Page 357 of The Black Trilogy

I yelled to the passengers that they could take their seat belts off, and a minute later, Nick stuck his head through the door.

“You guys want coffee?”

“Please, I could do with a pick me up.”

A few minutes later I felt a presence behind me and turned around, hoping Nick had managed to find some biscuits because my appetite had returned with a vengeance. I’d only eaten a couple of sandwiches and a handful of tiny cakes at Eduardo’s, and I was ravenous.

“Thanks, you’re a...” I trailed off as I realised it was Black standing there and not Nick. And he didn’t even have my coffee. “Oh, it’s you.”

Something flared in his eyes, and for a second I thought it was hurt. But that didn’t match his tone.

“Bedroom, now,” he growled.

“Er, I’m flying the plane?”

“Diamond, we have seven other people out in the cabin who’re more than adequately qualified to pilot this thing. Get back there.”

Jed took the controls as I stomped down the aisle behind Black. Nick handed me a plastic cup of coffee on the way.

“Good luck,” he whispered, then headed forward to take my place on the flight deck.

I didn’t need luck. I needed a time machine.

Jane was propped up against the headboard with all the pillows stuffed under her. Even with those, and the duvet tucked around to keep her warm, she looked uncomfortable.

“Do you need another cushion?” I edged towards the door. “I’m sure we have—”

“Don’t even think about it,” Black told me.

He sat at Jane’s side, leaving me to perch awkwardly on the other end of the bed, my arms and legs crossed. Well, this was fun.

For a plane, the double room was quite spacious. But with me, Kitty sprawled on the floor asleep, Black and Jane, plus the elephant in the room that was our relationship, I started to feel claustrophobic.

“What?” I asked, sounding petulant and hating myself even more for it.

“I’m hoping you might care to enlighten me about what on earth’s been going on? Because I’ve been in the dark for the last eight months, both literally and figuratively.”

“Oh. That.”

He closed his eyes for a beat and sucked in a breath, exasperated. “Yes, that. I thought you were dead, but when I heard the explosions above ground, I knew there was only one person crazy enough to have turned up.”

“Hang on, back up a bit. You thought I was dead?”

“Diego Ramos told me they’d killed you in the same operation where they took me.”

I almost said, “And you believed him?” but I bit my tongue. Hadn’t I assumed exactly the same thing? I settled for a shrug.

“Throw me to the wolves, and I’ll return leading the pack.” And not only that, I’d teach them how to use assault weapons too.

“I always thought that, but then months passed and you didn’t come, and...” he trailed off.

“I didn’t know you were alive, that’s why,” I said quietly.

“What?”

“I thought you were gone, and after that, my hands were tied. But the Ramos family crossed a line, and I couldn’t let it go.”

His voice dropped to the dangerous level that meant he was getting properly irritated. “What line?”

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