I exhaled harshly through my nose. “Luca’s roped them in.”
Rory gave a short laugh. “Took him long enough.”
We drove in silence after that, cruising out of Manhattan and up the turnpike toward the airport. Jet Aviation was already prepping for our arrival—I’d texted ahead.
The private terminal was quiet as we pulled in. My plane, sleek and silver beneath the afternoon sky, waited next to the FBO.
First Officer Jensen met us on the ramp. “Mr. Volkov,” he greeted with a nod. “Flight plan’s filed and cleared. Just under an hour to Boston with current winds. We’ll hit some light turbulence over Connecticut, but nothing to worry about.”
“Appreciate the update,” I said. “Sorry for the short notice.”
He shook his head. “It’s what I’m here for.”
“How’s the family?” I asked.
He smiled, then pulled out his phone. “You remember my daughter, Cassie?” He held up a photo of a toddler in a pink dress, who was standing with her arms flailing. She had a large grin on her face, revealing her tiny new teeth.
“She started walking?”
“Running,” he said proudly. “She’s gonna be hell on wheels one day.”
I looked at the picture a second longer. “Family’s everything,” I said.
He nodded and stepped away to continue prepping for takeoff.
Rory raised a brow as we climbed the steps. “You getting soft on me?”
“Don’t push it.”
Inside, we took our seats. The flight attendant brought us vodka, neat. I nodded my thanks and took a slow sip, then pulled out my phone, typing a message to Henri.
Situation with Delgado is escalating. Add two more men to the girl. I want a full contingent round the clock. Stay diligent.
I hit send and stared out the window.
The jet engines whirred to life, and we began to taxi.
All I could see was her face.
She was tempting fate. Dancing on the edge of a turf war she didn’t understand.
And I wasn’t going to let Delgado have her.
No matter what it cost me.
Chapter nineteen
By the time I got back to the apartment, my nerves were fried, my feet were frozen, and my thoughts were a mess. I peeled off the peacoat—the one my stalker had given me and ordered me to wear. Expensive. Heavy. Warm. What a strange thing for him to do. One minute, he was threatening me; the next, he was giving me a coat that probably cost more than my rent.
I hung it on the hook by the door and stared at it for a second.
What kind of man kissed you like you were his, then told you it didn’t mean a damn thing? All I knew was it had made my stomach turn and my thighs clench all in the same breath.
It confused me so much.
I couldn’t think straight. I needed todosomething.
Cleaning was the only thing that ever helped. When the world spun out of control, I wiped, scrubbed, and sorted. Nervous energy had to go somewhere.
