Page 29 of Hunted (Desert Island Duet #2)

Chapter eighteen

Weston

I grip the yoke firmly, holding the plane at just the right angle as I hold my breath. When the wheels connect with the ground, I engage the brakes as my new plane starts to slow down. I exhale deeply, feeling like I can finally breathe again.

As the plane slows down, someone speaks over the radio, directing me where to park. Since I'm in a private plane, I’m not directed to a main terminal, but to a private one at the north side of the airport. Glancing out the windows at the sunny day, I let myself breathe a little easier.

We made it.

After a long flight to France, where we fueled up, and an even longer flight the rest of the way home, I was ready to be on solid ground for a while.

I was pleased that Reece gave in, when we landed in France, and took a sedative. He wasn’t helping anyone with how anxious he was during the flight from Kenya to France.

“Reece, wake up, we’re home,” Darla’s gentle voice reaches me from where they’re seated in the back .

I hear the four of them talking quietly while I taxi us to the private terminal. I know this airport well, as it’s the one I always fly to when I return from a job.

But as I get closer, I’m surprised by the amount of people nearby.

Since this is at the far north end of the airport, it’s easier for people to get close.

The eight-foot-high chain-link fence that separates us from the parking lot is swarming with people.

There are cameras and news crews, and everyone is pointing at our plane.

“Well, fuck.”

“What’s wrong?” Reece says, moving into the cockpit and sitting in the empty chair beside me. I narrow my eyes at him; he shouldn’t be walking around until we’ve stopped. But he’s as likely to listen to me as I am to him.

I point out my side window to the hoard of people as I continue forward.

“Dammit. News must have spread about us coming home somehow.”

“We better warn the others,” I say, pulling to a stop outside the large building. I make sure to engage the brakes and switch the controls off completely before I join the others in the back.

Bower is braiding Darla’s hair as she slips on a pair of flip-flops. They’re the only thing we’ve been able to get her to wear so far. I have a feeling she’s going to find shoes constraining for a while.

Kingsley pulls on a fresh green polo, and even Reece is changing into a new dress shirt. “You guys trying to look good for the press or something?” I ask with a smirk.

“Nobody wants to look like a mess on camera. And there’s a good chance that any photos they take of us today will be all over the news for a while. ”

Realizing that I may be in some of those images too, I glance down at myself. My black t-shirt looks clean and my dark green cargo pants look good as well. I cut my hair back in Kenya so it’s short enough not to need any work done to it right now. I shrug, figuring this is as good as it gets.

I glance at Darla, who’s wearing high-waisted maroon leggings and a white crop top t-shirt. Bower finishes her braid, and she pulls it in front of her shoulder, fiddling with it nervously.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, coming to sit on a chair beside where she’s standing, putting myself at the same height as her.

“I’m just nervous. How am I supposed to act out there?”

“Baby.” I grab her hand and pull her to stand between my legs.

“Just be yourself. They don’t even know who you are, not yet.

And if you’re worried about our relationship, don’t be.

I doubt Bower and King ever gave a single thought about hiding this.

I know I haven’t. It might be unconventional, but so are we. ”

“So it’s okay if I hold your hand and Kingsley’s? Or kiss Bower?”

“You wanna kiss me, Tink?”

Her cheeks tinge pink as she narrows her eyes on him. “It was just an example.”

“Uh-huh, sure it was.” He gives her a wink, and she turns back to me, rolling her eyes in amusement.

“It’s going to be okay, try not to worry. The news will do what they want with any photos or video they take today. We can’t control what they say.”

“If it becomes an issue, we can have our media relations team handle it,” King adds, grabbing his bag and throwing it over his shoulder.

She watches him, then bites her lip in thought before she asks, “Can I have McStabby? ”

I press my lips together and glance at Reece. If they see her with a knife strapped to her side, they’ll go crazy with speculation.

“What if you keep it in your bag, with Steve?” King suggests. I nod, liking the idea. Nobody will know it’s there but us, and she’ll feel safe with both items close to her.

She nods her head and gives him a smile. “Yeah, thanks.”

I stand up and find it for her, and she loops the bag strap over her head, letting it settle at her side as I grab my own and move to the door.

“Everyone ready?” I ask, looking back to see them all standing in line behind me, nodding their heads, clearly eager to get home. I turn the lever and push the door open as a set of stairs is pushed up to the doorway for us.

I take a deep inhale of the San Franciscan air. “We made it.” I glance down at Darla as I add, “We’re home.”

Once the stairs are fully secured, I step back, allowing the others to go ahead.

Reece goes first, and I see he tries to put on his usual stoic demeanor, but there is a lightness to his expression that I haven’t seen before.

As if whatever was constantly making him angry in the past, isn’t plaguing him anymore.

My eyes flick to Darla and I realize that it’s true. He was angry because of what he had lost. And although they still haven’t fully reconnected, I’d be a fool to think it wasn’t going to happen soon. Especially now we’re home.

The steps are narrow, so Bower and King seem to have a silent debate about who will exit the plane beside Darla. She stays quiet and finally King steps out behind Reece and Bower grabs her hand, giving her a big smile. “Ready, Tink? ”

I can see the nervousness written all over her face, but she stands up straight and takes a deep breath, nodding. He steps out onto the stairs, with her at his side, and I follow right behind them.

Even from here, I can hear everyone yelling from behind the chain-link fence. The guys' names keep being called as people try to get their attention. Bower smiles and waves, which makes them grow even louder. I knew they were somewhat famous, but this feels next level.

I suppose going missing for a few months will do that. Not that anyone seems to care that I’m here. I’m a nobody, after all.

“West!” Someone yells my name, surprising me, and I scan the crowd as we head towards the gate.

“Weston!” They yell again and someone jumping and waving catches my eye. They are behind a few rows of other people, so I can’t see them. Instead, I focus my attention on the gate we’re about to walk through.

Once we’re through it, there is nothing separating us from all these people anymore. Well, nothing except the dozen security guards that Reece wisely put in place.

I can see a black SUV waiting for us, with Arnold standing in front.

He flew home commercially from Madagascar so he could get things ready for us here.

At first, I thought Reece was just throwing his money around, trying to look important with a personal assistant.

But I have to admit it, Arnold is worth his weight in gold.

He got us off that island, got us cell phones, passports, and even found the plane that Reece bought for me, to replace the one I lost.

King steps up to Darla’s other side, and she quickly grabs his hand, clearly feeling on edge around all these people. I move in close behind her, and Reece stays in front as we walk through the gates and quickly head towards Arnold .

Everyone is yelling now, trying to get our attention, but my focus is on nobody getting close to Darla. I can see how worried she is right now, and I fear she might have a panic attack being surrounded by so many people.

Luckily, we make it to the SUV with no incident and Arnold opens the door and the others usher Darla in first with King quickly getting in behind her.

“West!” I turn around and see a man trying to push past security as he waves an arm at me. “Let me through, that’s my brother!”

My eyes widen in shock when I realize it’s Brian, my brother. I haven’t seen him in five years, not since I was dishonorably discharged and he refused to speak to me. He’s got a full beard now, that’s why I didn't recognize him at first.

He sees me looking at him and his eyes widen. “West!”

I take a few steps towards him and call to the security guard, “It’s alright, you can let him through.”

Brian doesn’t waste a second as he pushes past him and runs the last few steps towards me and throws his body against mine, wrapping me in a massive hug.

I freeze for a few seconds.

I thought he hated me?

Slowly, I lift my arms up and hug him back, squeezing my eyes shut tight as I take it for what it is.

“I’m so fucking sorry, man,” he whispers, hugging me tighter. We’re the same height but I have a lot more muscle mass than him. However, right now, he’s squeezing me so tightly, it’s almost constricting my breathing .

I pat his back a couple times and try to pull back. He seems reluctant to let go and when he finally does, I see tears in his eyes.

What the actual fuck?

“What’s going on, why are you here?” I ask, letting some of my anger towards his abandonment of me seep through. We’d been best friends growing up, so when he decided to stop talking to me five years ago and shrugged off my story like I was a liar, it had hurt.

He shakes his head and grips my shoulders.

His expression is pleading with me, and he speaks quickly, like he’s afraid I’ll pull away at any moment and stop listening.

“I’m so sorry, West. I never should have dropped you the way I did.

I should’ve listened to you. When I heard your plane went missing—” he cuts himself off and shakes his head, his eyes dropping to the ground for a moment as he tries to collect himself.

“I knew something wasn’t right. You’re an amazing pilot, and yet your plane went down, twice.

” He shakes his head again, like he knows how crazy that sounds.

His voice lowers so nobody can overhear us.

“I’ve been looking into what happened five years ago.

And I think you’re right, that was no accident. ”

My eyes widen, and I look around. “Not here,” I tell him, and he nods in understanding.

“I’m sorry. When I thought you were dead… I had so many regrets about how I treated you. I hope you’ll forgive me. I want to be a part of your life again, West. In any way you’ll let me.”

“I need time. I…” I trail off as I glance at my friends, my new brothers, over my shoulder where Bower and Reece are patiently waiting for me. “A lot has happened in the past few months. ”

He nods his head quickly, hope blooming in his eyes. “Yes, of course, take all the time you need. Here’s my number, in case you don't have it.” He hands me a piece of paper, and I slip it into my pocket.

He drops his hand and takes a step back. “I’m glad you’re okay, West,” he says with a small smile. “But don't take too long, I want you to get to know your nephew.”

My eyes widen in shock. “You have a son?” I ask, as a mixture of hurt and happiness battle in my chest.

He nods. “Timmy. He’s three, and he’d love to meet his Uncle West.”

I swallow heavily, feeling angry that I’ve missed the first three years of my only nephew’s life. I give him a curt nod before I turn and move towards my new family.

“You okay, man? Who was that?” Bower asks, his hand clasping my shoulder in support.

I nod as I glance back at Brian, who’s just watching me with a mixture of guilt and hope in his eyes.

“That’s my brother, Brian. Looks like he finally believes me.”