Page 82 of Bobby

Bobby tightens his arms around me as the other man walks to the front where everyone else is. The plane is huge, but we’re the only ones on it. Just the people Bobby and his family wanted to bring and the two people from the Strays’ organization. And the pilots. Men Liam swore by, which was good enough for Danny to get on board.

I can’t believe they’re all here. That each of them came. I don’t know what I thought was going to happen when I called Cynthia, but she was the only person I knew I could trust when no one else answered. Something about our small interactions makes me feel safe with her. Like I do with Bobby.

I’ve put all my faith in him. And through him, his family by extension.

Once Tommy made the call to get us another plane, things seemed to move at a snail’s pace, even though half the group was on the phone with someone else while Cynthia and Bobby kept me as calm as possible. I wanted to help, but there was nothing I could do.

But when Vinny said it was time, things moved quickly. An entirely new team of men showed up in military gear and escorted all of us, except Cynthia, down to the basement and into tunnels. Tunnels! Cars were waiting for us, and we got in them and drove for what felt like seconds but must have been longer. By the time we pulled out of the tunnel, we were on the Upper East Side, blocks away from where we were before.

I didn’t ask questions. It didn’t matter why there were tunnels or why we were taking them. I can only assume they were being cautious, like they were about not using a plane tied to the Leone family.

When we stopped at a large airfield, Vinny and Tommy got out of the cars and spoke to four men, but of those four, only two got on the plane with us. The other two left in the car they came in, as did Vinny. I was introduced to them both when I boarded, but I just nodded and found a seat farther back. Bobby followed me, and we’ve been here ever since.

The rest have huddled together over a table and are talking quietly. A few have looked back at us, but no one has gotten close enough until Liam walked by on his way to the bathroom and asked about me.

Movement catches my eye, and I see Tommy and Danny approach, sitting in the chairs that face us on the opposite side of the table between us. I never knew planes could be so luxurious, and I doubt I would ever have known this in my life if it weren’t for Bobby. Even if I wasn’t afraid to fly, I doubt a life before Bobby would have included private air travel.

“Willow, we want to talk to you about what we’re planning. You up for that?” Danny asks with an even voice. Not one filled with pity. None of them have given me that, and I refuse to cower even now.

“Yes.” I clear my throat and sit up. I’ve been leaning against Bobby’s shoulder for what feels like hours as we’ve been flying.

“Here.” I look up to see Liam once more, back from the restroom and holding out a bottle of water for me.

“Thank you,” I say quietly as Bobby takes it from him, uncaps it, and hands it to me to drink.

Liam crosses his arms and leans back against the chair on the other side of the plane. He’s not showing any signs of leaving, and none of the men I trust seem to care that he’s there.

I nod at Danny to indicate I’m ready to listen, even if my mouth can’t seem to say it out loud. I’m too afraid to keep my mouth open for long in fear that I’ll start screaming and crying and won’t be able to stop. I’m a hairbreadth away from a full freak-out, and I don’t know how much longer I can last. So for now, I’ll keep my lips sealed shut for as long as I can.

Danny nods at me, accepting me for what I can do right now, and starts talking.

“You said he would contact you at eight, right? Probably expecting you to be at the office by then and transferring him the money.”

I nod.

“What we want you to do is, when he calls, say you’ll come and get the girls. Tell him you quit. Keep him talking for as long as you can and get him to tell you where he is.”

“What if he doesn’t?”

“We expect he’ll tell you a lie,” Tommy says as he crosses his ankle over the other knee. “Which will force you to not make a random rendezvous time wherever he actually is, then make it so you have to give him the money in some fashion or another.”

My breath hitches, but before I can hyperventilate, Danny reaches out and touches my hand that’s holding the water bottle. The one that’s shaking until he steadies it. Then Bobby moves an arm around my waist and kisses my temple.

“Breathe, Wildflower. Breathe,” Bobby whispers in my ear, and I close my eyes for a second to steady myself before opening them to a soft smile from Danny.

“Good girl.” When Danny says it, I know he doesn’t mean anything other than he’s happy to see me not freaking out. That doesn’t mean Bobby doesn’t growl a bit, but he keeps his comments to himself. But it’s enough for Danny to move his hand off mine before he keeps talking.

“When he tells you where to meet, Payton will be the one his people, if he has any, will follow to the airport.”

“No! She can’t. She—”

Tommy cuts me off with a shake of his head. “Too late. She already volunteered. She cares for your girls just as much as the rest of us. It’s what families do.”

“But what if she gets hurt?”

Tommy snorts. “You really think a Leone would let his woman go anywhere without at least a dozen men following? You really think he doesn’t already have a team watching out for you?” He nods to Bobby.

I look at Bobby, who shrugs but then shakes his head. “Only mistake I made was thinking the girls would be safe with their father. I won’t make that mistake again.”