m right here.” I nod against him as he tightens his arm around me. “You’ve never flown before, correct?”
“Just the helicopter. How long is the flight?”
“8-9 hours.”
I nod again and he kisses my head. His heartbeat isn’t as frantic as mine, but it’s heavy and loud. Leo smells of sulfur and sweat.
Finally, we arrive at the airport. I’ve no idea which one as Rudy drives us through some gates and onto an airfield.
I glance out the window to see a plane with cars parked not too far away.
Of course, we’re not flying commercial. I swear if Rudy is the pilot, I’m suggesting a raise.
The car halts and we all get out. Wind whips at my face as I stare at the large aircraft.
The engines are running, whirring against the wind as I watch Rudy speak with someone then disappears onto the plane.
Lights blink in the distance, and I can hear other planes.
Everything blends together as I hold myself against the chill.
A hand touches my shoulder and I yelp. Jolting, I spin to find Isaac with his hands up. He gives an empathetic look as I exhale sharply.
“Couple of bags have been packed for you two,” he says over the roar of the engine. He nods towards Animal who’s hauling luggage onto the plane. “Otherwise, just let Leo buy you whatever else you may need.”
I meet his blue eyes, gulping.
“You’ll like flying,” he adds, carefully touching my shoulder to reassure me. “Glad you’re alright, Miss Autumn.”
“Why can’t you come?” I ask abruptly.
He looks past me, and I follow his gaze to see Jameson and Mila speaking with Leo. My stomach twists as Jameson gestures harshly to a couple of men, who step away quickly.
Isaac steps closer, and answers, “Promised MI6 I wouldn’t step back into certain countries, unless I worked for them again. Their pay is shit.”
My eyes bulge, gaping at him as he grins widely.
“And…” he adds, softening his smile, “…I don’t want to leave Leanne.” My heart clenches, while my chin quivers. “Forgive me for not choosing you first, Miss Autumn. But I trust the others will protect you.”
I rush forward, hugging him tightly.
“Take care of her,” I say, shaking a little not from the breeze. “And thank you.”
“Autumn.” Leo’s voice calls over the noise.
I step back from Isaac, who gives me a reassuring smile. Heart aching leaving him behind, I turn and follow Leo to the plane. I glimpse over my shoulder to Jameson, who gives a half-hearted wave and worried scowl. I wave back as we get onto the stairs and climb on.
It’s quieter within the plane. It’s mostly a light brown with wood paneling inside.
I peek into the cockpit, where the captain sits with Rudy next to him.
Leo guides me into the main cabin, where there’s leather seating facing each other, and couches lining the sides.
At the end of the plane, I see a smaller hall and doorways.
Leo sits me in one of the seats facing forward, next to the window with a table between the set of seats.
“Wait here,” Leo says, kissing my cheek and goes into the cockpit.
I lean back, breathing deep as I focus on not panicking. Outside it’s dark, but I can just make out Jameson, Isaac, and Mila, who all get into cars and drive off. My chest constricts as reality sets in that we’re actually leaving the country.
“Good evening, Miss Watson.” A feminine voice surprises me.
I flinch, looking up at who I presume is the flight attendant. She wears a deep blue suit with a green ascot. Her dark hair is pulled into a tight bun, and there’s freckles on her face. Her cheekbones shimmer from the amount of highlighter she’s put on.
“Apologies for startling you, must be your first time,” she continues. “My name is Joyce. Is there anything I can prepare for you once we’re in the air?”
“Uh…no, wait… water is fine.”
“Ice or no ice?”
She slightly leans over the other seat to speak with me, and I’m honestly unsure what to do. My excuse is almost being shot and keeping a man from bleeding to death less than an hour ago. So, no I don’t know or care if I want ice or not.
“Joyce, I appreciate your arrival on such short notice.” Leo’s voice intercedes as he approaches. “I’ll take scotch on the rocks, and Autumn will take water with no ice.”
“Very well, sir.” She nods, smiling broader as I notice her eyes skim over his chest.
My brows scrunch, realizing Leo’s only wearing his button-up, which is half undone. No undershirt, so you can see his tattoos peeking out and those reaching down his forearms with his sleeves rolled up.
She walks away as I slump into my seat, bemoaning that this evening just keeps getting better. Not.
Animal sits across from me, along with Owen, who hangs up the phone call he was on.
“Xavier made it to the hospital,” Owen says, “Currently in surgery. They believe he’s got a good chance.”
Thank fuck.
Leo sits beside me as I stare at the table.
“How many hitmen were there?” Leo asks gruffly, reaching over me and starts to buckle me into my seat. The engines roar outside, and the plane starts moving. My chest tightens, anxiety creeping up my spine.
“Counted eight dead,” Animal answers.
“Believe there’s one more,” Owen adds. “Enigma’s tracking’em.”
Leo finishes buckling me in, and then kisses my cheek. He then settles into his seat to buckle in with the other two. The cockpit door closes.
I think I wanna hurl.
“Hey, sister, guess you get to fly in style first time, too,” Animal comments, keeping a jovial tone. I give a tentative smile.
Owen puts digital devices onto the table, from multiple phones to a laptop.
“What’s all that for?”
“Switching out phones when we land. Gotta change up the cyber security to access secure networks.” I nod along. “Due to a different country and Renato’s people fucking snooping.”
The men murmur with each other as I stare out the window, watching runway lights blink and pass. It’s completely dark out, so I can’t see any other planes leaving or landing. The engines rumble louder, and I feel us picking up speed.
Leo grabs my hand as my heart rate picks up, thumping loudly as I stare outside.
The plane speeds up, and I’m not sure if we’ll actually take off or fucking run into a building, until there’s a bump and the nose tips up.
My breath catches as I feel the plane leave the ground, moving into nothing.
My stomach flips, chest squeezing as we tip further back into the sky.
Unease doesn’t relent as we bump and jostle in the air.
I look away from the window, feeling sick as I look at Animal with wide eyes.
Leo’s hand remains around mine, his thumb caressing my wrist. Animal grins, settling into his seat leisurely like it’s second nature being here.
His composed expression, along with Owen’s, does help as we jostle harshly again.
It feels like someone is trying to push the plane over.
It seems like forever before the plane isn’t tipped back anymore, leveling out as it leans to make a turn and then does it again. My grip on Leo’s hand lightens, but I swallow hard as my ears pop.
“I think I like the helicopter more,” I rasp quietly. Leo’s gaze flicks over my face, brows furrowing.
“Just wind turbulence, completely normal,” Animal comments. “Slicing through air instead of hovering practically.”
Owen snorts, shaking his head as he opens his laptop to work.
“What? Am I wrong?”
“Slicing versus hovering? Really?” Owen asks him.
They start bickering about verbiage, and Joyce comes back to set our drinks down. She pauses, gaze lingering on Leo as he reaches for his drink.
“May I get you anything else, sir?”
“I’ll take a whiskey, on the rocks,” Owen answers, and Joyce tears her eyes away from Leo with a perturbed look. Her smile is tight.
Sneaking possessiveness creeps over my skin. A part of me wanting to throw my water into her face. I’m not worried, but I hate the sinking feeling. She can stare all she wants I know he’s not going anywhere. But still…why do I have to be stuck in the same plane with her for almost nine hours?
She walks away, and Leo’s voice pierces through my thoughts. “Autumn?”
I attempt to shake off the heavy contemplations, staring at the table. I blame everything that’s happened today for making me even care if another woman leers at him. The twist in my stomach not helping.
Leo unclips his seatbelt, then undoes mine suddenly. He pulls me up alongside him, then grunts at the other men, “Don’t bother us.”
Leo’s voice is a warning as he leads us down the short hallway, and then through a final door. He shuts it behind us as I look around the room with a bed sitting in the middle.
Leo gently sits me down on the bed, kneeling before me as he runs his hands over my thighs. I place my hands over his, looking into his gaze and find them eerily calm.
“Check in,” he says.
My face falls, unsure how to answer. Was I green? No, I’m too jittery, and feeling like crap. Maybe yellow, but maybe red? I’m not really panicking though, just overwhelmed, anxious, and exhausted mentally.
“Autumn,” he says gently, rubbing my thigh. “We’re alright.” I nod my head. “We’re safe.”
I nod again, numbly. My chin starts to quiver, not knowing when this dam will break. “Who…who…?”