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Jessica swallowed hard and followed up with a slap no doubt heard round the world.
Chapter Eleven
Myles firmly placed his hand on his boss’s shoulder. “Come on. You two can finish this later.”
Jessica crossed her arms and dug her not so literal heels in. “I’m not done.”
Spencer rubbed at the red blotchy skin on his face.
Myles looked from Jessica to her husband and back at her before speaking. “Jess, I said let’s go.”
“He’s right. I think you need to go, Jessica. We can talk about this later… when you’ve calmed down.” Spencer eyed Myles then. “Where are you staying?”
Myles shook his head just slightly and didn’t reply. Instead, he grasped Jess by the wrist and practically hauled her to the awaiting car.
“I’m not ready to go,” she whispered quietly as he opened the car door and shooed her in. Myles locked the door, closed it, and hustled around to the other side.
He climbed in and addressed the driver. “Take us to the nearest airport, please.”
Jess placed her head in her hands, hunched forward, and rested them on her knees. Myles placed his hand on her back and left it there as she sobbed. She would rock gently, pause to catch her breath, and then continue sobbing. It lasted for the entirety of the hour and a half long trip to the small airport. “Wait here for a half hour, and if we’re not back, you can go,” Myles said handing the driver a twenty once he’d pulled to the curb and stopped.
He nudged Jessica. “Come on. We have to get out now.”
She slouched down in the seat and shook her head. Myles pulled a tissue from his bag and handed it to her. “I can’t leave you here while I run in.” He looked in the direction of the driver from the corner of his eye and back at her. “I don’t trust it’s safe.”
She blew her nose. “I’m not getting on a plane.”
Myles exhaled loudly. “Listen, we were scheduled to stay at the camp overnight… There’s no way it’s safe to make the ten-hour trip back to Nairobi in the dark.” He paused and continued his voice firm. “Things don’t work that way here, Jessica.”
Her eyes widened. “But I’m terrified of flying. You don’t understand…”
Myles opened his bag partially and pointed to a vial of pills. He nodded. “We’re prepared for that.”
She cocked her head to the side and then reluctantly, took his hand. He sighed, opened the car door, and led her out.
“I’m sorry, Mister,” the attendant said with a heavy accent. “All flights out for today have already departed.”
Myles pinched the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath. He should’ve prepared for this. He eyed Jessica, who had found a seat and was curled into a ball. Goddamn it. He’d seen easier situations in the Navy.
He produced a hundred dollar bill from his pocket and showed it to the man. “There’s nothing you can do?”
The man frowned. “Wind advisory today, we can’t fly anymore. Not up to me. Up to God.” He pointed upward. “Sorry.”
Myles shoved the money back into his pocket and made his way over to Jessica. “You’re in luck.”
She stared blankly out the window at the tarmac.
“We’re staying here tonight.” He eyed the men gathered outside holding machine guns.
Her eyes followed his. “Here? You mean in this town? Or here, here.”
“I mean here. In the airport. It’s safer that way.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
He looked at her and offered a small smile. “No, I’m afraid not.”
To this, she simply shrugged. “Some luck,” she finally said. The fight, or what little she’d ever had, was now clearly gone.
