Page 99 of Mile High Heist

“So, it’s practically a bank vault,” Jax said, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Great. Next idea.”

“Lure him out,” Callum said. The ex-marine was a big fan of tactical operations. “He wants something. Use it as bait.”

“The SKS?” Olivia asked, crossing her arms.

Jax considered it, rubbing his jaw. “He still holds the cards. Fucker could crash the plane, and he knows it.”

I twitched.

Of course, Jax noticed. He whirled on me, a sharp look in his eye. “You’re quiet.”

“I’m thinking.”

“Show your work, super brain.”

He wasn’t going to like it. None of them would.

“He hasn’t crashed the plane.”

Ryle snorted, flopping onto the bed dramatically. “No shit.”

Even Olivia looked amused, rolling her eyes. The color had returned to her cheeks. “Does he ever say more than one sentence at a time?”

“No,” Jax said. His whole attention was fixed on me. Every word. Every pause.

Sometimes, it was fun to pause.

“He wants something,” I said. “He’s waiting.”

“For what?”

“Exactly.”

Jax sighed. He rubbed his hair aggressively, causing it to stand up in weird clumps. I liked his new haircut. Not that I’d tell him that. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?” he asked me.

I smirked. “Yes.”

“Fuck.”

Ryle raised his hand. “Can someone translate for those of us who don’t speak Jadoc?”

Olivia snorted, then immediately slapped a hand over her face. She was still twitchy with shock, hysterical. I imagined stripping off her blood-soaked clothes and warming her skin…

I twitched again, and Jax arched a brow, curious. I shook my head.

He grimaced. “Alright.” He turned to the rest of them. “We’re going with Ryle’s plan.”

Ryle sat up, gawking. “My plan?”

“We’re going to ask him what he wants,” Jax said, baring his teeth in a feral grin. “But I’m not going to be fucking nice about it.”

27

JAX

Istood before the cockpit door.

Hands clenched at my sides, my head a dangerous, hollow place. Madoc stood to my right. Nate to my left. We didn’t speak. We just looked. We burned.