Alessandro looked down at the table before clearing his throat. “I want to talk to you about security measures. We need to know exactly what we’re up against so we can plan our trip home accordingly.”
Nix’s entire easygoing demeanor faded. It was like those simple words had the power to weigh him down with an invisible burden that forced his shoulders to sag. “Right. What do you want to know?”
“Where are these...Ringleaders...mostly located?”
Nix grabbed some bacon from the middle of the table and chewed on it. “The better question is where aren’t they. Small towns with little to no infrastructure are our safest bet. Secluded areas. Avoid developed countries. Big cities with traffic cams. We’re going to have to take the long way back to the States. Large commercial flights will trigger in their database regardless of fake identities or whatever makeover you think will stop their sophisticated facial recognition software. Unless Grace wants to get a nose job, they’ll find her.”
“Fuck,” John cursed. Kaydence patted my shoulder in solidarity. I really was starting to like this girl. “Private flights to small towns, got it,” John said before whipping out his phone and typing away.
“And what’s the end goal? Where are we going to meet Gavriel?” I asked.
“I called Gavriel this morning. He’s not convinced he wants us bringing trouble or attention to his doorstep. If you thought he was protective before, you should hear how he is now that Sunshine is pregnant. He said he’s going to come up with some ideas and meet us wherever we are. We just need to keep moving or find a very secluded area and hide out for a bit.”
“Mongolia has 2.04 people per square kilometer,” John spouted off. “Could be good for hiding.” He sounded like the type of man to find facts and collect them.
“It's also a fourteen-hour flight away. We’d need to fly private. A small, untraceable plane. We need to stay in Australia, probably,” Alessandro added. I pouted and rubbed at my temples. I really didn’t want to fly again. Images of my brother’s jet being engulfed in flames took over my brain. “We’ll be safe,” he said before patting my clenched fist on the tabletop. I released my grip and nodded. “Melbourne is too populated.”
“No paper trails. Cash only.” Nix was mulling over this plan.
“Gavriel wired John money from an offshore account,” Alessandro replied.
“Good,” Nix said. “Cash it out. All of it.” I watched as Nix clenched his jaw. “I’ve imagined running away numerous times. We’re going to have to go completely off the grid. No contact with anyone. Don’t even think about the internet. We leave all technology here.”
“How are we supposed to know if they’re onto you then?” John asked.
“If we can track them, they can track us. Nothing. No cell phones. No computers. Nothing.”
“Okay,” I promised.
“And we need to kill the pilot when we land,” Nix added. “Make sure there is no flight log. Make the plane disappear. Hell, maybe we should drop out of it so it never lands.”
“We don’t have to kill the pilot,” I protested.
“Anyone can be bought,” Nix replied before sliding his gaze over to John and Kaydence. “I’ve watched men sell out their own families for the promises the Ringleaders offer.”
“If this is your way of threatening me, hold your breath,” John argued. “I won’t tell anyone shit. And I know a pilot that is used to doing drop-offs under the radar.”
“Whatever. You wanted to know what I know. I’m telling all of you. Trust no one. You want to survive, leave nothing behind, even memories.” Nix got up and stormed off. Alessandro and I watched his back, both of us holding our breaths and trying to process what he’d said. It was hard navigating the parts of Nix I knew and the parts of him that were cynical and unfamiliar.
“Well,” John said, breaking the tension. “Please don’t let him kill the pilot. It’s my sister, so I’d be very pissed off.” Kaydence started clearing the table, and I stood to help. “Let’s go. We got a car to blow up and half a million dollars to cash out undetected. No pressure.”
It sounded like I got the easy job today. I just had to change my hair. “Be safe,” I called over my shoulder while rolling up my sleeves to help Kaydence with the dishes. Surprisingly, two strong arms wrapped around my waist, and I felt Alessandro’s scruffy beard against my neck.
“See you later,” Alessandro murmured before giving my cheek a friendly kiss.
With everything so up in the air, I was thankful for the little mercies. Alessandro and I were still...us. Whatever us was.
Chapter Fifteen
Grace
I was holding my breath as I stared at my reflection in the mirror. Kaydence looked very proud of herself, and if I didn't treat my red hair like it was a personality trait, I probably wouldn't feel so devastated. The dark hair was a sharp contrast to my porcelain, freckled skin. It didn’t suit me at all, but it did its job. I hardly recognized myself.
This entire trip was changing me. It felt like my appearance finally echoed how I was feeling inside. I was no longer the pining girl that got on a plane with her heart on her sleeve. I was no longer the girl that ignored her friendship with Alessandro, either. Although I felt a little lost and was still trying to find my footing, I liked the newness. Even if this makeover wasn’t what I was expecting.
"Do you like it? You are so rocking the brown hair, girl. And even though I had to take a Xanax beforehand, I did a pretty decent job of cutting your hair."
This was Kaydence after taking a Xanax? Her hands were shaking as they clutched the scissors. I appreciated her determination not to fuck up my locks, but that didn’t make this experience any easier.
I pinched a shoulder-length strand between my fingers and eyed the
