Page 45 of Barinov

A sudden jolt of turbulence shakes the cabin, causing the lights to flicker. Cade stirs. His brows twitch but he doesn’t wake. He lets out a low grunt as the blanket slips from his shoulder.

I lean forward and gently tug it back up. My thumb brushes over his collarbone once before I pull my hand away and sink back into my seat next to Sabine.

“I’ll help you,” she continues.

“With what?” I huff a quiet laugh. “Stitching my cracks?”

“Perhaps.” She nods, twisting a golden ring on her finger. “Although I have a plan I think you’ll prefer a little bit more.”

“What’s that?” I yawn, rubbing my eyes.

“Revenge, chéri.” She winks. “You’ve seen it before.”

“You mean like the time I was at The Pit and Celeste just slithered out of my bag?” The memory of that scales-and-fangs surprise makes my pulse spike.

Sabine chuckles behind her hand. “It’s not my fault you’re a stubborn fool who never listens when someone tells you no.”

“That thing damn near gave me a fucking heart attack!”

She scoffs. “Pretty sure you survived.”

“Barely.”

“Worked now, didn’t it?” she says. “You haven’t touched a single vial of mine since.”

I gape at her.

“But what I meant was,” she continues, grinning like the devil. “I’ll help you get revenge on those who’ve hurt her. Who’ve now hurt you boys.”

The words settle deep into my bones.

“Like with Vince.” I smirk.

“Yes.” She nods, satisfied.

The plane hums around us. The roar of the engine drowning out whatever Laing and Kenji are yapping about across the aisle next to a passed out Briggs.

“Bella’s my family too,” Sabine says, pulling my attention back to her. She leans down and rests her head on my shoulder. “And now so are you boys. I’ll help you deal with the ones who choose to hurt you.”

I hesitate. “And Zeke?”

“After what he just put you through. I think I shall leave that one for you, l’ombre.”

I pick at the deep, jagged scab forming on my arm.

“Quit pickin’ at that,” she warns, her voice piercing enough to make me stop. “It’ll fester.”

“It’s fine.”

“See,” she taunts, a slow smirk playing on her lips. “Stubborn fool.”

She leans back in her seat, folding her hands over her lap like the matter is officially settled. “Try and get some sleep,” she whispers. “I’ll keep watch over you both.”

I look across at Cade one last time. At the tension still etched into his sleeping face. At the graphite that won’t quite wash away.

I sigh, then close my eyes and let the darkness take me under.

Chapter 12