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He scowled at me before he grinned. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“About the snoring? I thought it would be rude.” I could play this game if he wanted.
He shook his head. “No, in all seriousness—about Muffy and Tim. Why didn’t you tell me they died? I didn’t see anything about it until afterward. I was swamped and busy, but we texted about things. Why didn’t you tell me?”
I shifted in my seat. “Because you were so busy. Because Eric had surgery. Because I don’t know where the line is with us, what I should and shouldn’t share with you. You’re my friend, not my boyfriend. You can’t become my one and only person. You said it yourself—this will end. I can’t rely on you.” I looked down. “Even if you do amazing things like this.”
He took my hand in his again. “Did you not tell me because you thought I might stop you? Or talk you out of this?”
“Maybe there was a part of me that thought about that, but I was doing this. I won’t leave that child there.”
He tugged on the end of my hair. “No, of course not. This is you, and for some reason, you feel entirely compelled to try to solve the world’s problems. Why is that?”
“There has to be a reason, a purpose for things. I fuck up a lot. When I do, I have to make it better. I have to believe that I can, otherwise I get sucked down to bad places thinking about how much worse the world is everywhere I go.”
His face fell. “Hope…”
“All right, everybody, we’re halfway there. Everybody up. Let’s go over the plan one more time. Then we eat and get ready to hit the ground.” Michael spoke to the group, essentially cutting off our conversation. It was a relief. I couldn’t believe I had said that. What had I been thinking?
The hours passed, and the planning continued. Every detail was attended and then attended to again. I didn’t know how things worked when they were actually enlisted, but they really were trying to not leave anything to chance. My cousin had beenright—Michael had a lot of contacts, and he was even able to pinpoint the area where Tim was being held. There might be other children there too.
“They sell them, kill them, ransom them, or train them. Frankly, it depends on the kid.” Michael rubbed his eyes. “And I thought I was done seeing this shit when I left. I thought I was just going to take care of a rich guy and his kids. Arrange for guards to go to parties. I had no idea I’d be right back in the thick of it with this and other things.” He winked at me. “But her family keeps things interesting. Plus, my side jobs are always all over the place.”
The truth was I knew very little of what Michael did for others. He ran a whole company, and not all of it had to do with us.
“You might not have to do this anymore.” I finally spoke for the first time in hours. Sitting next to Max at a makeshift table that they’d pulled out to act as the center focus of things, I hadn’t needed to say a word. My only job was to be available when they needed me to make myself known to Tim. Otherwise, my job was to stay in the plane.
With Max, just in case something happened. Although, from the looks of their planned approach, I wasn’t at all certain how it could get fucked up. They were going to grab Tim and go.
If they could take other children while they were there, they would, but Tim was the objective, and everyone understood in this fucked-up world that might have to be enough.
Michael nodded, a smirk coming to his usually stoic face. “Because Zeke might fire my ass. Yes, I know, but I’m still not going anywhere. This is my job, as far as I’m concerned. He said to watch you and keep you safe, so you didn’t get taken. I’m doing just that. If he fires me for it, I’ll still hang around a bit until you’re all fine.”
I lifted an eyebrow. “Until we’re all fine or until Bridget is fine?”
He shook his head. “Until you’re all fine, including Bridget.” He pointed at me. “You were always the problem out of the group.”
“Me?” Nowthatwas shocking. His words made the group laugh. Even Max, who had been very quiet this whole time. I had no earthly idea what he was thinking, or if he was greatly regretting whatever impulse brought him to my side. “I was a very well-behaved teenager.”
“You were until you were about nineteen. Then you… Well, a senator’s son and random trips here, there, and everywhere before you started devoting yourself to making a living in a way that meant you could be out till two in the morning every night. Yes, you. Not until recently did Bridget… Well, never mind. We all know what happened with Layla.” He patted my knee. “You, Hope, you were the toughest one to keep safe from moment one.”
I cleared my throat. “She’s having terrible dates, but eventually, she’s going to have a good one. Isn’t there something you want to do about that?”
“She’s got you, boss.” Mitch grinned. “Isn’t there something you want to do about that?”
“Bridget Radford is safe from me.” He met my gaze. “That is just how these things go, unfortunately. Maybe in another world, one where I didn’t end up on planes like this one? Eventually, she’ll find her version of Zeke, and then I’ll keep them both safe.”
I rolled my eyes. “If that is some kind of pseudo Knights of the Round Table bullshit, I would try to find a different kind of chivalry. Bridget can handle whatever you dish out. She’s tough. Maybe tougher than you, Li. Besides, you might remember how it worked out for Guinevere and Lancelot.”
“Heads up,” Buck called from up front, and everyone got moving. With nowhere particularly I needed to be, I got back in my seat and buckled in for landing. Max sat next to me and got in his harness.
“I’m amazed he lets you talk to him like that. Do you not realize he’s intimidating? I mean…not to me, but I think most people would give him a wide berth.”
I smiled. “Michael has been with me a lot of places I’d rather not be. Lately, it’s Theo and Luke. But it used to be the three of us and Michael. Then he started just guarding our father. Dress fittings. The prom. College. I think it was right around then when he decided he liked Bridget. When she got really serious, he took note of her. Everyone knows how he feels…except Bridget. I think Michael is the only one who won’t acknowledge it would be completely reciprocated if he’d get off his butt and do something.”
He shook his head. “Not nice to drag a partner to dark places with you, emotionally. Sometimes it’s better to just go through your life without inflicting your unhealed wounds on others.”
“I agree, actually. I wouldn’t want to drag anyone down to my level.” I closed my eyes.
