It’snotfine because none of this was part of the plan. She’s gone rogue.
The plan was for me to be on the plane by the time the article leaked. I was supposed to be in San Francisco before Austin’s informant casually dropped the news to the Mikklesons.
Instead, I’m hours away.
We had a plan and… No. Wehavea plan. While the goalposts have moved, the plan’s still the same. I just have to play my part, and it will all be okay.
Grabbing my phone again, I call Tabitha to keep up my end of the deal, holding my breath as the phone rings.
“Mr. D’Angelo. How’s New York?”
“It’s great, thank you. All going well. Remember that tentative meeting I asked you to hold off on?”
“Yes. I have it flagged in my emails.”
“Great. Can you please book it in? For ten a.m.”
“Is that San Francisco or New York time?”
“San Francisco. Thank you.” I need Austin to know what time I’m arriving in San Francisco. The meeting tomorrow morning is a cover for my landing time tonight.
“Okay.” I hear typing before she tells me it’s done, a smile in her voice.
“Thanks, Tabitha. I appreciate it.”
“Anything else I can help you with?”
“Not at this time. I’ll let you know if that changes. For now, enjoy your Sunday.”
“Thank you, I will. Go Storm,” she cheers.
“Go Storm.” I try to match her enthusiasm, but my heart isn’t in it, and I’m not sure that’s going to change until I land. I’m completely helpless while I’m up in the air.
You’d think I was moving backward with how slow time passes, and as we touch down at San Francisco International, I’m more anxious than I’ve ever been in my life, and I’ve been through a lot.
Since I’m ninety percent sure the Mikklesons have a tail on Jeffrey too, I make my way to the taxi stand for the first time since I was in college and take a cab. I have no idea if the Mikklesons have access to my cards or accounts, and I’m not taking any chances. As it is, I negotiated with the flight charter company to pay double their normal rate if I can wire the money tomorrow.
Am I being overcautious? Maybe. But I’d rather that than ruin it all because of a stupid error. As of right now, Daniel’sbuying dinner at a fancy restaurant in New York under my name, using my personal credit card.
I didn’t get where I am today without paying attention to detail.
Power will only get you so far.
The risks are too high to fuck around anymore.
If our plan fails, Keeley… Fuck. Emotion clogs my throat and I swallow it back down. I can’t think about that now.
It’s after ten thirty when I’m finally in a cab on the way to our house, the ominous darkness filling my head with doubts.
I’m close to calling Keeley again when Austin accepts my meeting request, and my world stills, with only the sound of my heartbeat pounding in my ears.
The plan worked. Yet, I have no idea if I’m going to make it on time.
“Can you take a left on Anderson? It’ll be faster,” I ask the driver, bouncing my knee anxiously, as my phone vibrates in my hand.
“I don’t know,” my driver responds, his words slow as if we have all the time in the world.
“Why?” I grate with a smile, careful not to piss him off.
