Page 61 of Bound

Instead, I look away. Because I can’t lock her away.

New concept.

I hate it.

Rafe closes one window on his screen and opens another. “We land in seven minutes.”

Blaze’s knife stops moving.

Gregory exhales slowly. “The decoy movement went through three channels. Two old Moretti fragments, one Bachman contractor path. If Carlos is watching for emotional response, he has enough to believe we are coming hot.”

“We are coming in hot,” Blaze says.

“We are coming controlled,” Rafe corrects.

Blaze smiles without humor. “I’m bringing the blaze.”

We all wish for Cleo.

She keeps one of our most volatile men from trying to turn everything into a crime scene before the plan begins.

Rafe continues. “Carlos should believe we intend to enter the new Village gates within the hour. He should also believe Erin and Isobel are both with the team.”

“They are,” I say.

“Yes,” Erin’s gaze cuts to me. “We are. We will be.”

“They will be visible with the team,” Rafe says. “Protected by said team.”

My jaw tightens as the plane descends beneath the clouds. Bridges. Water. Buildings. More snow along rooftops. Too many cars inching along the roads.

My chest tightens. Not from nostalgia. From memory.

The first time I became responsible for another life, I was too young and too angry to understand responsibility was not the same as control. Gregory was a tiny boy then. Silent. Too clever.

Watching me with eyes that asked questions I couldn’t find the words to answer. It turns out emotional unavailability isn’t something that came after Isobel. I learned it the day my parents died.

Erin’s hand slides into mine. I look down. Her fingers are warm. Small, compared to mine.

But not fragile.

“You’re doing it again,” she says.

“What?”

“Staring.”

My throat tightens. I look at her.

A low laugh comes from Blaze. “Get married already, you two.”

“Has anyone told you to shut up yet today, Blaze?” Erin’s cheeks color with a shy smile.

The idea of Erin wearing my ring has lived under my skin long enough to become part of my pulse. Bayne started wedding talk to irritate me. Now, Blaze has picked it up.

“Um.” Erin clears her throat. “There has been no proposal.”

Rafe looks up. “Landing.”