Page 35 of Obsessed

I take it and raise the glass in a silent toast. "Does that mean we're in for a wild, turbulent ride? That thunderstorm in the distance soundsmenacing."

He chugs back his own drink. "Yeah, we're due for some turbulence this flight." He walks over to the wet bar and refills hisglass.

I put the glass in the holder and cross my arms to shield myself from the brisk air. "Are they closing the door soon? It's coldoutside."

"Just waiting on a few more people." He walks to the door and looks out. For the first time I notice that his jaw is tight and rigid. He grips the glass hard enough to turn his fingertipswhite.

"Club members?" Iask.

He turns back and looks at me. "Something likethat."

I sigh audibly. "Do you realize you are the most vague person in the world? Why must every answer be a puzzle shrouded inmystery?"

He flicks his brows up and down. "Makes me more interesting, don't youthink?"

"More irritating, yes. More frustrating, yes. But not moreinteresting."

"Too bad. I pride myself on being interesting." Kane finishes his second drink. It surprises me considering I rarely see him finish even one. He pours himself a third drink and sits in his chair to finish it. His posture is always perfect but tonight it seems particularlyrigid.

Multiple sets of loud, clumsy footsteps pound the metal stairs leading up to the plane. "It seems Oscar and Jason have been hitting the vodka on the rocks tonight too," I say lightly, hoping to get a hint of a grin. Noluck.

Oscar steps into the plane first but turns back as if he's dragging something behind him. He struggles and cusses for a second. I scoot instinctively back thinking he's fighting off anattacker.

"You stupid fucker." Oscar's face is red as he yanks hard on the arm I now see him gripping. One good pull and Oscar stumbles backward bringing the person withhim.

Green eyes land instantly on my face. I jump to my feet with agasp.

Jason steps in holding Maddox's other arm. His hands are cuffed in front of him. Cuts and bruises mar his face. I can't hear the engine of the plane over the pounding of mypulse.

Jason and Oscar drag Maddox farther into the plane. It seems as if time has slowed to a crawl as Maddox's throat moves with a deep swallow. The twisted look of hurt and regret and apology in his face pushes tears into my eyes. But they don't fall. Not this time. I will not crumple into a weak, whimpering butterfly this time. And this time, I don't give a fuck about Kane or his bodyguards oranyone.

I close the space between us in four quick steps. The silent partner communication still works. He knows exactly what I want. Maddox lifts his cuffed hands. I duck under them and land hard enough against him to send him temporarily offbalance.

"Let him go." I hear Kane's deep voice behind us. It's strained and tight anddifferent.

Oscar and Jason release their hold on Maddox. He drops his arms around me, holding me against him. I lift my hand to touch his shirt, his throat, his forearm. "It's reallyyou."

"In the flesh. And you've got some explaining to do, Tennyson," he says low enough for just me tohear.

I don't want to leave his arms but I know I have no choice. I can feel Kane's eyes searing holes in my back. As I pull away and duck back under his arms, Maddox manages to grab hold of my hand. He holds it away from my body to get a better look at the needle spots on my arm. The shame I feel is as intense as the rage in his face. He releases myhand.

I turn back to Kane. "What are you planning to do with us?" Iask.

The grin I tried for earlier appears, only it's not a humored grin. "Us? It'susalready? He's been here ten seconds and it's us." Kane motions to Jason and Oscar with a tilt of his head. They brusquely walk Maddox over to a seat and sit him down hard. Instead of a seatbelt, Oscar pulls out a bungee cord and secures him tightly to the chair like luggage on the top of acar.

Maddox stares down at the cord around his stomach. "Seriously? What kind of airline is this?" His smart comment causes Jason to tighten the cord more. Maddox winces as it grinds into hisstomach.

"Sit down and buckle up," Kane spits his order at me. Not surprisingly his tone is dry andharsh.

I sit on the small couch directly across from the chair where Maddox is bound. I can feel Kane staring at the side of my face from his seat. But it doesn't matter. As much as he steals the energy and focus when he is in the room, I hardly notice he's here with James Maddox in the samelocation.

Maddox stares at me for a long moment. "I'm sorry, Ten." He doesn't need to elaborate. I know exactly why he's apologizing. As mad as I should be for him blowing this up, I'm thrilled that he worried enough to come afterme.

"His apology isn't necessary," Kane says as he fills his glass for the fourthtime.

The plane engines roar and the plane starts rolling to the runway. Kane is trying to tell me something in his usual nebulous way. When his hidden meaning suddenly dawns on me, it feels as if a ton of bricks has been dropped on me and then just as quickly lifted away. A weight's beenlifted.

Kane sits down with hisdrink.

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