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“How did you know I was sitting in first class?”
“I saw you board late.”
I didn’t believe his lie. Everything in my body told me not to believe him. Not to trust him.
“You didn’t want to say hi earlier?” I folded my arms. “The aisle was blocked or something?”
“Syd, it’s not—”
I felt the punch in my stomach. The revelation came into focus. He wasn’t here to chat or catch up. He had information. AJ always had intel. “You know something is wrong with this flight, don’t you?” I whispered. That might be one thing I did believe.
“Maybe.”
“Damn it, AJ. I don’t have time. None of us might have time.”
“Ok. Yes. It’s the only reason I gave up my cover just now.”
I stared at him. “What are you talking about? You have a cover?” I stopped. “It’s not a coincidence you have a connecting flight from Atlanta to D.C.” It didn’t need to be a question. The answer was in his dark stare.
“No, it isn’t.”
I closed my eyes. I needed a second where AJ wasn’t in the frame. When seeing him next to me didn’t bring back every possible human emotion. Five years was supposed to cure that. Dating other men. Sleeping with other men. Changing professions. Starting a new art was supposed to cure that. But fuck. Maybe there was no cure for AJ Hart. There never had been.
“Syd,” he urged. “I know this is awkward as hell, but we—”
I let my eyes drift open.
“Are we getting ready to die? Is this plane going to crash? That’s why you’re here.”
He sighed. “I don’t want it to.”
“Oh my God. No one wants it to.”
The prickle of fear was stronger now. Nothing made sense. Nothing was on a clear path.
I froze when I heard the speaker overhead buzz with static before the captain’s voice began.
“Good afternoon, folks. This is Captain Beechum. We are only twenty minutes outside of the greater D.C. area, but folks we’ve been advised from air traffic control on the ground that there is a bit of a traffic jam this afternoon. I’m afraid we’re going to have to circle for a while until that situation clears up.”
There were immediate groans around us.
“Sit back and relax while our flight crew serves another round of drinks. I’ll keep you updated when we have clearance to land. Enjoy the flight.”
The radio was silent.
I stared at AJ. “It’s not a traffic backup.”
He shook his head. “No. It’s not.”
“What is it?”
His eyes landed on my laptop. “I’m hoping you can tell me what it is.”
Chapter Six
“You want me to hack for you?” I stared at him.
“Aren’t you already doing it?” he asked. His voice was calm.
