Page 121 of Mile High Heist

That look usually meant I was about to be screwed, and not in the fun way.

“You will have five minutes,” he said. “Then everyone, including yourselves, will lose consciousness and suffocate.”

Already the air felt thinner. The plane rattled as the first sounds of panic bled through the cockpit door. Not soundproof, then.

“Then what the fuck are you waiting for?” I snapped at him.

I needed him out of the cockpit. As soon as he did, I’d have my chance to take him down. My blood roared in anticipation, even as my lungs started to hurt.

“I need to make sure we reach the door, Jax,” the Viper said. He smiled. “No interruptions.”

Then his arm snapped out, and he fired a shot.

Directly into the captain’s thigh.

The man screamed around his gag. Both Madoc and I moved forward, but the Viper was quicker, pressing the gun back to Olivia’s skull. She froze, her eyes widening in alarm.

“Better patch him up before he bleeds out,” the Viper said, and pressed the button to open the cockpit door. The air rushed in, fierce and cold. “Clock is ticking, Jax.”

34

JAX

Madoc was quick to react. He knelt in front of the captain, pressing gauze to the man’s thigh. The cockpit was blaring alarms. Each one pierced my head: run, run, run.

I was paralyzed. Save the captain or save the girl.

Fuck.

“Madoc!” I hissed, dropping down. “I have to—”

“I got it,” Madoc said, his jaw set, his breath already ghosting white as the temperature plummeted. “The bullet hit his femoral artery.”

“What does that mean?”

“He’ll bleed out.” Madoc pressed down, blood spilling between his fingers. Constant pressure was needed to keep him alive.

We needed him alive to land the plane. He was our last chance.

Madoc looked up at me, eyes hard. “She told them.”

“What?”

“The seat numbers. She announced them over the intercom. Ryle and Nate are waiting there.”

I should’ve known Madoc would’ve cooked up a plan. Announce the seat numbers, plant Ryle and Nate in the prime location to ambush.

I just had to make sure neither of those idiots got shot doing it.

I looked at the captain again, his face rapidly losing color.

“Go,” Madoc said.

I didn’t need to be told again.

I hit the button and opened the door, not looking back. I sprinted into the cabin, which already looked like a gruesome scene from a space horror. The passengers were huddled in their seats, masks on, eyes darting frantically around the cabin. Ice was already webbing across the windows and walls.

I’d barely survived this the first time.