Page 11

PATRICK

“Closing in on the target,” I whispered into comms.

“Nick, your move,” Chase responded.

I slid my glasses in place and strolled through the airport with my left hand in my pants pocket and my right hand holding the briefcase I was about to hand off.

I eyed Masterson as he walked through the crowd, his expensive suit making him stand out against a sea of young adults dressed like they were ready for bed.

Very few people were dressed in everyday clothes right now, which was why Lock had chosen this persona for me.

Nick strode right into Masterson, spilling his coffee against the man.

He immediately pulled out a cloth and started wiping it down, but Masterson had to set down his briefcase to get cleaned up.

I barely listened to him berate Nick as he snatched the cloth and wiped off his suit.

The switch was easy, going off without a hitch, and I kept striding along, ignoring everyone else in the airport.

The first part was done. Now all I needed was to find a stewardess or two to flirt with as I made my way through the airport.

I strode ahead, eyes wandering behind my shades for the perfect target, when one came stumbling out of the bathroom, looking around frantically. I knew this was the woman for me in an instant. She looked like she needed rescuing as much as I needed someone to fill in for me.

“Hey, there,” I grinned, sidling up to her. “Ready to go?”

With a glance behind me, she hooked her arm in mine and strode right on ahead without batting an eye. “How did you know?”

“That you needed a rescue?” I asked, my eyes never veering from the walk in front of us. “The look of desperation said it all.”

“Oh.”

“Just keep moving. Eyes forward and put a damn smile on your face. You’re about to give it all away.”

“Sorry. Just a little out of breath.”

She shot me a grin, but this time when I looked, she didn’t appear frantic. In fact, she almost looked a little cocky. Maybe I’d gotten that wrong.

“You have a tail,” Nick said in my ear. “Get moving.”

“Let’s pick up the pace, shall we?”

She didn’t argue as my strides lengthened, and despite her insanely high heels, she kept stride with me perfectly.

“Mind telling me what you’re running from?”

“I could ask you the same thing,” she said, her breaths coming just a tad faster.

“Who says I’m running?”

“You started walking faster.”

“Maybe I’m just trying to get through the airport to catch my flight.”

She choked out a laugh that was anything but delicate. “Sure. I’ll believe that when you explain why you’ve got muscles upon muscles, look like you’re ready to kill someone, and you haven’t stopped checking out a single person in the airport.”

“I’m wearing sunglasses,” I reminded her. “How the hell did you?—”

She sighed heavily. “Years of studying men. It’s sad but true. I have a thing for eyes. I tend to stare at them, and I can see yours through the sides of your glasses. Beautiful eyes, by the way.”

I glanced over at her, wondering if maybe I had picked up some psycho stalker instead of a woman in need. I could have sworn she was on the run from someone, but now, I worried she was simply looking for a man to take home and screw.

“Stop talking and get moving. They’re closing in,” Nick snapped in my ear.

“Sorry about this, lady, but we’re gonna have to pick up the pace.”

“Piper,” she corrected. “Won’t that sort of give away the game?”

I glanced to my right and spotted movement in my peripheral. “Can’t give away the game if they’re already onto you.”

I slid my hand into hers and gave a squeeze to signal we were moving. There was a crowd of people headed straight for us. It was the perfect opportunity to lose our tail.

“Ready?”

“I was born ready.”

I grinned at her enthusiasm and headed straight for the crowd, not stopping when they shot me dirty looks. As soon as they closed ranks behind us, we took off. I thought I would have to tug her behind me, but instead, she kept up just fine.

“Take your next right,” Nick ordered.

“Hang a right,” I said, surprised when she did as I said. She had to be the most willing woman I’d ever been around. Rarely did a woman do as she was told without arguing. “Faster!”

She picked up the pace, not even complaining as her heels clacked on the floor, drawing more attention than necessary.

“Get me an exit!” I shouted to Nick just as a piece of luggage tipped over right in front of me. I leapt over it, not breaking my stride.

“Who are you talking to?” Piper asked.

“A friend. Keep moving!”

“Uh…how do you feel about a private jet?” Nick asked.

“Whatever. Just get me there.”

“Get you where?” Piper asked.

“Straight ahead about fifty yards. I’ll meet you on the tarmac,” Nick said.

“Where’s Chase?”

“Dealing with a complication,” he said.

“I hope you like traveling in style,” I said to Piper, glancing over my shoulder just in time to see a young girl stumble into the path of the men chasing us. When one of the men grabbed her arm, she screamed loudly.

“Help! He’s assaulting me!”

I grinned as a swarm of male travelers rushed to her aid, grabbing the men chasing us and giving her an opportunity to slip away.

“Celia?” Piper said in surprise, coming to a sudden halt.

“We have to keep moving,” I urged, tugging her along with me.

The girl winked at her before she turned back to the men and started beating them with her bag.

“You know her?” I asked, taking off once again.

“She’s my fake niece.”

There was so much to unpack with that statement, but now wasn’t the time.

We headed straight for the private terminal, scaring the shit out of the attendant as we pushed past her.

“Sorry, this flight is closed,” I said, turning and shoving the door closed.

We ran down the jetway, our feet pounding on the platform as we pushed harder to board the plane.

I had no idea if they were after her or me, but either way, we had to get out of here now. “Close the door,” I said as soon as we boarded the plane. Chase stormed up from the back of the plane, followed closely by Nick.

“How the hell did you beat me here?” I asked, but only got a shake of his head in response.

“Who the hell is she?” Chase asked.

“A helper,” I muttered, storming to the cockpit, only to find it empty. “Who the hell is flying the plane?”

Chase shoved me into the pilot’s seat with a grin. “You’re wearing the uniform.”

I tried to get up. “Oh, hell no—” But he shoved me back down, dialing someone on his phone.

“Scottie, we need instructions for a hard takeoff…” Chase glanced at me, wincing slightly. “Patrick is flying.”

He shoved the phone at me and then stormed into the back again. “Scottie, I hope you’re ready to walk me through flying a fucking plane.”

“Yeah, here’s your first lesson. Get the fuck off the plane!”

Men ran toward us outside. There was no way out except up. “Yeah, that’s not gonna happen. The plane’s already running. Looks like Chase cleared it for us.”

“Why the fuck would he get rid of the pilots? They’re necessary to fly the plane! Do I need to explain this to him?”

“Scottie! Just get me in the air!”

He sighed heavily and started barking out orders, asking me questions that I attempted to answer correctly. When it was time to move the plane, I started freaking the fuck out. “This is nothing like driving a truck!”

“Well, no shit,” he snapped. “Just make sure you don’t hit any other fucking planes.”

“Sure,” I muttered. “Just that simple task of pretending I know what the fuck I’m doing. No problem.”

“It’s not really that hard. Keep the nose down the center line.”

“You keep the nose down the center line,” I argued. “ I hope you’re comfortable on a private jet,” I said, mocking Nick. “Yeah, he just forgot to tell me I’d be flying that jet.”

“Hey! Stay locked in. You’ve got a fucking job to do.”

I was about to snap at him when I saw a truck pull onto the runway, blocking my exit. “Uh…I have a problem. There are some men who definitely don’t want us to leave. Looks like the plane police.”

“The plane police? Are you fucking kidding me?”

“Another time, Scottie. We’re about to lose our exit!”

“You’re gonna have to do a hard takeoff. Relax. It’s like pedaling really fast on a bike.”

Somehow, I doubted that, but I was already in the thick of it. There was no turning back now. I did exactly as Scottie told me, holding my breath as we started down the runway.

“Uh…Scottie? The plane is moving really fucking fast!”

“That’s sort of the point of a hard takeoff. Now pull the fuck up!”

I let out a scream as I pulled back on the yoke. “This is nothing like pedaling really fast!”

“Keep going! You’re almost there!”

“How the fuck would you know?”

“Rae’s got you on the big screen. Keep pushing.”

I did as he said, but we were barreling down on the vehicles blocking the runway, and if they didn’t move, we were going to crash in a fiery ball.

“I’m gonna hit the trucks!”

“You’re not gonna hit the trucks!”

“They’re not moving!”

“They’re not supposed to. You are!”

I let out a loud shout as I yanked back on the yoke and closed my eyes, praying we made it. An alarm sounded, forcing me to open my eyes. “The wheels are gone!”

“Yeah, you totally hit the trucks,” Scottie chuckled.

But we were in the air, rising higher and higher, and now I understood why he threw up when he flew. “Ugh, I don’t feel so good.”

“Do not throw up until you’re level!”

“‘Fraid that’s not a possibility,” I groaned, scrambling to find a vomit bag.

One was shoved in front of my face just as I hurled repeatedly.

No matter how level the plane got, I just couldn’t keep the vomit down.

I was not made out for flying a plane, and it was a good five or ten minutes before my stomach settled.

I moaned and leaned my head back in the seat, not even sure who was flying the fucking plane any longer. I had no idea where we were, but there was now a mountain range below us. I rolled my head to the side and found Piper in the co-pilot’s seat.