There were few things that felt as good as my lovers’ hands pulling me closer. And everything about this jet just felt so sexy and luxurious. If I weren’t so exhausted. I’d be tempted to do a little more than just cuddle.
It’d be as good a place as any to join the mile high club.
But as the doors sealed and the jet prepared for takeoff, the reality of what we were doing quickly crushed those naughty desires. What waited for me on the other side of this plane ride was a world of danger.
Once the lawyer got through the paperwork, I would officially take my place on Zeus’ board, right next to Dom. We’d have to kick Isaac out of the company, seize control, and turn the entire operation over to the authorities.
And that assumed that we could survive whatever Gabe and Isaac had in store for us once we showed our hand.
The thought of facing them down again — the two men who’d been controlling my life from the shadows all of these years —was enough to make my chest burn. But if I had to face them, at least I knew I could count on my angels to keep me safe.
87
LEO
For weeks,I hadn’t had a minute of peace. The house had been tight and angsty quarters for a while now. When I wasn’t breaking up a fight between Spencer and Dom, I was comforting Kiera, and when I wasn’t comforting Kiera, I was trying to eek information out of Dom, and when I wasn’t eeking info out of Dom, I was keeping Lady entertained.
But now that we were finally on our way to claim Kiera’s shares, the weight of what we were doing set in. Which means for once in their lives, these motherfuckers were quiet.
Dom had crawled off into her own corner of the jet with her headphones in, while Spencer was taking a nap in one of the solo recliners. Even the dog was keeping herself busy.
Which left me to hold Kiera, while she gazed pensively out the window. Dark clouds over the Midwest obscuring our view of the night-covered farmland below.
As I sat in the searing silence, I could finally take a full breath. But it didn’t feel as good as I wanted it to, and I couldn’t help but wish for noise again.
In the quiet of my own thoughts, my mind kept drifting back to Kiera. Tough as she was, it was hard not to worry about her. Especially when I saw Maura’s name flash across her phone.
With Kiera nestled against my chest, it was hard not to look at the text message:
It’s not like you to be so absent. I know that something’s wrong. My blood pressure is through the roof. If I could see you in person, I would feel much better.
Mom
Kiera barely had a second to react to that text before another came through:
There are things I need to tell you in person, Kiera. Changes. At least give me a call so I know that you’re alive.
Mom
With a sigh, Kiera shut her phone down and tossed it across her leather seat. I squeezed her a bit tighter, rubbing her arm as she nestled into my chest. “Everything alright?”
“It’s fine,” she groaned. “Just the usual shit.”
I nodded, not wanting to push it. Maura’s texts had slowed ever since Kiera kicked her off of her bank account, but they hadn’t stopped entirely. And now, they were much more guilt-trippy than they were demanding.
I had to give her credit. Maura was smart enough to know when her tactics were going stale. And Kiera was smart enough to start seeing her manipulation for what it was.
She didn’t complain about the texts as much any more. They didn’t derail her day the way they had when she’d first moved inwith us. But as she snuggled into me for comfort, it was clear to me that the matter was far from resolved.
Just another fucking pressure that she’s under.
I could see the weight crushing down on her from every angle, and all I wanted to do was to make it go away. But, as unfair as it was, these were Kiera’s battles. All I could do was stand by her and give her support as she fought her way through.
I bit my lip as I stared out the window, trying to think of something I could say to make her feel better. But to my surprise, while my worries were with Kiera, it seemed that her own concerns were aimed at me.
“How areyoudoing?” She pulled back slightly, melting my heart with those beautiful green eyes.
“I’m fine,” I murmured, smoothing out her hair. But she wasn’t buying it.
