Page 52 of Shadow Blind

“You have a blade.” The bite left Cosky’s voice, but the frown intensified. “Strapped to your ankle. Takes two seconds for your captive to grab it.”

Aiden almost pointed out that his guy’s arms were secured behind his back. But the excuse didn’t matter, and he didn’t have the energy to defend himself. He shrugged instead.

“You look like shit,” Cosky said after a moment of staring. “Better hit the ER when we land.”

“A good night’s sleep and a couple of solid meals will fix me up.” He ignored the fact he’d operated for longer stretches of time on no food or sleep and hadn’t been the worse for wear.

Maybe he should swing by the ER and make sure those microscopic fuckers weren’t taking a whack at him. Although he wasn’t exhibiting any of the symptoms his brothers had shown. He checked his fingers, which were resting on his thighs. No tremors.

Turning to the window, he scanned the blue sky. “How long before we land?”

“An hour, give or take.” A frown still clouded Cosky’s face. “Try to stay awake.”

Aiden saluted. “Aye, sir.” He loaded the affirmation with sarcasm.

“Smartass.” Cosky rolled his eyes before facing forward again.

An hour later, Aiden stared out the window as the Citation approached the Shadow Mountain runway. The landing was even more surreal than the lift off. The jet headed directly toward Mount Denali, only to veer hard to the east at the last possible moment. The mountain, with a vast swath of snowy cliff, greeted him before the plane dropped, touching down on a narrow runway clinging to the mountainside.

This runway was lethal. Yet according to Cosky, there had been no landing or lift off mishaps in the base’s history. The fact that the Shadow Mountain pilots consistently stuck this landing, with no injuries or mangled aircraft, while clinging to the side of a fucking mountain—without hitting it—was remarkable.

Over a thousand people climbed Denali each year. Didn’t any of them notice choppers or planes heading straight for the mountain, only to vanish? Granted, the meatheads climbing the slopes wouldn’t see the runway. The airstrip clung to the east side of the mountain, while ninety-five percent of the climbers chose the West slope. The mountain itself stood between most of the climbers and the approaching aircraft.

But what about the five percent that climbed the other slopes, or the locals on the ground, or the tourists wandering through Denali National Park? Hell, they must see the aircraft. Didn’t they wonder where the aircraft had gone? And what about radar? The Shadow Mountain aircraft must show up on radar, right? Didn’t their subsequent disappearances raise questions with the local authorities?

Demi slept right through the plane’s landing. A pity. He’d been looking forward to her reaction to Shadow Mountain’s runway and the hydraulic lift’s descent into the base hangar. Which reminded him…

“Do the lifts rotate?” He turned to Cosky as they unbuckled their seatbelts.

If the jet arrived at one end of the runway, they’d have to turn it around, so it was facing the full length of the strip for the next takeoff. There wasn’t room to maneuver the plane on the runway, so the airlift must do the positioning.

“So I’ve been told. Though I’ve never seen it.” Cosky stepped into the aisle and waited for Aiden to release his prisoner’s seatbelt.

Aiden yanked the captive up. He’d cut the ankle ties on his guy as they approached base, to facilitate disembarkment. His prisoner seemed resigned to his fate, shuffling off the jet with subdued acceptance.

Wolf waited several feet away with a six-man security team of black-haired, hard-faced warriors. Between their tats, tactical clothing and flat, cold eyes, the six men—seven if he included his brother—emitted a badass vibe. The men took charge of the prisoners and marched them between the various aircraft to a ten-person utility cart sitting in the hangar’s mouth.

“The Bell’s prepped and waiting.” His face impassive, Wolf turned to Cosky, handing him a plastic square the size of a baseball card. “Explain when she needs to wear it.”

She? Demi was the only she disembarking from the plane. He leaned in for a closer look as the plastic square changed hands. Sure enough, it had Demi’s name printed on it, along with a barcode. A prickle of concern stirred.

“What are you two up to?” The question was thick with hostility, far more than he’d intended. But it was too late to moderate his tone.

“I’m taking Demi back to the house. Kait’s got a room ready for her.” Cosky shifted to face Aiden, holding his gaze with narrow, ice-gray eyes.

Aiden set his shoulders. “Like hell you are. She’s staying here. With me.”

His face impassive, his gaze unreadable, Wolf shook his head. “Shadow Mountain cannot shelter her. She will do better with Kait. In The Neighborhood.”

In The Neighborhood? Aiden scowled. No fucking way. She wouldn’t be protected in a damned neighborhood. Demi would be safer on base, under his protection.

“She stays here. On base,” Aiden snarled through gritted teeth. “With me.”

If the bastard behind Karaveht tracked him or Demi down, the chances he could infiltrate the base were nonexistent. But penetrating a neighborhood would be easy. Aiden didn’t doubt that Cosky had security at his home, but such precautions wouldn’t stop the butcher of Karaveht. Judging by his bot testing operation, the bastard had the resources to hire teams of mercenaries. Cosky’s neighborhood wouldn’t stand a fucking chance.

“Where’s your damn sense?” He stepped into Cosky’s space, aggression swelling. “You shouldn’t want Demi anywhere near your wife. Her mere presence puts Kait in danger, too.”

Cosky froze, then methodically squared his feet and shoulders. Danger radiated from every inch of his rigid body. Ice chilled his gray eyes to crystal chips.

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