Page 78 of Close Protection

‘I’ve contacted your pilot so we’re gonna meet him and fly to Provence. I know you and your father have a small cottage there so that’s where we’ll stay until I can figure out our next move.’

I nod and straighten up, rolling down the window so I can get a bit of fresh air. I’ve never been more grateful for Greenway Aviation in my life.

‘I need you to write down these numbers on this piece of paper for me.’ He hands me his phone, a piece of scrap paper and a pen. ‘I know this must be really difficult for you but you’re doing really well with all of this.’

I glance over at him for a moment but he’s watchingthe road. ‘Thank you,’ I say before focusing back on the number transfer.

‘Done.’ I say, putting the lid on the pen and handing the phone back to Milosh.

‘Good job, Miss Green. Could I borrow your phone a minute, please?’ I hand him my phone, unlocking it, but he clearly didn’t need it unlocked because he locks it straight back, rolls down his window and throws it out of the window, along with his own.

‘Why did you just do that?’ I ask.

‘It’s easy for people to track you from your phone. We already have to publish a flight plan, and I don’t really wanna make it any easier for anyone to find us. The numbers I got you to write down are all we need.’

On a quiet road, Milosh pulls over in front of a family car.

‘Stay here.’

He gets out of the car and I feel a second surge of nausea. I tip my head down between my thighs again and close my eyes, trying to focus on my breathing as it dawns on me he’s actually stealing a car. In the grand scheme of things it’s not that bad, but the thought of an innocent family waking up in the morning only to find their vehicle missing makes me feel so wretched it’s almost unbearable.

The rear car door opens and closes, which I assumeis Milosh getting our bags out, and then my side swings open.

‘Let’s go.’

I get out and jump into the front of the new car. The two children’s car seats in the back give me a renewed pang of guilt.

‘How did you unlock it without sounding the alarm?’

‘The children’s home was in a pretty rough area so I picked up a few things when I was there. I never stole a car myself, but the older boys taught me how.’

‘I’m so sorry you had the childhood you did.’

He shrugs. ‘It came in handy tonight.’

We make it to the private air strip twenty minutes later, the darkness of the night and the chill in the air in perfect harmony with my mood. Milosh pulls out the two duffels from the boot and gets out, coming around my side to open the door. He pulls off his Tuxedo jacket and wraps it around me, picking back up the duffels in one swift motion, carrying them in one hand and grasping my shaking hand in the other.

His jacket practically swallows me whole and his scent envelops me, offering me a smidge of comfort as we walk towards the stairs to the plane.

‘Good evening, Mr Petrov and Miss Green,’ the air steward greets us. Milosh nods in response but all I havein me is a weak smile as I pass her.

Once we’re in the air, I unclip my seatbelt and head to the bathroom at the back of the plane. I lock the door and open a packet containing a disposable toothbrush and a small tube of toothpaste before quickly brushing my teeth.

I look up at myself in the mirror and laugh without humour.

I look great. I look like my world has not just fallen apart and instead I’m taking an impromptu trip with my boyfriend, after attending an event like something out of a James Bond film.

I finish up in the bathroom and walk out, to where Milosh is watching something on a phone.

‘Whose phone is that?’ I ask as I go to sit in the seat opposite his.

‘The flight attendant’s. I emailed myself the CCTV footage from your house so I logged into my email from her phone to check it.’

‘Has it loaded?’

He nods.

‘Can I see?’

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