Page 5 of Crave

Then I’ll be better. The treats won’t get to me next time.

I’ll resist.

CHAPTER 2

ALEXEI

I don’t knowwhy she thinks she’s hiding from me, but I’m always glad when she comes back to town.

The video feed from the cabin isn’t as clear. Maybe I need to talk to Enzo about a better internet connection. But that would mean telling him I’m watching her.

He spies on everyone, what difference is there?

I don’t want him knowing.

She’smyresponsibility.

“Can you go that way?” I yell at Mikhail in the cockpit.

Without turning around, he taps his headset, then raises his middle finger at me. It’s not like I could see his face, he always wears that black balaclava now.

Shit. I always forget.

I key the button to activate the mic on mine. “Cut to the left. I want to go over that hill face.”

Mikhail nods and his Cessna tilts as the wing dips into the turn.

This is always a good distraction when Lara hides.

A buzzer rings through the speakers. When I glance at him, Mikhail gives me a thumbs up.

Pulling the door open, the rush of hot Vegas wind pours into the tiny cabin of the plane.

I have to brace myself to keep from stumbling with the force of it.

It’s time.

I hang my headset on the heavy hook, and go through the last minute pattern of patting my straps and buckles.

Yep. Everything in place.

Without a word, I leap out into the sky.

The air is so loud as I fall that it’s almost quiet, drowning out every thought.

There’s a shadow from Mikhail that flickers over me. He’s circling like he always does to make sure I land safely.

He shouldn’t bother. We’ve done this a million times.

Well. At least a hundred.

I feel free. Guided only with the resistance of my arms and legs against the wind itself, I buck and roll. Spin and dive.

Completely untethered by anything except gravity.

Faster.

Streamlining my body, I rocket towards the earth.

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