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No questions asked.
But all Paisley had ever done was ask questions. From the time she could speak she’d begged for answers, trying to understand how the world worked and why people did the things they did. Sitting quietly and not getting a say in what would happen next yanked her stomach into knots.
“I hate this,” she admitted as a bump of turbulence jolted the plane.
“It’s normal.” Ben tried to sound confident but she watched his hand nervously ball into a fist, his knuckles going white.
“I’m not talking about the turbulence. I fly all the time. I’m talking about all the secrets. I understand I couldn’t tell people where I was going, but there is no reason I can’t know now. I should have some idea of where I’m going to end up. This whole plan is insane. They’ll find me wherever I am. I’ve spent eighteen months waking to threatening notes. Hang up calls. Photos sent to me that were taken without my knowledge. I can’t outrun this.” Her words came fast and sloshed together like water being thrown around in a bucket.
“I know it’s not fair to say, but you need to trust Carmen and her team. I promise, this is what they do for a living. The number of people they’ve been able to help is impressive. You’re in good hands.”
“You talk about them like they’re strangers.” She shifted in her seat so she could look at him full on. She was under the impression her escort was part of the team, but if he wasn’t, why was he here?
“Not strangers. They’re my family. I trust them implicitly. Carmen is married to my brother.”
“But you don’t normally do this?” She waved around the plane.
He chuckled. “No, and neither do you. I guess we’re both new to leaving in the middle of the night for a destination we know almost nothing about.”
“They told me I was in good hands.” She looked at his now relaxed hands and grinned. “Is that not the case?”
“You’re perfectly safe with me. I’ll get you where you’re going and settle you in. Everything will work out.”
“You’re not going to stay? You’re going to leave me with strangers?”
“I’m a stranger.” He put his hand to his chest. “You don’t know me any more than you know the people at Cinderhill.”
“What’s Cinderhill?” It was a clue but meant absolutely nothing to her. She’d never heard of a resort or an island by that name. Maybe it was a rehab facility. Something secure and she could pretend to be checked in there.
“Damn, they really didn’t tell you anything, did they?” His brow creased with concern and empathy.
“Not a word. Is Cinderhill a resort or something?”
“Or something.” His forehead wrinkled as his brows went up, apologizing ominously. It was unsettling. “You must have really been into something bad if they picked Cinderhill. That’s the edge of civilization over there. But you’ll be safe. There will certainly be no way for them to find you there.”
“That’s worrying.” She reached over and grabbed a couple of his pretzels. “It’s good if no one can find me, but maybe don’t leave right away.”
“Because I’m the least strange of all the strangers?”
“Right. And it sounds like you know how to mix a drink. You’re a bartender? I heard you saying something about that to Carmen. That might be a skill that comes in handy. My nerves are shot.”
“I pick up a few shifts here and there still, though bartending isn’t my full-time job anymore. I can make you something to take the edge off.”
“Thanks. Later for sure. Right now, my hands are shaking too much to hold the glass. Hopefully Cinderhill has some good things to drink.”
“What’s got you running?” He handed the bag of pretzels over to her to finish. It was so casual, something she and Doug had done a million times. “Some creep saw your movies and now won’t buzz off?”
“I wish. I was used to that. I had security for those situations. Most folks were harmless. I could sign an autograph, exchange some kind words, and that would be the end of it. This is different. Bigger. My agent said she’s never seen anything like it, and she’s been in the business for twenty-five years. The police had no luck and told me pretty candidly they didn’t have the resources to deal with something like this. They said to just beef up my private security since I could afford it. I hired a robust team and they were at a loss too. Everywhere we turned there seemed to be an inside man. Someone who’d leaked my location. Carmen insisted to come here, I had to cut out my entire team. Some people I’ve known since I was a kid. That part feels the worst, I know I can trust them.”
“You can trust people, until you can’t. That’s the problem.”
“But Carmen and this Kinross organization are different?” She raised a skeptical brow at him. “I can’t imagine that’s the case.”
“They’ve been doing this a long time. Gloria Kinross dedicated her life to this and then made sure she’d built a group she could depend on. My family found our way into the organization, and my brothers have done whatever was needed to keep people safe. It’s taken them all over the world. And they’re doing work they’re proud of.”
“But not you? Please don’t tell me I got stuck with the one dud of a brother. The leftover.” She smiled gently, not trying to hurt his feelings, but it was a serious concern.
“I’ve been a holdout.” He leaned back in his leather seat and looked around the private jet. “This has never been my scene. We grew up a humble family with just enough to get by. Actually, most of the time, not enough to get by. I love what I do in Boston. Feeding people. Pouring drinks. Making them happy. It’s a simple life, but it’s home. We were always together, now we barely get together anymore. So when Carmen called, said this was an incredibly volatile situation that could not be put off, I wanted to help. It had to be handled within the smallest circle of trusted people, and no one else was available in time. I figure, if I want to get some time with my family back, I’d better get in on the family business.”
