Page 72 of Russian Roulette

“Right here in Vegas,” she replies. “Where the big money is. In Ketchikan, I would be lucky to get three solid months of bookings. In Vegas, it’s a year-round gig.”

“In that case, you’ve got balls of steel, girl,” I tell her. “You’re a badass. If anyone can make it, you can. Give those old boys a run for their money.”

Stepping closer, she holds out a hand to Jade with a broad smile. “I’m Trixie,” she says. “Have you ever flown in a helicopter before?”

“No, I haven’t,” Jade replies with a shy smile. “This is a first for me. And a nice surprise that I wasn’t expecting. I’m Jade.”

“Nice to meet you!” Trixie says, shaking her hand. “The helicopter is ready and you’re welcome to board. Seven, I need you to come inside to sign the paperwork first. It’ll only take a minute.”

“Great!” I turn to Jade. “Go on over to the helicopter and settle into a seat in the back. I’ll be right there.”

Jade walks toward the helicopter and I follow Trixie into the metal shed that serves as the airport.

“Did you load the picnic basket I ordered?” I ask. Trixie hands me a set of liability forms that I quickly sign before handing them back to her.

“Yes, and the champagne is chilling in a bucket,” Trixie replies. “You’re lucky. The weather is perfect today. The flight should be smooth.”

Suddenly, I hear the unmistakable loud roar of a helicopter engine. I turn around toward the tarmac, half expecting to see another helicopter coming in for a landing. Instead, I watch the blades slowly starting up on the red helicopter Jade climbed into.

“Trixie, are we taking a co-pilot with us? I was expecting it to be only the three of us. It’s fine, either way if we are.”

Trixie frowns in puzzlement. “No, not a co-pilot. What are you talking about?”

“If there’s no co-pilot, then who started up the helicopter? It’s ready to take off.” A crazy idea flashes through my mind. Can Jade fly a helicopter?

“Vulcan’s flying the copter today,” she says. “He showed up a few minutes ago and said you decided to rent only the helicopter today, not my services. He told me the two of you planned a special day. Don’t worry, he’s a competent pilot. I’ve flown with him plenty of times. You’ll have a great time today, and I’ll be here when you get back this evening.”

My mouth drops open in surprise.

Fuck!

“No!” I yell. “Vulcan’s not part of the plan. Not my plan, anyway. He’s not going with us.”

“Oryou’renot going with them,” she points out. “You’d better hurry because he’s leaving. Watch your head getting on and be sure to bring the copter back in one piece.”

I sprint full speed out of the building and toward the helicopter. “Vulcan! Come back here! Don’t you dare take off without me!”

I’m too late.

The motherfucker is already lifting the helicopter slowly off the ground. He turns to grin broadly at me through the window and then gives me the middle finger. The side door of the helicopter is still open, and Jade is safely buckled into her seat behind him.

I wave my arms back and forth over my head. “Jade!” I hold my phone up and point to it. “Call me! Call me!” I’m yelling as loud as I can, though she can’t hear me over the roar of the helicopter.

She holds up her hands as if she has no idea what’s going on while Vulcan is laughing his ass off. He slowly turns the helicopter in a big wide circle in the air and takes off to God knows where. Within seconds, they’re nothing but a dark spec on the skyline. I watch them until the helicopter disappears from sight, then quickly hit Kit’s number on my cellphone.

“What’s wrong?” he asks, answering on the first ring. Usually, I text instead of calling.

“You are not going to fucking believe what just happened.”

37

VULCAN

“What’s happening?” Jade asks into her mouthpiece. “Why are we taking off without Seven and Trixie?”

“I’m kidnapping you,” I reply. “Again.”

When Jade climbed onboard, I instructed her to put on the headset with a microphone to enable us to talk above the loud roar of the propellers. She mistakenly assumed my presence in the helicopter was planned with Seven and didn’t question it.