There was nothing I could do. I gave up the fight as we reached the edge of the beach, my eyes flicking back to Kyle’s unconscious form. I frowned. I’d lost the first man I’d ever beeneven remotely interested in. And there was nothing I could do about it.
I resigned myself to never seeing him again as we reached the caravan of SUVs that sat behind my sister’s motorcycle. Stefan plopped me into the backseat and slammed the door before I could utter a curse in my native Belvarian.
The entourage climbed inside, sandwiching me in the middle of the bench seat and fired the engine. Through the darkly tinted windows, my sister approached, motioning for the car to prepare to leave.
She swung her leg over the sleek cycle and fired the engine, zipping ahead of us as we made our way to the private airstrip.
My stomach churned, and my mind spun. I still had my phone, I realized. And it had Kyle’s number. Maybe I could send him a message once we settled into the flight.
I didn’t dare do it now with the eyes of Nadia’s men on me. Nothing would get my phone smashed faster than making it obvious that I was sending an unauthorized text message.
Instead, I’d need to wait for a private moment on the flight. Maybe it would be easier to tell him the truth over text. I wouldn’t have to see the disappointment on his face when he realized I wasn’t who I said I was.
I’d probably just get ghosted.
The car pulled into the airstrip, navigating to a hangar in the back. My sister parked the motorcycle, tossing the keys to one of the men who would stay behind to clean up the mess.
The ones guarding me opened their doors, and I slid into the bright Hamptons sunshine before they led me to the private plane. My sister spoke with the pilot in Belvarian, telling him she wanted to be underway in minutes.
Dutifully, I climbed the stairs and plopped onto the leather couch. A flight attendant scurried to offer me a beverage. “Nyet,” I answered with a dismissive wave of my hand.
She slinked back, awaiting her other passengers who may have a better disposition.
Nadia strode into the cabin a minute later, crossing to me as she swiped her usual tumbler of vodka from the woman.
“It’s a little early,” I said.
“It’s five o’clock somewhere.” She held her hand out expectantly as she took a sip.
“What?” I asked with a shrug.
Her features twisted with amusement. “As if you don’t know.”
She leaned forward, her face inches from mine, the scent of the vodka still lingering on her lips as she fished in my pocket and removed my phone. “Can’t have you texting him like a lovesick schoolgirl, now can we?”
She slid the phone into her pocket and dropped into one of the leather chairs.
My jaw clenched, my nostrils flaring. My chance to text Kyle was gone. My heart twisted. Would I ever see Kyle again? Could I even dare to hope that he’d still care for me. There were so many things I needed to explain to him, so much I wanted to say. And my sister had taken my chance away.
I loved Nadia, and for the most part, I trusted her, but she had a terrible habit of treating me like a child. While I may not have been as savvy as she when it came to dealings of questionable legality, I knew enough. And I knew my own heart.
Settling back into the couch, I pulled my legs up under me as the engines whirred to life and the cabin door closed. I stared at it, feeling as though it cut off any chance I had at happiness.
So many things had already gone wrong in my life, and now the one shred of silver lining I’d found had been left unconscious on the beach.
As the plane lurched forward, I swallowed hard. I’d wanted nothing more than to return home when I’d first come here, and now I wanted nothing to do with it.
My heart sped up a little as I considered the dangers that awaited me. I dug my fingernails into my palm, my lips tugging into a frown. I wasn’t ready to face what I would be forced to face.
And there was no end in sight.
As the plane rumbled down the runway, I clenched my fists. This wasn’t the end. Not for me. Not for Kyle. And definitely not for Belvaria.
CHAPTER 13
KYLE
My head throbbed as the sound of crashing waves pulled me back from the darkness. Cold water tickled my ankles, startling me back to reality. My eyes snapped open, and I immediately closed them.
