"Are you okay?" Mason placed our joined hands in my lap and squeezed them ever so gently.
"Do you really want an answer?" I arched an eyebrow as I took in his rugged sexy face.
"Nothing is going to happen to you. I promise." With his free hand, he reached over and touched my cheek.
"That's the thing. I'm not worried about myself." I'd rather it be me who got hurt than him, Ella, Kassie, or Mona. I hated that they all demanded to come, but what could I do. At the end of the day, it was their choice.
"We just need to focus on one thing at a time." Mason leaned over and brushed his lips against mine.
"Ew." Ella used her arms and pushed Mason and my seats forward. "Stop it."
We both lurched forward, and our heads bumped together.
"Dammit, Ella," Mason growled, causing the people who sat directly across from us to glance our way.
Of course, Ella would make sure to draw other people's attention. "We weren't doing anything."
"Yeah, right." Ella plopped back in her seat and crossed her arms. She glanced across the aisle at Mona and Kassie. "Mason and I should've traded seats. I told you."
"Leave us alone." He lowered his voice and glared at her. "Otherwise, you may not make it off this plane."
"I'm not scared." Ella winked at him. "Elena loves me. She won't let anything happen to me."
It was true, and that hussy knew it. "Doesn't mean I'd be opposed to him breaking an appendage."
"You wouldn't?" Her mouth dropped open, and she lifted her head. "Don't worry. I got a ton of dirt on Mason that he wouldn't want shared."
"Oh, really now?" I turned my attention to Mason. "What kind of stuff is she using for blackmail?"
"There's no telling." He shook his head and rolled his eyes. "She has a memory like an elephant's."
"Hey, don't call me fat." Ella leaned back in her chair, making the guy right next to her a little uncomfortable. "Did you hear what he just said?" She looked at the guy whose eyes widened.
"Uh... I'm not very comfortable with getting involved." He swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing. "All three of you are a little intimidating."
"I think I like you." Ella reached over and patted his arm. "Most men would be afraid to say that."
"Uh... thanks, I think." He turned his body in the direction of the aisle, trying his best to turn his back toward her.
"Stop harassing the passengers." Kassie chuckled. "It's not fun when I can't join in the games."
The airplane's speakers dinged, and a voice came over the intercom. "We're approaching Albany International Airport. We will soon begin descending and should be on the ground in about fifteen to twenty minutes. Please put your seatbelts back on, and your seats and tray tables in an upright position." It dinged again, indicating it was now off.
Thank God. I hadn't meant to project it to Mason, but his shoulders shook as he chuckled.
"That bad?" He turned toward me again with a small grin. I'd have figured you'd be a traveling guru.
Nope. My parents had died before they had begun taking me on those types of trips. I'll just be glad when both of my feet are on solid ground.
The next few minutes seemed to speed up now that we were closing in on Darren. I could only hope that this wasn't the beginning of the end.
As we exited the airport, we paused at the loading station to wait for Kassie to bring around the Tahoe we had rented. We hadn't brought many clothes seeing as this was supposed to be a very short trip. However, we hadn't booked a return flight for obvious reasons.
Soon, a black Tahoe stopped in front of us, and the window rolled down, revealing Kassie's smiling face. "Let's get in and go."
"Pop the trunk so we can put our bags in." Mona motioned to the trunk.
"Done," Kassie said as the trunk popped open.
The four of us walked behind with our carry-on bags.
"Holy shit. Good thing we didn't bring a lot of luggage." Ella's nose wrinkled. "For one big ass vehicle, the back seat is damn small."
"Just get in, and let's get going," Kassie growled in the front. "We need to meet my contact in thirty minutes so we can get some essentials."
"Oh, did you forget deodorant or something?" Ella threw her bag in the back and ran to the passenger door. "I'm sure there is a Walmart or something around."
"Sometimes I wonder about you." Mason put both his and my bag in the trunk then took Mona's. "It's like she's not all there or something."
"Hey." Ella turned around in her seat and shot Mason a glare. "I can hear you."
"As if I care." Mason slammed the trunk as Mona climbed up front with Kassie, and Mason crawled into the backseat of the Tahoe. "Move it." He pointed to Ella, motioning toward the back row.
"Nope, not happening." Ella crossed her arms. "After watching you two snuggle and cuddle for the last fourish hours, your ass is sitting in the back."
"No," Mason growled out.
Just let her. We had more important things to worry about than sibling rivalry. We need to get to the guy, and you know she's stubborn as hell.
Fine. He moved toward the backseat and almost fell into it. Only for you. She's shorter than both of us and should be the one back here. Not me.
I had to squash the smile from appearing on my face.
"Hot damn." Ella pumped her fist in the air. "I hadn't expected that to work."
As soon as I climbed in and shut the door, Kassie gunned the car, squealing out of the airport.
The GPS started talking to her, giving her directions on where to go.
Now that we were back on the ground, some of the anxiety had vanished.
