Page 25 of Provoke You

8

You're a Fucking Marine

Matt

“The hell you are.” I stepped closer to the asshole trying to board my plane.

“Mr. Benoit insisted.” He fumbled with his phone. “I’ll call him.”

“Do that. I’m in charge of security on this trip. I say who gets on this plane. You’re not on my list.”

Did Jennifer change her mind about letting me take full control? Did she suspect we weren’t going straight to Paris? My buddy and fellow marine Kitt drove in late last night. He had a full eight hours of sleep and was more than ready to fly this small private jet. In truth, he was also overqualified, but I needed my own crew. Kitt needed a job, same as Chase, given how they both got honorably discharged because of me. I owed it to them after all that happened in Maracaibo.

The LeBlanc pilot stepped back, phone to his ear. When no one answered, he eyed the screen, then tapped it twice. “There’s no answer.”

Odd, given how Mr. Benoit had two admins and a chief of staff fielding his calls and schedule. “We can’t wait on you all day.” I couldn’t trust anyone outside my crew.

Right on time, Ela’s black car pulled into the hangar. Chase sat in the passenger seat, shades on. He had that look about him that said “I could kill you with my pinky finger.” In his case, that was true.

The attempt on Ela’s life had been half-hearted. More to scare her than to actually do harm. Problem was they almost succeeded in doing permanent harm to her. I rubbed my temple to make the scene in my head go away.

Ela climbed out of the back seat, looking very much as she did in so many of the pictures posted all over social media — big-brimmed hat, large sunglasses, super high heels, and a tight dress that cinched her in all the right places. Sleeping in the same room as her again was a new kind of hell for me. The more time we spent together, the harder it was to say no to her.

Last night, she’d let me see a side of her that no one had ever seen. The life she portrayed on social media was so different from what actually went on in that fancy hotel of hers. I knew from her postings how much she loved TWD, but I never would have guessed how much she missed having family around, how lonely she felt, and how much that hotel meant to her. Seeing her in pain like that clawed at my insides and made all my defenses crumble, which was why I’d ended up binge-watching her favorite show until one in the morning and then agreeing to take her to New York.

I had no regrets. “Good morning.”

“Why are we leaving at the crack of dawn again?” She winced and used her hand to shield her eyes against the sun.

“Crack of dawn was three hours ago.” I ushered her down the tarmac and up the steps to the Gulfstream.

“Can this thing even fly to Paris?” She threw her purse on the leather bench below the window.

The “thing” was a private jet with four leather chairs in the back, a bench that was big enough to count as a bed, and a fully stocked galley. “It’ll get us there just fine.”

“Dad never uses such a small plane to fly overseas. We don’t even have a flight attendant. Wait. Is this one even ours?”

“The less people flying with us, the better. Don’t you think?”

“Yeah. Is that why you sent our pilot away? I saw him leaving.”

“I have my methods, okay? Don’t worry. I’ll get you to New York.”

“Thank you.” She beamed at me, and I had to fight the urge to hold her.

“I gotta check on the guys,” I mumbled before I left.

Back on the tarmac, I greeted Kitt and Chase with a quick one-arm hug and fist bump. “Thanks for coming out. Any questions on the itinerary?” I had to think about that word and not call this a mission. Some habits die hard.

“Yeah, easy gig. Just like you said.” Kitt tipped his chin toward the jet. “You forgot to mention the cargo was all.” He pointed a finger at his chest, drawing a wide circle. “You know, a woman. An incredibly hot woman.”

I rubbed my forehead, wishing we had a bigger plane where Ela could have her own room. “You two have your orders. Ela is mine.” My heartbeat kicked into hyperdrive. “I mean, she’s my charge. I’m taking care of her.”

That slip got a chuckle out of both assholes. Hell. Chase punched my shoulder with just enough kick to send me a wordless warning. “I’ll sit in the cockpit with Kitt so you and your ‘charge’ can carry on.”

“It’s not like that.”

“If it’s not, why do you feel the urge to say it?” Kitt said with a big old smirk on his face. “I’m gonna go sign us out. We’ll be ready to go whenever you say.” He spun on his heel and sauntered back to the hangar.

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