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Ralavich pulled me towards the open door. Outside, the taxiway was a blur beneath the wheels: the pilot was racing towards the runway to take off. Calahan was sprinting to keep up with the plane, his clothes soaked from the rain and his chest heaving with the effort. But he was starting to fall behind. For a second, we locked eyes and I could see the raw fear and frustration there. I was about to be lost to him forever, spirited off to Russia where I’d disappear into Ralavich’s network.
Calahan moved his gaze, looking over my shoulder and into the plane. I twisted my head to look... and gave a moan of horror.
Konstantin had been forced back against the bulkhead, panting, his face pale and sweaty with pain. He was absorbing blow after blow, each one weakening him a little more. Any second now, the guard would knock him to the floor and then it would all be over. He looked at me and then past me, outside, towards Calahan. I followed his gaze—
And saw something pass between the two men. Calahan nodded to Konstantin, his eyes furious and desperate, putting all his faith in the man who’d been his enemy, lending him his strength.
Konstantin looked at me. I saw those blue eyes harden, determined—
Konstantin bellowed in rage and drove his right fist into the guard’s face hard enough to lift him right off his feet. The man crashed to the floor, but something fell free from under his jacket and went spinning across the floor towards me. His gun!
Ralavich reacted first. He let go of me and crouched, his hand clawing for it. Konstantin took a step towards the gun but he was shaky, his lips drawn back from his teeth in pain and blood dripping down his injured arm: that punch had taken everything he had. He’s not going to get there in time!
Ralavich’s fingers wrapped around the gun. I ran over to Ralavich but what the hell could I do? He was twice my size and I was staggering around in the ridiculous heels I’d bought to look like—
What would Christina do?
I lifted my foot and stamped my heel down on the back of Ralavich’s hand as hard as I could. He howled in pain and his fingers released the gun. A second later, Konstantin kicked it out of the open door.
I staggered back out of the way. Ralavich got to his feet, clutching his hand, and the two men faced off.
Konstantin’s eyes grew cold. I drew in my breath. He’d waited twenty years for vengeance. Now Ralavich had no more guards, no more protection. I knew how this would end.
So did Ralavich. As Konstantin stalked towards me, he lunged to the side and grabbed me—
And threw me out of the plane.
68
Konstantin
MY WHOLE WORLD changed in half a second.
I’d dreamed of this day for twenty years. The fantasies had been all that had kept me going in the early days, when I’d lain awake at night starving and freezing, too poor to afford food or shelter. Later, my hatred had helped me build my empire. Every deal, every block of territory, was one step closer to killing him. Ralavich had always been too well guarded, too well hidden for me to get to. But I’d always known this day would come. My path had always been clear.
And then, suddenly, that path was torn in two.
I shoved Ralavich aside and leaned out of the door and into the rain, my heart slamming against my ribs. For a second, I couldn’t see her. I searched the pavement as it rushed by beneath us, my chest tight and my hands crushing the door frame, terrified I was going to see her battered, bloody body—
Then I looked back, along the plane. Hailey was lying on the wing, behind and below the door. She was moaning in pain and I could see blood on the white wing, just beneath her head: she must have really hit hard when Ralavich threw her. But she was alive. And Calahan was sprinting after us for all he was worth. The wing was only eight feet or so off the ground, once he got there he could help her down….
Then the plane swung around, turning off the taxiway and onto the runway. I glanced up and saw what was right behind Hailey. Oh God. Oh, no—
“Hailey!” I screamed. “You have to jump down! Now!”
She gave a weak moan and tried to press herself up to sitting, still dazed. I could see a nasty gash on her forehead where she’d hit her head. Behind her, I saw Calahan curse as he, too, realized the danger. But he was still too far away—
The plane finished its turn and stopped at the end of the runway. And then—
It started as a deep whine that rose inexorably higher and higher. My tie flapped, then snapped tight, tugging at my neck. Rain stung one side of my face as the drops were sucked horizontally by an unmatchable force.
