Page 105 of Romancing His Heart

“There’s no answer,” Luca yells.

“Keep calling until Ashton answers,” Seth demands.

“No. No, that was too soon. Turn around,” I scream at the pilot.

“Keep the course,” Seth counters. “We cannot turn around, Loki. I’m sorry, but that will be a death sentence for us all.”

I’ve unbuckled my harness and have my hands on Seth a second later. “Turn this fucking thing around now. I don’t give a shit about anything, Seth. I have to make sure my girl is okay. That was too fucking soon. It went off too soon.” My voice is desperate as my soul cries out in pain.

Seth moves quickly and disengages my hands from his throat. “We can’t do that, Loki, and you know it. Calm the fuck down. Give Ash a minute to respond.”

“It’s been a goddamn minute. Turn this thing around, or I’m jumping.” I’m already reaching under my seat for the parachute.

“Luca, help me,” Seth rumbles as he attempts to subdue me.

I have the backpack on and am buckling the last of the straps when Luca screams, “Text. We have a message.”

Ripping the phone from of his hand, I pull up the message from Ash.

Ashton: We’re out. Heading north. Get to Kane Lane and wait for instructions. Sloane and I will return to Waverley-Cay when we’ve lost our tail. Wipe all phones now.

Loki: Is Sloane okay? I need to talk to her.

Ashton: Yes. Not yet. Destroy the burners. I’ll contact you when we have new phones. Wipe them now.

Loki: Fuck that, Ash. Let me talk to her first.

*Your message is undeliverable.

Loki: Ashton.

*Your message is undeliverable.

I throw the phone to the ground so hard it shatters. My heart raging is all I can hear in my ears.

“What did he say?” Seth’s voice is calm, and it grates on my last nerve.

“They’re headed north. We need to wipe all phones and head to my parents’ house. He’ll contact us when it’s safe.”

“What about Sloane?” Luca asks. I spin on him so fast I think I might kill him just for uttering her name. “Loki, I know what you’re feeling right now. It’s how I have been for the last six months, but you have to take a step back and realize this is what’s best for her. I don’t know Ashton as you do, but from what I can tell, he’s been your right-hand man, your intel for years, right? We have to trust that he has a plan for this.”

“And if he doesn’t, you can bet your ass he’ll have one before we touch down in Waverley-Cay,” Seth adds.

What they’re saying is reasonable. They’re right, except I’m anything but rational when it comes to Sloane. The realization lights a fire under my ass. First, I’ll end this bullshit once and for all, then I’m going to marry that girl.

“She thinks I’m not serious about her,” I mumble.

“I hate to say this, but maybe that’s not a bad thing right now,” Luca says.

“Watch it,” Seth grinds out.

Luca raises his hands, and Seth stands down. “I just mean, wouldn’t it be easier to handle Vic if you knew she was safe? If he catches wind that she’s connected to you, she becomes a liability. You said it yourself.”

“Are you suggesting I let her suffer thinking I don’t love her?”

“For the time being, yes.”

“Fuck you. That’s not going to happen. I’m getting my girl. I’m going to kill Vic, and then I’m moving on with my goddamn life.”