As the plane levels out, Ashton releases his seatbelt, and I follow with my own, as well as Asha’s.
“Ghost didn’t tell me all the details, and I don’t need to know, but it’s pretty clear that this little lady means a lot to you. So, we’re here to help in any way we can. Not sure what he told you about me, but I run a private security firm now. Whenever you need me, I’ve got your back. Any friend of Ghost’s is a friend of mine. Now, I assume your girl is going to be awake soon, by the way she’s starting to move a little more. We’ll be in the air for about three hours, so there is a bedroom at the back of the plane. Why don’t you take her back there so she’s comfortable, and it’ll give you time to bring her out of the sedation with some privacy, so she’s not too freaked out.” Standing, he’s getting ready to leave and head into the cockpit again.
“Ashton.” He stops to listen. “I don’t know how to thank you for this, and Mason too. You and I made choices in our lives to work in a world of danger. But Asha just went to work one day, and these bastards changed her life forever. She doesn’t deserve the hand that’s been dealt to her, and I’ll be damn certain that they don’t get to take any more away from her. Even if I have to stay in hiding with her for the rest of our lives.” Running my hand over the top of her head, I smooth her hair and sweep the wispy bits off her face.
“From what Ghost told me about you, I wouldn’t expect anything less. Now try and get some rest before we land.” And then he’s gone into the cockpit. The door closes, and we are left alone.
Lifting Asha into my arms, for the first time since I got to her she isn’t limp, but instead snuggles into my body. Even if she is still slightly sedated, her subconscious knows me and feels safe.
Lying down next her, pulling her into my arms, I listen to her regular breathing and feel the warmth of her radiating and soothing my tense muscles.
Now to wait.
I don’t know what Davina said to her, but it must have been bad. For her to pass out from shock, I have a feeling I know what it’s about, but I need her to tell me first before I can say anything.
My head goes over all the details I know, and I’m still trying to piece the puzzle together. It’s making it harder now, doubting every interaction I had with two of the best agents I thought I knew and could trust. But the more that’s revealed, the sicker I feel about who they really are and how big this whole case is. In some ways, I think it’s bigger than the agency can handle, and that the Feds should have been involved. Yet if there is corruption in the ranks, then it would have been kept quiet and the full extent of it wouldn’t have been revealed.
Lying here for over an hour, I wish I could just close my eyes for a moment and rest, but I won’t settle until we’re with Ghost. Then I can rest while he takes watch. Until then, my body will just have to wait. When I was on the job, I was used to the long stretches of no sleep, but not so much anymore.
I must be getting soft.
“Mmmm, you… smell… home.” Asha mumbles a few words, albeit a little slurred.
“Shh, beautiful. Just rest. I’ve got you.” Her body snuggles a little closer and her breathing evens out again.
Another fifteen minutes passes while I try to work out what I’m going to say to her. I know she is going to be pissed at me for not telling her everything before, but I hope she will understand it was the best way to protect her, by keeping her in the dark. Even more so now that I know about Davina. If Asha had said anything about me and what I knew, then I hate to think what might have happened to her. A shiver runs through my body, and a flash of visions before my eyes of things I never want to contemplate.
My hand rubs up and down Asha’s arm, and finally her eyelids start to flutter a little until they slowly open.
“Welcome back, beautiful. How do you feel?” I’m talking not much louder than a whisper, so I don’t startle her.
“My head hurts a little. Thirsty…” Since she’s still a little groggy, I reach for the bottle of water with a straw that I have waiting for her. It’s ironic considering it’s the thing that tipped me off that we had a problem, yet now it’s the first thing I’m reaching for to make her feel better.
“Just take little sips at first.”
She closes her eyes again as she takes a bit of water. Seeing her throat slowly swallowing, I know it must be feeling dry from the sedative.
Taking the bottle, I place it back on the cabinet next to the bed.
“Kurt?”
“Yeah.”
“Why does it feel like the bed is moving and I can’t hear the waves tonight?” Her voice is a little raspy.
I know this is the start of many questions, and part of me will be glad to get the answers out.
No more secrets.
“Because we aren’t at home. We’re on a private plane so I can take you into hiding. To keep you safe from everyone who wants to kill you.” I probably shouldn’t have been so blunt straight up, but I figured just rip the band-aid off.
Asha pushes as hard as she can, which isn’t that hard considering she is just
