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She was holding in emotion. They all were.
Silently, Raphael gathered together his things.
Gabe and Effie gave their goodbyes then left.
My friend lifted his chin at me. “See me out?”
I descended the steps, carrying one of his bags to his car while he carried the other. Outside, lightly falling snow settled on his beanie hat.
“I didn’t want to say this upstairs because I know how my sister will react, but I have the worst feeling about what Dad’s up to. My money is on him employing Larson to try to take Ariel.”
“For what reason?” I already suspected the worst.
“He could’ve had another marriage offer, and he’d happily punish her by selling her off. Or it’s because of me. I’d do anything for my family. Anything. I don’t have his ruthlessness and I can’t cut off my emotions.”
“If he has her, he can control ye,” I replied slowly.
My friend’s expression turned bleak. “Exactly. If I’m right, he’s given up on Gabe and is biding his time coveting his next in line. It fits, too, because he’s making this attempt right at the point where I am going to be of most use to him as a qualified pilot. I’m the risk to her safety.” He tore off the hat and tossed it into the car, his dark hair askew. “What if I don’t go today? If I’m not qualified, I’m less valuable.”
I stood taller, my sense of outrage in full flow. I didn’t like where his thoughts had gone. Didn’t like the implications he was stretching towards. Raphael dreamt of flying. It was part of his identity, the subject of his university career where he took aviation while I laboured over computer science. His degree was a calling. To not fly for a living would cut him off from a core part of himself, and that wasn’t happening to my best friend.
I shook him to get his gaze back on me. “Now listen, for the next week, you’re going to do exactly what Ariel said: Think only of your exams and impressing the fuck out of the people testing ye. You’ll ace it because you’re a fucking amazing pilot, and you’ll do it for yourself, aye? Ariel and I will live safely here, and no fucker will come anywhere near her. I promise no bodily harm will come to her. Understand? I’ve got her, and you’ve got this. The rest we’ll work out when you’re done.”
Raphael took an unsteady breath.
“I swear nothing will happen to your sister,” I repeated. Whatever she was planning, whatever steps she’d take to move the situation on, I’d be there.
“Fuck. Okay. Love ye, man.”
He punched my shoulder and climbed into his car.
“Raph?” I said, pausing him in shutting the door. “What’s the difference between God and a pilot?”
He heaved a sigh, the corner of his mouth tipping up, though he fought it. “I don’t know. What’s the difference?”
“God doesn’t think he’s a pilot.”
Raphael concealed a laugh, flipped me off, and sped away. Hastily and without another glance, as if hesitation would change his mind.
In the tower, with the door locked and the world kept at bay, I stole back upstairs. My phone rang again with my mother calling. Entering the living room, I glowered at my screen and let the call go to voicemail, tossing the phone to the couch.
Ariel was nowhere to be seen.
I poked my head into the kitchen, not finding her there.
A noise suspiciously like a sob came from downstairs. I must’ve walked straight past her in her room. Jogging back down, I called her name.
She answered me, her voice thick. “I’ll be up in a minute. Raph said something about leaving us some food in the fridge. Help yourself.”
Like I’d walk away.
I tapped on her bedroom door. “Are ye decent?”
For a week, I’d be sleeping in the room next to hers. This was going to be torture.
“Yes,” she replied.
I pushed the door open to find her approaching. She kept her head down even as she dashed away a tear with the side of her hand.
