“If you say so.” The plane begins to roll.
After we are at thirty thousand feet, Jett and I leave the girls up front and head to the back of the plane where a laptop is all set up for use.
With one hit of a button, we’re connected to Juice.
“Yo.” His face pops up on the screen.
“Yo, yourself. Any updates?” Jett asks him.
“Nada. Endeavor is working to find out who the hacker is, but nothing yet.”
“Do you think this has any connection with our visitors on Oahu?” I question.
“There has been no identifiable connection.” He swivels in his chair, “But I don’t think they’re ruling anything out.”
“Fuckin’ great.” I run my hand through my hair. I glance up and see Ellie and London sitting together. London’s head resting on Ellie’s shoulder; it seems they’ve become quite comfortable with each other.
“I’ll check in if anything changes. For now, just sit back, relax, and enjoy the friendly skies,” Juice says, tossing a small basketball up over his head like he’s pretending to shoot.
“Roger that.” I snap the laptop closed and suck in a breath.Relax?Yeah, right. It feels like the universe is out to get me. Not one hiccup in twelve months, then BAM—this happens. Just when my life feels like it’s finally coming together.
“I’m going to check on London. I’ll send Ellie back.” Jett taps my shoulder as he stands.
I nod, sliding down a black hole of despair.
“Kayne?” I hear Ellie’s concerned voice and look up. “Where were you?”
I just shake my head. “Someplace you don’t need to worry about.” I put my hand out to her. She takes it and slips onto my lap, curling up like the kitten she is.
“You’re tense,” she says concerned.
“I call it more alert,” I clarify.
“Do you know what’s going on?”
“No, not entirely. Not yet.”
“Will you have to go away once you do?” She looks up at me with troubled green eyes.
I want to tell her no, that I’ll never leave her side, but I can’t guarantee that. At the moment, I can’t guarantee anything, and it sucks.
“I don’t know, Ellie.”
She hugs me securely. “All that time I was with you, do you know when I was most scared?”
“No.”
“When Javier had that gun to your head. I just remember thinking this man is going to take you away and destroy me right on the spot.”
“Ellie, stop—”
“I know this is your job,” she keeps speaking despite my protest, “and that you’re proud of what you do. I just want you to know I’m proud of you, too. No matter what happens. I’m proud to love you.”
“Ellie,” my voice wavers, and my chest aches.
“I just wanted you to know.” She rubs her nose against my chin. “I wouldn’t change one second of our past. It helped shape who we are. And I really loveus.”
“I really loveus,too.” I bury my face in her neck and crush her against me.
