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I take a step closer and realize it’s because I can’t see through the damage. A hole that size should let some light through. So why isn’t it? I bend down and tug at the metal. It creaks and gives unexpectedly, making me tumble back on my ass.
“Ouch.” That’s going to leave a bruise. I get up on my knees and brush my ass off before turning back to the secret compartment when the contents suddenly become clear.
“Holy crap.” Guns. Lots of guns. But not just that. There are knives and boxes of ammunition, and…
“Please, God, tell me that’s not a real grenade.”
“It’s not a real grenade.” I whirl and fall on my ass again. Looking up, I see Zig standing at the entrance to the cockpit.
“I um… I—” I blow out a breath. “Who are you guys?” I whisper.
He walks forward slowly, taking me in, and offers me his hand. “We work for Apex Tactical. We specialize in retrieval and protection.”
“You’re guns for hire? Ugh, sorry, that’s offensive. Mercenaries?”
“We’ve been called worse, but yeah.” I take his hand, and he pulls me up, but he doesn’t let go.
“And you’re sure that’s not a real grenade? Because it looks like one and—”
He reaches for it and tosses it in the air before catching it. I yelp but fortunately don’t die.
“It’s a dummy. Oz uses it as a scare tactic to get people to talk.”
“Well, considering I almost peed my pants, I say it’s effective,” I squeak out.
He grins—and wow. The man has a great smile. It leaves me feeling a little light-headed. I’m so preoccupied thinking about his smile that I don’t even realize we’re moving until he’s tugged me halfway down the aisle.
“We found the tail.”
“Really? Was there anything salvageable?”
“You could say that. Come and see.”
He pulls me toward the back of the plane, but I drag my feet.
“Oh no. Oh, hell no. I am not jumping out of a perfectly good aircraft.”
“If you think this is perfectly good, I hate to think what your version of fucked-up beyond belief is.”
“No. I mean it. It’s not too bad in here. It’s bug-free and cozy and safe.”
He turns to look at me. “Safe? Is that what it is?”
“Well, yeah. Not all of us are big, strong jungle experts. If I step off this plane, then it’s real, not some messed-up dream. And, Zig, I need this to be a bad dream so bad,” I tell him as my voice breaks.
“Ah, Salem, come here.” He tugs me into his arms before I can protest.
The thing is, his kindness might just be my undoing. I feel myself start to shake. I’m angry at myself for being weak, but goddamn it, I really can’t catch a break. “I’m sorry. I’m okay.”
“I know. Maybe it’s me that needs a hug,” he murmurs, making me chuckle through my tears.
He pulls away and tips my head back so he can look at me. “Jesus, your eyes are pretty. But when you cry, they’re fucking beautiful.”
He picks me up off my feet, ignoring my sharp intake of air.
“Hey, Oz?” There’s silence for a moment before I hear footsteps, and then Oz appears below us. I wait for Zig to tell him that he’s going to stay up here with me.
“Yeah?” Oz replies.
