Page 63 of Hell Hath No Fury

“Yeah, it’s the right one. We’ll be taxiing for a bit, so she’s probably just waiting us out.”

“Waiting for what?”

“For us to arrive at the hangar,” Mickey explains. “They’ll drive us right in to protect our privacy.”

“Fancy.”

“Come on, Lilith,” Dmitri drawls. “I’m sure a woman such as yourself knows a thing or two about privilege.”

I ignore him. He scowls.

The plane enters a hanger, coming to a stop a short ways inside, and then the light outside dims as the hanger doors close. The flight attendant comes around to stand by the door, but then the pilot sticks his head out of the cockpit, motioning to Mickey, who immediately goes to see what’s up. They have a brief, hushed discussion, the pilot hands Mickey a bag, and then Mickey walks toward where I’m still seated with Antoinette. Bending down close, he whispers, “We got company.”

Nodding, I say nothing, meeting Antoinette’s gaze before we both stand. Mickey pulls a gun out of the bag, hands it to me, then pulls out another one for Antoinette. We both check our weapons, then walk over to the door where the pilot and flight attendant are waiting by the door.

Mickey motions toward the cockpit. “You two go in there and lock the door. Don’t come out until one of us comes back.”

They both do as they’re told without comment and as soon as the lock clicks into place, the three of us move slowly toward the door.

“Hey,” Dmitri whisper-shouts. “What about me?”

Antoinette gives him a dirty look. “You just sit there and shut the fuck up.”

He opens his mouth as if to respond, but Antoinette glares and shushes him. He returns her glare but remains quiet, and with a short nod, Antoinette turns back to me. “Shoot first, ask questions later?”

“Business as usual,” I retort, pulling the lever to release the air stairs. “Best bet is to go over the side and circle around.”

“There may not be anyone to engage, but there are definitely a few bodies behind us,” Mickey states, watching as the stairs descend, showing no immediate enemy in sight.

Antoinette smiles, then ducks through the doorway, stepping off the side of the stairs and ducking under the handrail, disappearing beneath the plane. Mickey attempts to go next, but I stop him with my hand on his arm. He scowls but allows me to go first, and I follow Antoinette’s path, scanning the area for movement.

Motioning to Antoinette, I take off in one direction, scurrying to the perimeter and slowly walking around, checking for anyone hiding in the shadows. Antoinette does the same in the other direction, with Mickey taking up watch from beneath the plane.

Gunfire sounds from the other side of the hanger, and I turn, my eyes zeroing in on the other plane parked there. Another shot sounds, and I take off at a run, Antoinette doing the same as I yell, “Agatha.”

A tall figure appears in the doorway, staggering, then falling backward and tumbling to the ground. Another shot fires, and then another person staggers into the doorway, falling unceremoniously to the ground.

I stop at the bottom of the stairs, gun drawn. Antoinette joins me, stepping off to the side so she has a clear view of anyone attempting to exit the plane. Mickey steps up behind me, able to see what Antoinette cannot.

Slowly, I creep up the stairs, gun at the ready, listening intently for any movement. I pause in the doorway, glancing around the open space, swinging around to check the lavatory and cockpit before venturing further into the plane.

Spotting Agatha at the back, I quickly check the known hidey holes of the plane before circling back to where she is slumped in a chair. “Fuckin’ hell,” I mutter, giving her a good shake, and then I shout, “Aggie. Aggie, are you okay?”

She peeks an eye open and slaps me away. “You don’t have to shout. There’s nothing wrong with my hearing.”

I fall into the seat beside her, a relieved sigh rushing out of me as I glare at her. “You scared the fucking shit out of me, you bitch.”

She smirks, sitting up and adjusting herself in the chair. “I’m a bit knocked around, but I’m fine.”

“What the hell happened? Where’s Antonio?”

“He went on ahead to tend to some business. I was just sitting here, minding my own business, when those little cunts showed up looking for a good time.”

“Lilith?” Mickey shouts from outside. “Everything good?”

“Come on up,” I yell back, and soon, he and Antoinette appear in the doorway, matching relieved expressions on their faces as they spot Agatha seated next to me.

Antoinette kneels in front of her sister, her hands resting on her knees. “Are you hurt?”

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