We drive in silence for a while, but it's not uncomfortable. I notice the way the fields stretch endlessly in every direction, stone fences reflecting the headlights from the rainwater.
I look up and see the night sky blanketed with stars. Out in the countryside here, there's tons of them.
"You never see stars like this in Chicago," I say. "City lights drown them out."
He glances up. "The stars are always there. We just rarely get to see them properly."
"Yes. They're so pretty."
I feel him watching me instead of the stars now.
"You deserve to always see pretty things, Calli." His voice is soft now.
I scoff lightly. "I'll keep that in mind."
The car turns onto a smaller road, and ahead of us I see a small airstrip, a single hangar, and one sleek private jet sitting on the tarmac like it's been waiting just for us.
"What is that?" I ask, surprised.
"A private plane."
I turn to him. "No, I know that. Is it yours?"
"Of course," he says simply.
Niko parks and turns to face me.
"Dublin is a short flight," he says. "And there's a place there I want to take you."
I shake my head, amazed. "Are you serious?"
"Yes," he says and opens his door. "While I didn't travel across the world to kidnap you, I did do it with the intention of taking you to the best place this country has to offer."
He climbs out and comes around to open my door.
The moment my heel hits the tarmac, I realize I'm about to get on a plane with a man I think I kind of know from years before. And not only am I not stopping him, I'm kind of excited.
It's just a drink, Calli. Just a drink.
Niko guides me up the steps, placing a hand on the small of my back. It lingers just long enough to leave a trail of heat through the fabric of my dress.
The interior is all cream leather and polished wood. A flight attendant greets us with a smile.
The seats are plush, oversized chairs, and instead of taking one across from me, he sits right beside me. The proximity is intriguing. His cologne subtly fills my senses, his thigh inches from mine.
"Champagne?" he offers, nodding to the attendant who promptly brings two flutes.
"This is, um... a lot," I say, accepting the glass. "For just a drink."
"Really?" he asks, studying my face. "Do you not think you're worth it?"
"No," I say. "Not that, but it's just?—"
"You're worth a lot more than this, Calli," he says and taps my glass with his. "But you'll have to settle for what I've got planned."
I open my mouth to respond, but the engines kick on and I look away. I'm kind of relieved because I didn't even know what the hell I was going to say.
The takeoff is smooth, and before I know it, we're up in the sky.
