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Plane engines roared as aircrafts taxied down the runway prior to taking off. Luc’s arm remained locked around me, his hand latched onto my waist. At one point during our trek, I’d opened my mouth to scream for security. But one warning from him killed the attempt. I gritted my teeth the rest of the way.
Up ahead, I caught a glimpse of a tall man with dark hair and broad shoulders—Max. He stood by the stairs that led to the jet, amusement dancing across his features as he waited for us, his unusual gray eyes tracking our every move. He and Luc were about the same height, and power crackled around them like static electricity.
Max didn’t comment on the five minutes we had to spare before the time limit expired. “We leave immediately.” He waved toward the stairs.
Luc guided me in front of him. “After you.”
I shot him a sugary look over my shoulder. “Bless your heart.”
A muscle jumped along Luc’s jaw, and the scar under his left eye whitened against his olive skin. Yep, he got the southern insult in that phrase. I stomped up the stairs, not needing to turn to know that he was inches from me, and I toyed with the idea of tripping and falling back into him. But I didn’t. My luck, I would be the one hurt, and he wouldn’t budge from the impact of my weight.
When I entered the private jet, I physically forced myself to close my mouth. It wasn’t as if I hadn’t seen things like that in movies, but to be inside something so expensive and luxurious was an experience I knew was once in a lifetime for the likes of me.
Luc stored our bags then took a seat. I barely suppressed the urge to roll my eyes as he and Max sized each other up. I didn’t care what pissing contest they were going to engage in. There was plenty of room, and I sat far from them. And since there was nowhere for me to go, Luc gave me space.
It didn’t take long until we taxied down the runway then went airborne. I noted the emergency exits and where the parachutes were located, briefly contemplating an escape until the flight attendant neared. She had already poured flutes of champagne. I took two. Some sixth sense told me I would need the booze to face whatever waited for us when we landed in Chicago.
CHAPTER SIX
LUC
Summer had dozed off as we flew to Chicago, and I studied her. Even asleep, her fist curled around the strap of the mini backpack resting in the seat beside her. I recognized the way she slept. When my situation was precarious and I’d let my guard down enough to fall unconscious, my hand used to grip the handle of a knife beneath my pillow. We had more in common than she thought. The part of me that didn’t trust her still respected the fight in her.
Max’s phone rang, and he moved away and spoke in a hushed voice. It gave me time to look Summer up and down. From the moment I’d seen her in the bar last night, I knew I would have her. The sensual southern drawl got to me every time she opened her addictive mouth. I’d touched and tasted every inch of her, burning the image of what she looked like while she came into my psyche. My fingers curled with want to caress her soft skin, to hear the way she would gasp when I thrust deep inside her, to feel the sensual way she moved when she rolled her hips to meet mine. I wanted her, even though a desire to throttle her rode in tandem, as did deep-seated distrust. The attraction was a problem, and I couldn’t let it get in the way of finding out what she was hiding.
Then there was the connection between Summer and Max. Her reaction told me there was something there. It was another piece of the puzzle I had to figure out. Not only was the situation a clusterfuck as it was, but it had the potential to touch my sister’s life, and there was no way in hell I would let anyone hurt Breanna. The alarming thing was that she would have loved Summer and would have fallen for her tricks just as hard as I had. Even more reason to get to the bottom of their involvement.
Max ended his call and took the seat across the small table from mine. I closed my laptop, having little interest in going over the emails in my inbox in the face of learning why he’d targeted me. “You’ve got my attention. Pretty shitty way to do it. But I’m here, so tell me what this is about then return my goddamned money.”
Max shoved his phone into his pocket before leaning back in his seat, emanating the vibe of a cobra waiting to strike. His relaxed manner might have deceived another, but I’d grown up learning all the intricacies of body language and how to assess people’s strengths and weaknesses. I hadn’t found a weakness in him yet. But I would, and when I did, I would use it.
“There are a few others you need to meet from the family, and then I’ll tell you why.” Max’s gaze strayed to Summer as the plane shuddered from turbulence. “Who is she to you?”
“She works for me, but you already know that.” I kept my features blank.
Max smirked. “Is that what you think?”
I didn’t respond.
“When we land, we’ll meet with the other Mafia bosses. She can come with, but not for the discussion we’ll have.”
“She doesn’t leave my side.”
“My stepmom, Nicole, will be there. Your employee will remain inside the house. Security surrounds the property, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
It wasn’t. I had a feeling Summer was resourceful and would find a way to leave. A few guards were nothing against her southern charm, which I had no doubt she would use to get as far away from me as possible.
“While in Chicago, you’ll stay in Nicole’s house. My wife will be there and can also keep an eye on her. But before I let a stranger anywhere near my family, why is this one so important to you?”
“Since Summer is your partner, I wouldn’t call her a stranger.”
Amusement pulled at the corners of Max’s mouth, and I clenched my fists beneath the table. Something was off about the entire situation. Max didn’t need my money. He’d only gotten a couple hundred thousand. The pieces weren’t connecting.
“She had nothing to do with hacking into your accounts.” His brows rose. “I’m assuming that’s why you’re dragging her along?”
“She recognized you.” I fought the idea that she was innocent, despite the nagging in the back of my mind that it was possible. There was a reason for her reactions, for her being in the bar the night before I took over as acting CEO of the company she worked for. If not because of Max, then she was she was working with the former owner or one of my competitors: Edward, Jeffrey, or both. One thing was for sure: she was involved in some sort of mess, and it had to be connected to me and possibly him as well.
“It’s not difficult to recognize me.” He cocked his head to the side. “You didn’t. Your father told you nothing? Taught you nothing?”
