Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 82332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
I cover my mouth with my hand, trying to keep from throwing up. "He's really gone mad."
"He's always been that way, Melina. You were shielded from the worst of it. Well, we did the best we could to protect you from it anyway.”
"What are you going to do?" I ask.
"I'm going to take care of Aden and land the plane," he says. He grimaces. He tries reassuring me of his plan with a smile, but it's not working. I don't think he knows how to smile.
"You can do that?" I ask in surprise. I realize just how little I know about him.
"I've been waiting my whole life for a taste of freedom. At this point, the desperation will help me do anything," he proclaims.
I find I believe him. The fact that I'm no longer cowering from him has taken some of the slump from his shoulders. Our father is like a cancer, slowly destroying all of us. To see that echoed so plainly on my brother hurts me.
“Thank you, Eli.”
"I'll send Helena back in when I can, but you'll need to get to the seats. I can fly this thing, but I’m a little rough when it comes to landing."
I watch him turn to leave. "Eli?"
"Yeah?" he asks, glancing over his shoulder.
"Be careful."
I see a ghost of a smile. "I haven't been much of a brother Melina. But I've always loved you. I tried to do what I could to help protect you." He pauses as he clears his throat. "Did you know you look just like our mother? I think that's why he hates you so much."
With that, he turns to leave. I struggle to keep the tears at bay. The painful lump in my throat threatens to choke me. I shake it off. I don’t have time for the pain. Eli set me free, but if he's about to tangle with Aden, he'll need my help. I just need something to defend myself and others if needed. I search the room frantically, not knowing how much time I have. In the adjoining bathroom, there's a heavy metal rod bolted to the wall for support for when you’re in the shower and might hit turbulence. It's held in place by screws.
When I was in school and was allowed to fly back and forth with Helena, we always took this jet. Once, there was a small water leak under the bathroom cabinet. I watched the maintenance guy fix it. Because of that, I know exactly where the tools are kept—the toiletry cabinet beside the shower.
There’s not a lot there, pipe wrenches, screwdrivers and—thankfully—a power drill with a small container of bits. I grab the drill immediately and get to work. Sadly, even with the drill, it takes longer than I’d like to work the screws out. I should probably think about joining a gym if I survive this, because wielding the heavy tool is very hard.
I want to shout in victory when I finally get it completely free. I don’t do that, however. Whatever I do here, I have to be stealthy and super quiet. Getting myself killed or captured will not help my brother at all. I hold the heavy bar in my hand. It's not a gun or a knife, but desperation is on my side. Plus, it's basically all I got.
I open the door carefully to see Aden bleeding from a wound in his side and Elias holding up a knife—this one larger than the one he had to set me free. That would be a great start, except that Aden has a gun trained on Elias. He shouldn't have walked into a gunfight with a knife. Although, I suppose if you are high up in the air, in a pressurized tin can, a knife is what a sane person would use.
No one has ever accused Aden of being sane.
Helen is tucked in a corner seat. Her hands are still tied, but her legs are free. She’s crying softly. Shit. I think Aden caught Elias freeing her.
"You're going to die. I always knew we couldn't trust you, Elias. That's why Father had to beat the insolence out of you. You've always been so weak."
Elias spits at Aden. "Unlike you, who did everything for him? No matter how heinous, you were right there, weren’t you, brother? It wouldn’t surprise me if you didn't wipe his ass after he took a shit too."
Aden cocks the gun. "You've always been crass. No class. It was that bitch, Genevieve. Your mother deceived our father again and again. She finally managed to pop you and Melina out after all their fucking and yet you were both nothing but failures.
Elias lunges at Aden with an unholy yell. I take that as my cue to move out of the doorway, ready to help. He plunges the knife into Aden's stomach, pulling it out and stepping back because Aden brings his leg up and slams it into his stomach before Elias can stab him again. Aden is bleeding profusely now. He staggers, still holding the gun on Elias. Elias tries another swing but misses when Aden sidesteps him and levels his gun, preparing to shoot.