Page 62 of Unstoppable

“You da best, Berty boy,” Jonas calls as he leaps from the balcony and lands next to us with a smug grin and kisses Bert’s face.

He blushes and grins at Jonas before looking at me. “Please be safe, Nova.”

“Always,” I promise, kissing his other cheek. “Take care of Ana for me.”

“I will.” He nods solemnly. “We will be here when you get back, all of you.” He looks around at them as the others come in with their belongings packed up. “None of you are to get hurt or killed, do you understand me?” he orders, and we all nod like naughty children. “Good, and if you get arrested, call me.” He steps back, his eyes glassy with tears just as Ana hurries down the stairs. She throws the guys a nervous glance before she hands me a journal.

“Here’s as much as I’ve found so far, as well as the locations. I have Louis’s secure number. If I find anything more, I will send it to him.”

“Be smart and safe.” I hate it when I almost repeat my father’s words. “I will be in contact when I can. Stay here with Bert.” She nods, and we share a look, unsure what else to say, the years still arching between us. I sigh and grab my bag as I head towards the door where the others are already loading the cars.

“Nova,” she calls. I turn back, and Ana races towards me, wrapping her arms tightly around me. I freeze for a moment before melting and wrapping my arms around her as well, kissing the top of her head.

“I’m so sorry I hurt you as much as he did, but I’m here now, and I will make this right. I will help, even if none of you believe me. I’m . . . I’m just so sorry. I love you, Nova, I always did, always will. Come back home soon.” She steps back, dashing her tears away.

I nod at her, unsure what to say, so instead, I pull out the note that was folded under my pillow. “I know. I love you too,” I tell her, and Bert steps up, placing a hand on her shoulder as I throw my bag in the car and get in.

“So where to? I’m betting the secret military peeps won’t be happy about this.” I smirk.

“What they don’t know won’t hurt them.” Louis grins over his shoulder. “I just told them we have a few leads and are going off grid.”

“And how did they take that?” Isaac asks curiously.

“Started shouting, so I hung up, but we should get going before they track us. Your sister will be safe, but us? We might get locked up.”

“Then let’s go.” I nod, sitting back next to Nico. Jonas and Dimitri are in the other car behind us.

I flip through the journal and pick a location at random. “The first coordinates are somewhere in Berlin. Wait, how are we getting there?”

They share a look before laughing as I frown.

“Wait, what’s so funny?”

That just makes them laugh harder as we pull away.

THIRTY-NINE

Now I know why they were laughing. Two hours later, we pull into a private airstrip, and sitting on the tarmac is a private jet. The stairs are down, and the lights are on inside. The cars stop before it, and I lean forward.

“Erm, okay?” I say to no one in particular, but they laugh and get out. Hoisting my bag up, I follow them onto the plane. They are all comfortable and instantly settle in. Louis talks to the pilot and assistant while I just stand there looking around.

Behind me is a small galley and the cockpit, and before me is something out of a movie. It sure beats the shit hole hotels I stay at, that’s for sure. To the right is a full-on sitting area, with a sofa along the plane’s wall covered in cushions and blankets, perfectly decorated. Two huge reclining leather chairs sit opposite on either side to create a square, with a table in the middle with a fruit bowl on it. The carpet is soft and fluffy under my dirty boots, and I cringe, feeling out of place.

Behind the sofa is another one where Jonas sprawls out, his arm behind his head and feet kicked up. To my left are two reclining chairs that are facing each other with a table between them, and at the back are three more chairs. All are done in luxury prints and leather. I feel like a dirty thief. The curved ceiling is filled with warm LED lights that are dimmed to create a soft atmosphere, and it smells expensive in here. Hell, there is even a full-length window in the ceiling, which I stare at incredulously.

There are two closed mahogany doors at the back. I’m guessing they are for the toilet, but I don’t dare explore. I hesitantly sit on one of the chairs. Dimitri sits down heavily on the sofa and pulls his laptop out as Nico takes another chair at the back and instantly kicks back, going to sleep. Isaac grins at me as he passes and takes the spot next to Nico, reclining it and taking out a book.

They seem comfortable here and used to it, which has me frowning as Louis comes back to us and sits in the chair opposite me with his legs crossed. A very beautiful stewardess in a suit closes the door and smiles at us before moving back to the galley.

“Take off in ten. Refreshments will be served in an hour or so,” Louis tells me.

I’ve bitten my tongue enough. I have to know.

Leaning across to Louis, I narrow my eyes. “Who the hell does this plane belong to?” I hiss.

FORTY

He grins, and there’s a shuffling sound at my side. I turn my head to see Dimitri ducking his head in embarrassment. “What?” I ask, confused.

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