Page 20 of Hacker Identified

Two doors slammed before a scratchy voice said, "We need to search the plane."

"No." Patty's voice was harsh and took me back for a moment. "Do you know who I am?"

I thought she'd left and thanked my lucky stars she was still here.

"Doesn't matter, miss. I was talking to the men, anyway. You women can stand over to the side."

"That's where you are wrong. I'm Patty Blackwood, Queen of Shialia. You have no jurisdiction to search my plane or belongings."

A man huffed. "We were told this is Zack Tucker's jet. He's kidnapped a missing woman."

"This aircraft belongs to me, and you are not allowed to detain me or search any of my things."

The side of the crate vibrated, and I let out a squeak. My body stilled, and I hoped nobody heard me.

"Open the lid." The top creaked before it slammed back down.

"Seems you don't understand diplomatic immunity," Patty said.

"I don't care who you are. My boss told me to check this plane and all its cargo. The only way to stop me is with a bullet."

I strained to hear. Silence. Then a bang echoed through the air, followed by a second one.

"Fuck—Kat," Antonio said.

I shoved at the top, but equal force pushed down. My heart rate picked up first, then my hands started to shake. The phone was blank. I tapped the screen, but a battery symbol showed. Next, the trunk swayed as it was lifted. A man spoke, but the voice was muffled.

Each time the container jerked, I counted but tried an out-of-order method. One of my therapists had said the brain couldn't count out of order and trying would break a panic attack. I'd never used the method before, but it worked.

The lid to the crate opened, and I peeked out. I was inside and at the front of a private jet, and four sets of eyes were pinned on me. Kat, Antonio, Sophie, and Zane were all in the main area. Next to my crate was Zack's box, with the top shut.

"I heard gunshots," I said, climbing out of the cramped quarters.

Zane rolled his eyes and held out his hand. "Kat took out the corrupt cops. You don't need to worry about them, but you should probably take a seat. We need to go wheels up before we attract any more unwanted guests.”

Right, we were flying back to the town I hadn't visited since I was thirteen.

"Where is Patty? Isn't this her plane?" I asked.

"After she knew we were onboard, she and Sam had to clean up Kat's mess. Then they are heading back to the hotel to pack everyone up. They’ll collect our kids and fly on my company jet to Haven Ridge," Antonio said.

A deep voice came over the intercom and asked us to fasten our seatbelts.

I walked down the aisle of the gulf streamer, and twelve massive seats filled the front section. Farther back was a couch and a conference table. At the far end of the jet, I spotted a door that I assumed led to a bathroom. Zane pointed to one of the leather seats. "Sit there."

"Wait, what about Zack?"

Antonio sighed. "I guess we should take him out."

Zane and Antonio lugged Zack’s body out of the crate and perched him in the chair next to me. Kat and Antonio took the two across from us, while Sophie and Zane took the set on the other side of the aisle. Sophie had her laptop open, and her fingers were flying across the keyboard.

I grabbed both ends of the seat belt and buckled the clasp across Zack's lap before doing mine.

My knuckles turned white from clenching the armrests as the plane took off. Nobody spoke until the pilot said we could move around the cabin.

Kat was the first to break the silence. "I never planned to hurt you and worried if I gave you an option, you would panic. Sophie and I threw this plan together quickly in case Zack didn't have one."

I would feel better once Zack opened his eyes. Fifteen years in the marshals’ custody, and I'd never had to outrun one of my father's attacks. The bomb in the SUV put everyone around me in danger. Most of whom had kids and spouses.

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