He gives me a smirk and a wink. ‘Right as rain, lass. Off you go.’
I give him a wan smile and get out of the car. Blake stays behind me and Mav grabs some duffle bags from the trunk as Shade goes up the stairs and into the plane.
He’s speaking with the captain when I come through the door, and I sit in one of the chairs, putting my seatbelt on.
I don’t say anything as the doors close, but my heart is pounding. What if they stop us from leaving somehow?
But within five minutes, Mav sits beside me and the plane begins to move toward the runway. The captain comes on the loudspeaker and says something, but I don’t really hear it.
I'm out. I've escaped The Heath. I'm going back home with the guys. My fingers press into my thighs as the plane picks up speed, hoping that nothing happens now…not when we’re so close.
Shade’s phone is on the table, and it begins to buzz just as we’re about to lift off. It keeps buzzing, and finally, he swears and answers it.
Is it Stoke? Does he somehow know Shade has helped me escape? Is he going to tell John if we don’t go back?
I can’t hear the voice on the other end, but Shade’s face drains of color and my stomach churns.
'I understand,' he says. 'Thank you for letting me know. I’ll…be there in the morning.'
He puts his phone down, and stares down at the table in front of him.
'Who was that? Are you okay?' Mav asks him from next to me.
He looks up, his face holding an expression I’ve never seen before. I don’t know what it means.
'It’s my father,' he says, his tone devoid of emotion. 'He’s dead.'
Blake
‘Dead? What the fuck?’
Shade is silent, just staring at the seat in front of him. I watch him as emotions flit over his face. I don't think he knows how to feel. I don't think he knows how he'ssupposed to feel. I mean, after all, his dad was a motherfucker. The world is a better place without him, as far as I’m concerned.
'There's more,' Shade murmurs after a couple of minutes, like it’s an afterthought. 'Joseph Banderville was with him. He's dead too.'
Nice! A two fer.
With another Banderville out of the picture, my mind is already turning at the possibilities. Daisy could be safe from these assholes once and for all. It's not like they can come back from the grave to fuck up her life.
The seatbelt sign goes off.
'How did they…?' Mav asks, standing up from his seat.
'I don't know exactly. An accident of some kind.'
'Who was that on the phone?'
'Detective Anders. She's asked me to go into the station.' He rolls his eyes and looks out the window. 'We'll have to figure out our alibi before we land.'
He takes out his phone.
'What are you doing?' I ask.
'I'm messaging Sauvage. We're onhisplane, and that detective might subpoena him for his flight data. There might be stuff he doesn't want out in the open, and the last thing we need is that French fuck pissed off at us.'
Daisy gets up out of her seat, goes to the table, and puts her hand over Shade's. She doesn't say anything. He looks up at her and gives her a weak smile, putting his other hand over hers.
'Why don't you go take a shower, sweetheart?' he says. 'I'll be okay. Promise.'
