Page 18 of Ruthless Commander
7
Xael
Three cars sat in the private parking lot of the exclusive jet terminal.Nice, just what I needed, more people to stare.I fought the twitch in the corner of my mouth and climbed out of the limousine. My escort, Rhys, was there, holding my door open, watching me carefully. Just like they all watched me now. I tugged my leather jacket closer around me, then turned and headed for the doors.
He hurried, grabbing my suitcases, and slammed the trunk closed. A cold wind picked up, slicing across the airfield to cut right through me. But I didn’t feel it. I didn’t feel much anymore. Instead, I strode toward the automatic doors, waiting for Rhys to leave the driver and car behind and surge forward to slam his card on the scanner and wait for the doors to open.
But I was caught in the movement as he pressed the card to the sensor, captured by that tiny blinking light turning from red to green before the locks released and the doors swung open. The sight of that reminded me of another time, when I'd invaded, hoping things would change for me.
They did…
They just got worse.
I jerked my gaze up, walking through the doors, instantly hearing voices.Shit.
“I’ll get these stowed on the jet,” Rhys said behind me as the muffled voices of others filled the space.
I just nodded, watching as our pilot strode across the tarmac and headed our way, dressed to perfection. Gold stripes at the cuffs of his dark jacket, the white shirt and black tie, glinting wings shining on his pocket. He wore the uniform like a second skin. Matching dark pants hugged his powerful thighs that flexed as he headed my way. Kilkivan wasn’t just sexy, he was drop-dead gorgeous.
“Oh my,” came a woman’s quiet voice from the expensive lounge of the private terminal.
I didn’t need to turn my head to know she stared through the glass windows at the man as he lifted his head, those dark eyes glinting as he found mine. Dark eyes…just like…like his.
My heart thundered, but it wasn’t because of desire. Panic thrummed in my veins as I fixed on that stare, that hint of danger…hint of thebeast.Until the pilot ruined it all…and smiled, his white teeth flashing in the night.
“What, mommy?” the little girl at the woman's side asked, tearing me from the reverie.
I flinched, recoiling inside as his smile grew wider. He didn’t look like him anymore. Didn’t remind me of another…didn’t look like him at all. I turned my gaze from the pilot’s grin as he reached the automatic doors and stepped inside, along with the howl of the wind.
The husband fussed, carrying over drinks from the bar toward the wife as she just stared, open-mouthed, at the man heading my way. Their suitcases were stacked beside the sofa as they waited for their chartered plane. Rich, but not quite rich enough.
“Xael?” Kilkivan called my name.
I flinched, catching the movement from the corner of my eye as the woman and her husband turned their heads toward me.
“Holy shit,” the husband muttered as he stared.
I just reached for my iPods, slipped them into my ears, and pressed the button, listening to the raw, husky cries of Ramsey in my ears.
Are you ready to leave?Kilkivan mouthed the words.
I just nodded, striding forward, leaving the stares behind. Rhys strode ahead and disappeared through the double doors. If there was one thing I liked about him, it was that he melted into the background. The last thing I needed was someone taking notice of who I was. Next time I traveled by jet, I’d leave at midnight. Maybe then I’d avoid the whispers and the stares. Maybe then I’d be left the hell alone. I followed my pilot as he walked back out the automatic doors and into the cold wind as though he never felt it at all.
No one else’s pilot escorted them across the tarmac, but then again, a million-dollar retainer afforded you five-star service. He strode toward the ten-million-dollar jet waiting with the doors open and the lights on, and stopped at the foot of the stairs.
I didn’t wait, just climbed, tearing myself away from the wind as I sank into the opulence of the cream interior, finding Rhys seated toward the rear of the plane.
Ms. Davies.The stewardess mouthed the words.
I just gave a nod, not removing my iPods, and slipped into the plush seat. I didn’t care about the scowl she gave me, or the shrug Kilkivan gave her with a slow shake of his head. I didn’t care about any of them as I turned to stare out the windows at the night.
The doors were closed and the sound of the engine grew until it mingled with the seductive call in my ears. I closed my eyes as the jet began to roll, hating how I was even here at all. But there was something broken inside me…somethingnot quite right.
A hunger for cruelty.
A need for stabbing pain.
A sick craving for the darkness. The kind of darkness I searched for in every set of brooding eyes. My pulse picked up as the jet surged forward, ripping us along the tarmac before we lifted…and left reality behind.
