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When I was in school and was allowed to fly back and forth with Helena, we always took this jet. Once, there was a small water leak under the bathroom cabinet. I watched the maintenance guy fix it. Because of that, I know exactly where the tools are kept—the toiletry cabinet beside the shower.
There’s not a lot there, pipe wrenches, screwdrivers and—thankfully—a power drill with a small container of bits. I grab the drill immediately and get to work. Sadly, even with the drill, it takes longer than I’d like to work the screws out. I should probably think about joining a gym if I survive this, because wielding the heavy tool is very hard.
I want to shout in victory when I finally get it completely free. I don’t do that, however. Whatever I do here, I have to be stealthy and super quiet. Getting myself killed or captured will not help my brother at all. I hold the heavy bar in my hand. It's not a gun or a knife, but desperation is on my side. Plus, it's basically all I got.
I open the door carefully to see Aden bleeding from a wound in his side and Elias holding up a knife—this one larger than the one he had to set me free. That would be a great start, except that Aden has a gun trained on Elias. He shouldn't have walked into a gunfight with a knife. Although, I suppose if you are high up in the air, in a pressurized tin can, a knife is what a sane person would use.
No one has ever accused Aden of being sane.
Helen is tucked in a corner seat. Her hands are still tied, but her legs are free. She’s crying softly.Shit.I think Aden caught Elias freeing her.
"You're going to die. I always knew we couldn't trust you, Elias. That's why Father had to beat the insolence out of you. You've always been so weak."
Elias spits at Aden. "Unlike you, who did everything for him? No matter how heinous, you were right there, weren’t you, brother? It wouldn’t surprise me if you didn't wipe his ass after he took a shit too."
Aden cocks the gun. "You've always been crass. No class. It was that bitch, Genevieve. Your mother deceived our father again and again. She finally managed to pop you and Melina out after all their fucking and yet you were both nothing but failures.
Elias lunges at Aden with an unholy yell. I take that as my cue to move out of the doorway, ready to help. He plunges the knife into Aden's stomach, pulling it out and stepping back because Aden brings his leg up and slams it into his stomach before Elias can stab him again. Aden is bleeding profusely now. He staggers, still holding the gun on Elias. Elias tries another swing but misses when Aden sidesteps him and levels his gun, preparing to shoot.
From there everything is a blur. It happens so quickly but in the heat of the moment it feels as if it is in slow motion. I draw my arm back, swinging down as hard as I can on Aden. The shot he takes swings off to the side, but tags Elias in the shoulder with a heavy thud when it hits the flesh. My ears ring from the loud bang of the gun.
Aden turns sideways to look at me, dazed but not out like I had hoped he'd be.
I stare at him, wondering if I'm about to die, as he drops to his knees, now holding the gun on me. I take a breath, thinking this is it, but Elias slams his fist into Aden's neck, burying the knife deep into his flesh. It’s like something from a horror show to see the blood running out of my brother, his eyes going wide as he drops to the floor, staring vacantly up at me.
I scream. I can’t stop myself. My entire body begins quaking as I scramble away from him. I all but fall sideways into a seat as I stare at his crumpled body. Helen shuffles over, hands still bound.
Helen nudges me with her shoulder, and I make myself turn away from the gory scene.
"Elias, you're shot!" I point a shaking hand at his shoulder.
"I’ve had worse and at least the bullet is in me and not the side of the plane causing us to lose cabin pressure. I do need to take over the plane. Autopilot will only last for so long, and we should almost be to the airfield." He tosses me a phone. I’m too shook up to catch it, but it lands in my lap. "See if you can get a call through to Marco or your husband. Have him meet us at the Summerfield private airstrip outside of Patras."
I nod, dialing the phone as I grab the bloody knife from Aden's neck. I gag as the sticky blood coats my hand and my stomach churns with the need to vomit. I try to cut the ties on Helen's wrist. That’s not easy because her hands are shaking—almost as bad as mine.
"Who is this?" Antonio’s voice comes through in a harsh growl.
Antonio.
Tears cascade down my cheeks at the sound of my husband's voice. A gasp of relief chokes me as I sob. I can't say anything. "Lina? Is this you? Are you okay? Where are you? Are you hurt?" The desperation in his voice fills me with determination to speak.
"Yes," I laugh through my tears. "Yes, to all of those.”
“God, woman. Talk to me. Where are you?”
“Elias helped me. He's trying to land the plane now. He said to tell you to meet us outside of Patras. Summer...” My brain slows for a minute, and I begin to tremble even harder than before. I try to remember what Elias said… “Summerfield! He said for you to meet us at the airstrip in Summerfield.”
"We're in the helicopters now. I'll be there soon,il mio tesoro."
“I love you—” The line goes dead. I take a shaky breath as I drop the phone looking at Helen.
Helen is trembling, too. Large tears stream down her face. She holds her arms out, which I fall into. I kick the bloody knife I dropped away from us and try not to think about the fact my brother’s blood is on my hands.
Helen hugs me tightly. “Jesus, your family is the poster child for dysfunction.” Hysterical laughter bubbles out as I hold onto her. It’s the last thing I expected but it’s needed, and I think my friend knows that. “I should warn you,” she adds as I pull back to look at her. “I think I’m going to trade Marco in for Elias. He’s hot and my walking hero. Then again, I might be in shock."
I laugh through my tears, the sound muffled as I hold tightly to my friend.
antonio
