Page 332 of Blackwood

Cade stared. “Didn’t you install the autopilot system yourself?”

“Sure did. Named her Lucille.”

Lex sat up in an instant. “The fuck do you mean, namedher?”

“Because she deserves one,” Eric said solemnly, taking another swig like that settled the matter.

Lex muttered, “I knew we should’ve driven.”

Eric was already strolling down the aisle like a runway model. “Relax, boys. FAA cleared me last month. Well. Mostly.”

“Mostly?” Cade yelped.

“I passed the vibe check,” Eric shrugged.

Lex tightened his seatbelt so hard it squeaked. “What vibe? Unhinged chaos?”

“Exactly.” Eric raised his tequila. “Air Chaos, baby. Trademark pending.”

Knox, from the back row, lifted a lime wedge and toasted him. “My king.”

“Okay, no,” Cade said, visibly sweating. “Knox, don’t encourage him.”

Eric turned to me. “Wanna co-pilot, Blackwood? I’ll let you push the shiny buttons.”

Lex growled, “Touch one fucking switch, baby, and I swear I’ll throw Eric out of this plane.”

Eric saluted us. “Anyway, congrats on making it to Worlds. Try not to crash the penthouse when you land. I’m out.” And then he vanished back into the cockpit for the rest of the flight.

Cade immediately grabbed a whiskey and threw it back. “If we survive this, I’m never stepping foot on a private jet again. I’m flying Delta.I want peanuts and a crying toddler.”

Lex raised a brow. “Middle seat?”

“Middle seat.”

“Layover?” Lex asked.

“Give me five.”

And then the crazy began. Six hours of zero sleep, shots, loud music, and bad decisions.

When we got home, sweet Jesus, the sex. Reuniting with my guys after Nationals was like lighting a match in a room full of fireworks. Lex had me against the glass wall of our suite before my heels even came off—his voice all low Russian growl, his hands rough and greedy.

Cade didn’t even wait for the bed, just pulled me down onto the fur rug in front of the fireplace and made love to me like the world could fall apart around us and he’d still only see me.

It was messy. It was perfect.

And now we’re here. Standing in the marble lobby at NOX, staring at the gilded elevator doors like they’re about to swallow me whole.

Lex steps forward, blocking the elevator with his body. “Baby. Let us come with you.”

I shake my head. “No. He said he wanted to talk to me alone.”

Lex’s jaw ticks. “Who gives a flying fuck what he wants? Let us come.”

Cade steps between us, calm as ever. “Lex.”

But Lex doesn’t back down. “I don’t like it. He’s a manipulative bastard. You shouldn’t be alone with him.”