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The only one I recognized, standing front and centre, was Detective Fraser.
Another two blocked the shortcut to the runways.
“I can spin around, take off again, but that’s fuckin’ dangerous, Zali—”
“Or, you can park my plane in the hangar, and I’ll get out and speak to the good detective.”
“Zee, no—” Flynn started.
I turned to him and cupped his face, kissing him softly. “Let me handle this, Flynn.” Reaching for Ryder, I squeezed his shoulder. “I need you both to trust me. Please.”
“Remember what you promised.”
“I will, and I promise you, I won’t do anything stupid.” My gaze bounced between them, trying to reassure them that I was serious. “But you need to promise me something too,” I added.
“Anything.”
“Give them your names and your addresses. That’s it. Nothing else. Answer “No comment” to every other question they ask you. I’ll get us a lawyer.”
I got an immediate nod from Ryder, who moved the plane into the hanger and powered down the engines.
Flynn’s acknowledgement took a lot longer. His shoulders slumped, and he blew out a breath. “Okay,” he said quietly before walking away. He didn’t look at me again, didn’t acknowledge me as I went to stand beside him.
I reached out for him, trying to take his hand in mine.
He pulled away, slipping his hands into his pockets and looking away from me, out the window.
My heart cracked in my chest, and I blinked back tears. I tried to hide how much that move hurt, my expression stony.
I slipped the USB into my pocket, grasped the handle of my laptop bag harder, and blew out a calming breath. Mind racing, my heart thudding in my chest and knocking against my ribcage, my adrenaline was spiking again after crashing hard.
My hands shook.
I closed my eyes and focussed on breathing. I concentrated on faking a calm façade despite the storm raging inside me.
Ry asked, “Ready?” with his hands on the lock for the plane door.
“Do it,” I instructed, the wobble in my voice evident. I cleared my throat, pulled my shoulders back, and lifted my chin defiantly.
This was not the time for doubt. It wasn’t the time for fear or even the semblance of it. I had a job to do, one that was more important than any other I’d done before. Ineeded to protect Flynn and Ry. I needed to salvage whatever part of our relationship I could.
I channelled Queen, sinking into her persona.
I pictured myself naked, owning the hangar. All eyes locked on me as I walked across it. Their stares, their desires wrapping around me, spurring me on. They wanted to touch. They wanted to take. They wanted me.
A calm descended over me. My mind cleared. My heart rate slowed. My breathing evened out.
I was ready.
Pausing at the top of the stairs, I looked out over my domain and raised an eyebrow, my lips quirking up in a half smile. All these people were here for me.
Strutting down the stairs, I added an extra swish to my hips. My Manolos clicked on the concrete as I approached the man walking toward me. “Detective Fraser, nice to see you and the welcoming crew. What can I do for you today?” My voice rang out clearly in the hangar, my cocky confidence surprising a couple of the officers, sweet summer children that they were.
“Zali,” he gasped, his voice cracking. He cupped my face in his hands, not even trying to hide the shake in them. His eyes were filled with worry, his normally golden skin pale and his chocolate-brown eyes dull. He looked me over, taking in every inch of my face before flicking his gaze to the men behind me. He was searching for something and sagged with relief when he apparently didn’t find it.
“What’s going on, Ezra?” I asked, looking up at him and trying to read what was happening. His behaviour, his anxiousness, was completely at odds with the welcome party that had been arranged for us.
He leaned in, pressing his lips to mine in a chaste kiss. His moan deep in his chest spurred me on, and I stepped closer, opening to him when he licked at my lip. His arms banded around my body, pulling me against a wall of muscle. Short-circuiting my brain, his tongue touched mine, and he tangled his hand in my hair, keeping me in place as he kissed me with a desperation I’d never imagined from him. Mr Cool, Calm, and Professional was nowhere to be found in that moment.
