I never had a brother, but I imagine this hug would be what it’s like to have one. That and all the wisecrack remarks he fires at Kurt to embarrass him in front of me.
“Thank you for everything,” is all I can say without the getting upset. I can’t afford to drop the strong wall I’ve put up this morning.
As I climb into the front seat of the car, Kurt closes my door, and I see the two of them exchange a few words. They embrace quickly and then part. Kurt settles in the car, and Ghost is already walking up the short track to the back of the house, not even looking back.
“Time to go, but we’ll be back, I promise,” Kurt says as we start driving up the road, slowly so not to make much noise, past the house.
“We’d better.” I look out the window, sad to be leaving. Not only because of the fun we had here, but for a short time, this was our safe place.
After driving for a few hours, the warmth of the sun on my face, it was hard not to drift off to sleep after an early start. Kurt kept telling me I should sleep, and I would almost get there, but I just can’t switch my mind off.
Opening my eyes again for what feels like the tenth time after trying to sleep, Kurt just looks across at me and smiles. “Were you one of those kids that wouldn’t go to sleep at night because you thought you might miss something?”
I can’t help but laugh at that comment. “One hundred percent. My parents always watched the good shows and ate all the secret chocolate stash after I went to bed.”
My parents are never far from the front of my mind since Kurt revealed everything about them and what happened. I know I need to put them out of my mind so I can concentrate, so I ask one more time before I lock them safe in the back of my thoughts, “You did check with Ghost that my parents are still safe, didn’t you? None of this will touch them no matter how it turns out?” My hands in my lap, I squeeze them tightly, sending my knuckles white, waiting for an answer.
“I can assure you that Ghost has spoken to them. They are safe and happy, and he told them you’re with me. Your mom cried and your dad couldn’t stop thanking him. Ghost has made sure there is extra protection around them just in case, but no one knows where they are, including us, and that’s for their safety.”
Leaning across, he pries my hands apart and hangs onto my left one. Drawing it towards him, he places it on his thigh.
Just nodding at what he has said, I then look out the window again. I take a deep breath, knowing that I can’t ask for more than that.
We finally pull into the private airstrip where we arrived a few days ago, and it feels a bit surreal seeing the jet sitting there and the intimidating Ashton at the top of the stairs waiting for us.
Quickly unloading the car, I grab our bag while Kurt takes his gun bag, and we make our way across the tarmac.
“Fancy seeing you two again,” Ashton says, meeting me at the bottom of the stairs to take the bag.
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but I really wish it weren’t so soon,” I say. He chuckles as I pass him to walk up into the cabin.
“Totally understandable, but it is what it is. Let’s hope you just won’t need us again anytime soon. Not that we don’t enjoy the company.”
I hear Kurt behind me talking to him in a low voice, while I continue inside, stopping to see Mason. “Hi, Mason, thanks for being at our service again.”
Turning from the controls, he smiles at me from the cockpit. “Hey, Asha, you seem to be making a habit of this.” But his genuine smile assures me it’s his way of making a joke about it.
“Just wanted to rack up some more frequent flyer points,” I shoot back, trying to match his witty sense of humor.
“That would only work if you were actually paying for this flight.” As he looks forward to his instrument panel, checking some things, my heart sinks a little.
It hasn’t even occurred to me. All this hiding comes at a cost, and the agency is no longer paying the bill. I was still pretty out of it when I was on the plane last time.
Before I move any farther, I spin around as Ashton is closing the door on the plane. Kurt is looking at me, wondering what’s wrong.
“Who is paying for all this?” My hands by my sides, my palms are sweaty all of a sudden.
“Asha, take a breath. It’s not something you need to worry about.”
“Don’t do that!” I don’t even have to elaborate because he knows what I mean.
Frustration on his face, he blurts out the reply, “I am!”
My mouth drops wide open as I gasp.
“And I would do it again tomorrow in a heartbeat. Now stop with the questions and buckle up. We need to get off the ground. And for once in your life, can you just let me do this for you? That’s what big tough boyfriends are supposed to do for the woman they love.”
“Too right, Kurt!” Mason yells from the cockpit. “Asha, you need to meet my wife, sounds like she is just as damn stubborn as you.” Laughing to himself, he then starts talking pilot language, and I feel the plane start moving.
“This isn’t over,” I mutter. “We are talking about this later.” Part of me wants to yell at him for wasting money on me, but the other part is swooning that he loves me this much, that he will do whatever it takes to save me.
“Once you are safe and we are home again, you can talk
