Page 118 of Mile High Heist

I froze, my chest tightening. Madoc.

The Viper eyed me sharply, then nodded. “Perhaps we give the girl the choice.”

“No—” I sneered, but it was too late. He reached back and pressed a button. The light turned green, and the cockpit door opened.

Madoc swooped in, immediately assessing the scene with his clever eyes. He was covered in blood like he’d just swum through an alligator-infested channel. I was relieved to find Olivia appeared marginally less butchered, though her eyes were wet and her lip was swollen.

My fists clenched again, stinging.

Before anyone could speak, static filled the cockpit, followed by a tinny voice: “SN482, Zurich Tower, radio check.”

The Viper laughed again. “You hear that, Jax? We’re flying too low. They’re about to raise the alarm, and the poor captain here can’t respond in his current condition.”

I glanced at the captain, who was purple and swollen, his watery, beady eyes drilling into me.

“SN482, Zurich Tower, if you read, acknowledge.”

The Viper cocked the gun at the captain, causing him to thrash in alarm. “What is it going to be, Jax? The girl, or everyone else?”

My blood roared in my ears. I considered my options—one gun, one round left. He could shoot one of us but the other would rush him. His only leverage was the captain. And, well…

“I’ll go.”

I whirled on Olivia, who’d stepped forward with a determined look. Fuck, I knew that look. That look was the reason she was in this mess. That look meant she wasn’t going to do what she was told.

When had she ever?

I bared my teeth at her. “You. Shut up.”

“No.”

“Liv—”

“No, Jax. Not this time.” Olivia stepped closer, too close. The Viper was looking at her like she was the fucking crown jewel, and it made me sick. “We’re running out of time, and no one else is dying for me.”

“Fuck everyone else,” I said. Keeping the Viper in my line of sight, I closed the distance between us and gripped her chin. “Those pricks out there didn’t fucking hesitate to sacrifice you. You don’t owe them anything.”

Olivia’s eyes sparkled as they flicked to Madoc, whose face was unreadable in the shadows. “There are kids on board, Jax. People who don’t deserve this.”

Madoc’s mouth turned down.

He agreed.

Fuck.

“I’ll be okay,” Olivia said, reaching up to tug at my hand on her face. I didn’t let go. I wasn’t fucking letting go. “They won’t hurt me. They need me for some reason, even if I don’t totally understand it.”

I shook my head. “It’s not happening. You’re staying here.”

“Jax.”

“No!” I snarled, dropping the kit and grabbing her. She felt cold in my hands, distant. “I’ll fucking destroy it. The prototype. I’ll—”

Olivia covered my mouth with her hand. A big tear rolled down her face. “You’ll give up everything for me,” she said, her voice cracking. “I know you will, Jax. Which is why I’m doing this.”

I almost bit her. The temptation to sink my teeth in and force her to stay was overwhelming. I was burning, burning.

“I’m not letting you do this.”