Page 86 of Final Exit

Mason nodded. “Right in my hometown.”

“That can’t be Faegan’s base of operations,” Kade said. “The building was emptied and sold before I took on this mission. Another company is operating out of it now.”

“It really is perfect,” Mason said, seemingly ignoring Kade’s statement. “Plus it has the last remaining requirement that the Boulder facility doesn’t have.”

“Tunnels,” he and Devlin both said at the same time.

“With cells,” Mason further elaborated. “There are half a dozen of them hidden in the tunnels beneath the building.”

“Wait, hold it,” Kade said. “Did you not hear the part where I said another company is operating out of that facility now?”

“What kind of company?” Mason asked.

“It’s... ah, hell.”

“What?” Bailey asked.

“It’s a personal security corporation. Which of course is the perfect ruse to cover the kinds of comings and goings that Faegan’s men would be doing there. We need to get to Asheville. Fast.”

Devlin grabbed his phone. “I’ll arrange a plane at a private airfield so we can get around security and bring our weapons. We can be in the air in thirty or forty minutes.”

Mason pulled his phone out, too. “I’ve got a few tricks of my own. And plenty of friends in Asheville.”

Chapter Twenty

Thursday, 6:15 p.m.

Bailey curled her fingers around the plane’s armrests as it taxied toward the runway.

“If you close your eyes during takeoff, that helps,” Kade whispered from his window seat beside her.

She frowned at him before turning to see whether the others had heard him. It was a small plane, but not so small that everyone had to sit close together. Still, she could see Mason, alone as seemed to be his preference, two rows up. Devlin and Austin sat quietly talking a few rows behind her across the aisle. The rest of their little party was somewhere behind them.

“They can’t hear us if we keep our voices low,” he said. “You can hold my hand if you want.”

She ignored his hand and blew out a frustrated breath. “This is stupid. It makes no sense. I should be terrified of parking garages, not airplanes.”

“Want to talk about it?” he asked.

“Want me to punch you?”

He sighed and looked out the window.

She tamped down the twinge of guilt that shot through her. He was only trying to be nice. But she didn’t want him or anyone else fussing over her, especially when she was desperately trying to will away nausea. The plane made its final turn, ready for takeoff. She dug her nails into the armrest and drew deep breaths. She could feel Kade’s eyes on her again but she no longer cared about trying to hide her weaknesses. She was too busy swallowing, hard, and then closing her eyes as the engines revved. Around her, the muted conversations faded away. Her brain felt like it was floating around in her skull. Oh, God. Was she going to faint?

The plane started forward again.

No. Just one more minute. I need one more minute to figure out how to survive this without freaking out.

“Hold my hand.”

Kade’s harsh whisper close to her ear took her mind off her stomach just long enough for her to look at him. Then she saw the trees rushing past the windows.

“Oh, God,” she repeated, then flushed when she realized she’d said it out loud this time.

Kade put his hand beneath her chin, forcing her to look at him as he leaned over. The rushing trees had her gasping for air and she tightly squeezed her eyes shut. Then, suddenly, his lips were on hers. She was so surprised she didn’t think to pull away. Then it felt so good she didn’t want to.

She opened her mouth for his tongue and he swept it inside. Heat flooded through her as she answered his wild kiss with enthusiasm. She wanted this, wanted him. She just wanted... more. He groaned low in his throat, or that might have been her. She reached for him, trying to pull him closer, but their awkward angles and the seat belts made it impossible.

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