34
Patrena
Thirty days after I was rescued from the Horizon Group, an early morning call from Denise had my nerves up and running. Tywin and I had no idea where we were going, so we dressed casually in jeans and tennis shoes and packed a backpack with jackets and warm clothing in case we ended up in Antarctica and somewhere near the equator.
We had been stuck together like glue since he, his cousins, and their deadly crew broke me out of that building and especially now since everyone knew we were a couple. The only time I wasn’t with him was when he and Arlo wanted their male-bonding time. I loved seeing the two of them together. They were the essence of one of the most beautiful father-and-son relationships I’d ever witnessed.
Yesterday, it broke my heart to see him part with his son. The way his little man had clung to his neck had made my eyes water. “Just one more day, Daddy. I’ll be good. I promise,” his little shaky voice had begged while two big guards sent by the mother ripped them apart.
Arlo didn’t understand that his father and grandfather would move heaven and earth to have more time with him, but their hands were literally tied. I had no doubt the little boy loved his trifling mother, but I got the impression he preferred his father.
I was unable to fully comprehend why Tywin couldn’t snatch that bitch. I would have at least tried to hire someone to beat that ass. It took him breaking down the intricacies of syndicate rules for me to understand that there were about a hundred reasons why he couldn’t burn that witch at the stake. However, I believed she still needed to be dealt with in other ways to understand that it wasn’t okay to do whatever you wanted because of your position in the organization’s hierarchy.
We had spent countless hours inside Tywin’s secure office in his penthouse trouble-shooting scenarios for why the syndicate would want a meeting with me. Arjen, Khane, Mecca, and Desiree along with Rhi had joined us a few times in an attempt to solve the riddle of why the syndicate had gotten involved in my rescue.
Although the men knew and understood what my tattoo was, none of them had mentioned or suggested what I should do about it. In my opinion, there was no better way to express to a person that you trusted them.
However, I believed my tattoo was the only logical reason for the syndicate’s involvement in rescuing me and for scheduling the meeting. Had they discovered that I had unencrypted information in my possession capable of taking down the organization?
I believed I would be faced with the decision of handing over my mother’s case to help a group I was trained to fight. I didn’t believe this was what my mother would have wanted. Otherwise, she would have destroyed the files. On the other hand, she may have thought keeping the case files was the only way to save my life if it became necessary. There still remained some unknowns concerning the decisions my mother had made on my behalf, but I believed she’d had my best interest at heart.
Tywin’s phone pinged. It was the secure update of the meeting location that Denise was sending. He focused on the screen before turning it in my direction to read. A white Cadillac Escalade with Florida plates is waiting in front of your building.”
“Are you ready?” Tywin asked, reaching for my hand.
This was an unknown I wasn’t ready for, but I would summon bravery and face this situation head on. I took Tywin’s hand, and the contact instantly eased my tension.
I understood what the group was telling me about their syndicate connection and how the higher-ups didn’t want me dead, but I still had reservations. My only thought as Tywin lifted me into the back of the SUV and climbed in after me was, Will we be alive tomorrow?
* * *
After traveling for nearly an hour,Tywin and I stared out at the wide open farmland we were approaching. It wasn’t the farm that drew our attention but the fact that we were driving past it, cruising along the dirt road that ran along the side of it, and heading in the direction of the thicket of woods behind it.
After we rocked and bounced over the rutted dirt path that weaved around trees and through small valleys and slopes that made up the wood’s interior, a clearing started to open up ahead. It wasn’t a simple clearing we were driving towards but a long strip of runway cut wide through the woods.
You wouldn’t have known it was there unless you were aware of it or had viewed it from above. Parked at the edge of the area was a new Gulfstream G600. The engine was roaring with life, the pilot and co-pilot visible in the cockpit. The steps were extended and the door was open with an attendant standing next to it as the crew waited for us to board.
A secret runway and no hint at where we were headed, kept me turning out too many scenarios to keep up with. We exited the vehicle and boarded the plane with no words, only our curious stares and speculating expressions.
The attendant secured the door and took his seat, leaving us to seat ourselves. Patrena and I sat at the rear of the plane and strapped ourselves in.
“You’re still carrying right?” I whispered my question, but like me, Tywin was staring around the plane.
The pilot revved the engine and prepared for takeoff. There were no announcements about safety guidelines, seatbelts, or flotation devices.
“Yes,” he finally answered, tapping his lower back. I had not argued when he’d handed me a pistol before leaving his apartment.
“Do they take your weapons when you go to workshop?”
“No, they’ve never taken our weapons during workshop. However, this is something new, different, but I don’t sense any hostility. The sooner we make it to our final destination, the sooner we’ll know what this is all about. Try to relax. We’ll be fine,” he reassured me before taking my hand and brushing a tender stroke of his lips along the back.
After a movie, a few stiff drinks, and a snack, Tywin reclined my seat and tucked me in with a lot of tender love and care. I was unsure how long I was out, but when my sleep-heavy body was caressed by a set of strong hands and pulled into a firm chest, it was the best wakeup a girl could ask for. I would never get tired of the affection he lavished on me or the way he always made sure I was taken care of.
The shift in the plane’s altitude suggested we were making our descent. Like before take-off, the pilot didn’t announce our arrival location, so we were left gawking through the window and taking our best guesses.
“This is definitely tropical, and we logged at least ten hours of flight time. I’d say we are somewhere in the Caribbean,” he presumed, eyeballing the crystal blue water below and the scattering of large estates.
He grew quiet and was so focused on the land below that it felt like a statue was sitting next to me.