Page 91 of Mile High Heist

She gave me a flat look. “In case you missed it during your little nap, we’ve lost three passengers. Without a proper investigation, we must assume whatever killed them still poses a risk to the remaining passengers. That means they are not permitted to roam around the cabins.” Her lips pursed. “They are, understandably, angry about it. You must remain firm.”

“Understood.”

“Good.” She gestured to my feet. “I’m not even going to ask what happened to your shoes. You will go into the staff lockers and find a spare. Then you will come and find me.”

I nodded.

“And if you see Julie, you tell her she will also need to find herself a new job. Absolutely useless…”

For the next hour, I dedicated myself to relocating luggage and fielding complaints from pissy lawyers. Although pissy didn’t quite cover it. They were borderline revolting, pacing the cabin like caged beasts.

“In what universe can they legally detain five hundred people…”

“An outbreak? An outbreak of what? ”

“This has class action written all over it!”

My patience was quickly worn thin. My feet were burning. I was so hungry that I seriously considered eating a half-empty packet of granola I found tucked in a carry-on (I didn’t, because ew).

But I was still optimistic. A glance at the flight map revealed we were coasting over the United Kingdom.

Just four hours to go.

Finally, a light at the end of the tunnel.

I was bending over to retrieve a stray shoe (some of the suitcases had exploded when the overheads broke) when I sensed someone move in behind me.

Instantly, I snapped upright and whirled around, wielding the loafer like a gun.

Madoc gave me his usual look of disdain and boredom. The bruises on his face didn’t make him any less intimidating. The cut on his brow was particularly gnarly, not that he cared. I knew firsthand that bullets didn’t slow him down. More proof he wasn’t all human.

My cheeks burned hot as I dropped the shoe. I tried not to think about the fact that he’d shoved his tongue down my throat. Or that he’d swallowed Jax’s cum directly from my mouth. Or that I’d viciously, violently liked it.

Nope.

Instead, I ruthlessly decided that we were going to ignore it. Pretend it never happened. We hated each other, and Madoc was Madoc, an unattainable, infuriating guy with so many issues he should come with his own disclaimer.

I wondered what reason he had for seeking me out. Part of me had suspected (and hoped) that he would avoid me after what happened. His exit hadn’t exactly been subtle. I had no idea what seeing Jax like that did to him, if anything.

I waited, but Madoc was Madoc. He just stared at me like I was the problem.

“You’re supposed to be in lockdown,” I said, not bothering to be polite. “That means not creeping around.”

“He told you.”

I sighed, not even bothering to question how he knew that. “Yeah.”

“Idiot.”

“Him or me?”

He smirked. “Both of you.” Then he reached into his pants pocket. “Catch.”

He tossed me a gold object. I caught it mid-air.

A watch.

No.