Total pages in book: 192
Estimated words: 189782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 949(@200wpm)___ 759(@250wpm)___ 633(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 189782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 949(@200wpm)___ 759(@250wpm)___ 633(@300wpm)
He’s used to controlling everyone around him, but he’ll quickly learn that he can’t control us.
No amount of fine clothing can smooth out the rugged edges of our souls, shaped by years of survival against harsher elements than these.
“In Sitka, Frankie will share a room with Leo and me,” Kody says clearly, each word deliberate, marking our territory in no uncertain terms.
Monty’s face turns to stone, his hand still outstretched, hanging in the air like an unanswered question.
Awkward.
His expression slowly empties, donning a mask of composure, but the frost in his blue eyes shows his true feelings—cold, cagey, dangerously aggressive.
“There are plenty of bedrooms.” He lowers his hand, too calm. “The guest house has two, and the main estate has five. No one needs to share.”
“We’re not boarding that plane until you agree to the sleeping arrangements.” I take a stance beside Kody, forming a solid front.
“For fuck’s sake. It’s cold out here. We can discuss it in—”
“There’s nothing to discuss.” Frankie inches forward, squeezing between us. “You read my journal, Monty. You know I’ve been sharing a bed with them for months, and it’s more than for warmth. It’s comfort. It’s safety. We need to maintain some semblance of what we had. It’s crucial for us during this transition.”
His expression fractures, the image of a composed, controlled man cracking under the agony of what he lost.
His wife, the woman he loves, aligns her comfort and safety with two other men. This isn’t a battle he can win. Nor is it one he can afford to fight right now.
He wants us on that plane.
With a heavy sigh, he slips a hand into his pocket.
“You can sleep wherever you feel most comfortable.” His gaze flits between Kody and me. “I know you don’t trust me. Hell, you probably think I’m the stalker Denver talked about, the one hunting Frankie.” His voice lashes in the wind, his anger breaking through. “Denver put that suspicion into your heads on purpose. He wanted us divided and distracted, warring against one another as the real threat moves in. Don’t team up against me. We’ll be stronger together. I understand I have a long way to go to earn your trust, but until then, give me a chance to right my wrongs and prove myself.”
Frankie peers up at us, seeking our reactions.
Kody ascends the stairs and stands toe-to-toe with him. “We’ll hold you to that. Our priority is Frankie’s safety and happiness.”
“And my priority”—she grabs my hand—“is them.”
“Let’s board then.” Monty oozes confidence, arrogance even, but an undercurrent of defeat rests in the pinch of his mouth, a bitter pill swallowed.
As we climb into the jet, I’m hit by an overwhelming sense of opulence that makes the Turbo Beaver feel like a tin can in comparison. The interior gleams with polished wood and chrome, oversized leather seats inviting us to sink into luxury we’ve never known.
A crisp, clean scent permeates the air, far removed from the musty, fuel-tainted confines of our last desperate flight.
The cabin feels less constricting than the vast, unprotected landscape we’re leaving behind. In this enclosed space, flying toward a new life, the lines are drawn, roles defined, and alliances solidified.
Whatever we’re about to face, be it the shadows of Denver’s threats, Monty’s obsession with Frankie, or the task of assimilating into a foreign society, it’s a little less daunting when I consider the bond we share.
The importance of our unity can’t be understated. In the hills, where the world tried to crush us with ice and starvation and hungry beasts, our trust in one another kept us alive. Now, facing a world of concrete and excess and unknown predators, that trust is our greatest asset.
We are each other’s protector.
In the cabin, Monty’s attention zeroes in on her. He moves with that distinguished grace of his, drifting close enough to her to make Kody growl.
A warning Monty ignores.
“If you need anything during the flight, don’t hesitate to come to me.” He reaches to touch her hand.
She jerks away and lowers into the closest seat.
A faint shadow of pain darkens his face before he quickly covers it with a practiced smile. “The flight attendant will be available as well. Whatever puts you more at ease.” There’s a stiffness to his posture now, a hint of her rejection stinging him as he turns to me. “If you’re interested, you can join me in the cockpit. I can give you some pointers on flying this bird.”
I nod, wary but curious. “Might take you up on that.”
If I ride up front, it isn’t just about learning aviation. It’s strategic. I need to learn everything I can about this man and his world.
With a final, longing glance at Frankie, he slips into the cockpit, leaving us to settle in.
As the door closes behind him, the space feels charged and tense. She looks shaken, the quick withdrawal of her hand not lost on me.