I don’t spot Liesel initially when I step into the aisle. For a second, my heart skips, thinking that she took off. We need her help to get the treasure, to protect the kids.
I need her.
But then I spot her blonde locks peek up over the last seat in the back of the plane. There are a dozen seats between me and her. Phoenix takes the first seat at the front, purposefully making me choose between her and Liesel.
I sigh and take a seat next to Phoenix. I don’t know how to fix the iciness between the two of them, but I’ll let Liesel think she’s safe for now hiding in the back of the plane. She’s not safe—not
from me.
7
Liesel
This is never going to end.
Atlas will never be safe.
And it’s all my fault.
The plane takes off with Phoenix and Langston sitting in the front while I occupy the last seat—the furthest away I can be from them. I quickly change out of my flannel and sweatpants and into new clothes—dark jeans and a tight white T-shirt. At least it’s not a long-sleeved shirt like Phoenix usually wears.
I need to think, and Langston distracts me. My body comes alive when he’s close, and if he touches me…forget it. There won’t be any blood left in my brain to function.
I swore when I gave Atlas up that I was doing it to protect him. Everything I do is to protect him. I won’t let anyone distract me.
The words of the letter burn into my head. There is only one way to protect Atlas now, and I’m not sure I’m strong enough to pull it off.
I close my eyes and lean my chair back so I can be well-rested when we get to Peru.
“What aren’t you telling me, huntress?” Langston asks, jolting me awake.
My body heats, and my pulse races, even though my eyes remain closed.
“You can’t ignore me, huntress. You are trapped on a private jet with me for another two hours. Talk to me, or I’ll make you talk.”
My eyes fly open, and I stare him down as he stands above me. I’m tired of his threats. His harsh words should tamper down the heat in my body, but the heat only rises. I prefer us being enemies to friends, even if we are enemies on the same side. It reminds me that I can never have Langston; he isn’t mine.
“Your threats mean nothing to me.”
“I know, but they should.” He sinks into the chair next to me.
I think I prefer him towering over me to sitting so close. He leans over, invading my space as his hot breath dances across my skin on my neck.
“Won’t Phoenix be missing you?”
“Phoenix is a big girl. She can sit on a plane for a few minutes all by herself.”
I glance her way and see a thin black cord hanging down from her ear. She’s listening to something, and her eyes are closed.
I sigh. There is no one to save me from Langston. Right now, I’d even take Phoenix’s snarky comments—anything to not be left alone with Langston.
Langston turns sideways in his seat. He places one hand on the window behind me and his other hand on my chin.
“What aren’t you telling me?” he asks again.
Everything. I’m not telling you everything because it’s not your burden to bear. You’ve done enough. You’ve protected my son when he wasn’t even your own blood. I’m the only one who can save him now.
“I’ve told you everything.” Everything that you need to know.