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Sympathy showed on her face. “And you grew up with him.”
He didn’t want her sympathy or her pity or even her understanding. Not then. He was too raw and wild. Closer and closer to hell. That’s where we are flying. Closer and closer… “I grew up with him,” he said, jerking his head in a nod. “He wanted me to be just like him.”
“But you’re not.”
Don’t be too sure.
“You protect people. He hurts them. You’re the exact opposite of what he is.”
“I planned to kill Bowie Dodge. The instant he pulled that gun and threatened you, I wanted him dead. But I wanted to get answers from him first. He could have told us more.” He released her chin. “Ray just beat me to the shot. I would have killed Bowie. Other people would balk at the idea of ending someone’s life. I don’t feel that hesitation.” Truth be told, he wasn’t always sure that he felt things the way normal people did.
He was good at pretending. At making jokes. Smiling like the world was some grand theme park ride. But the truth was that so much of what he did was only on the surface. When you peeled back the surface…
Show them what you want the world to see, boy. We’re big and strong, and people will be afraid because of our size. If they think we’re too dangerous, we’ll never get close. So you have to smile. You have to charm. You have to get beneath their guards. That way, they can forget you’re a threat. They’ll think you’re just like them.
But we aren’t. We will never be like everyone else.
Her cream scent teased him. Greedily, he drank it in even as he said, “You should get back in your seat.”
“You were only doing what was necessary to protect me. You are not your father.”
“Why do you think I’m in the bodyguard business?”
“Because you’re good at protecting people.”
A negative shake of his head. “No, sweetheart. It’s because I’m good at violence. Good at figuring out the threats because I know how to think like a predator. And when the threats do come, I enjoy fighting back.” I like it too much.
A determined shake of her head. “You’re not going to scare me into thinking you’re some kind of monster, Midas.”
“You need to get back in your seat.”
“Why? What is so wrong with me being close—”
“My control is shredding with every second that passes. Violence leaves a mark on me. Adrenaline. Fury. I told you before that I knew all about the rush that comes in the aftermath. My blood is practically burning, and I want you.”
She swallowed.
“I want to fuck you right here in this plane seat, and I don’t really give a shit that the pilot will be able to hear every sound you make.”
Another swallow. Her eyes had seemed to get bigger with every word he spoke.
“I want to sink into you again and again and I don’t give a shit,” he said again, deliberately crass, “that it will be your first time. I want to be rough and hard. I just want to take and take until nothing else exists but you.” Because…
Because she pulled him from the darkness.
Only he didn’t say that part.
“You’re a virgin, and you are not ready for what I want from you. So get back in your seat. When we land, it would be…wise not to touch me.” Talk about an understatement. “I’ll sleep on the floor at the hotel room.” Because getting a second room wasn’t an option. He had to stay close to her. Bad enough that he’d brought her on the plane, but…
I want her where I can see her. Yes, I trust Memphis but… He doesn’t understand how important she is. Doesn’t get that nothing matters but her safety. Yes, Memphis would watch her but…
Midas would take a bullet to protect her. He’d rip the world apart to shield her.
He’d kill his own father to keep her safe.
No, he did not have his customary control. In fact, he was as out of control as he’d ever been.
Alina turned her head and looked at the seat across from him. Then, without a word, she got up and returned to that seat. Put her seatbelt back into place.
