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FINALLY.
Finally, fate decided to throw me a fucking break.
The captain hesitantly accepted my pocket full of uncut diamonds, swiping a hand through a bushy moustache. I’d never met him, but he’d heard of me—like everyone in Botswana. “You want to leave now, now? Like right now?”
I nodded, anxiety pinging in my blood. “Yes. Like this very fucking minute.”
Nila...
He frowned. “Just you?”
I nodded.
“To Turweston Airport, England?”
I nodded again.
We’d been over this, but I felt his confliction. He wanted the diamonds. He wanted to fly me. He just needed a moment to let the magnitude of logging a new flight plan and departing the moment he landed from a previous contract compute.
Lowering my voice, I encouraged, “I know you’ve just arrived with another client. But I need to go this very moment. If that’s not a possibility, then I’ll have to look elsewhere.”
I held out my palm, requesting the return of the glittering stones.
The captain clutched his fist where the diamonds lay. He bit his lip, slowly working out what tiredness was worth compared to an instant fortune. Amazing how such simple stones could corrupt even the most innocent.
“I didn’t say I couldn’t take you.”
I crossed my arms, wincing a little at the aches in my body. “Decide. We need to leave.”
His eyes darted to the private jet sitting serenely by the hangar. After arriving at the airport, courtesy of the worker who should've been a race car driver rather than a diamond digger, I’d found there were no commercial flights for thirty-six hours.
That was too long.
It wouldn’t work.
I fucking refused to go through the nightmare of flying economy while fearing for Nila’s life. Last time, I’d arrived late. Daniel had touched her and Nila had to defend herself by taking a life.
I won’t let that happen again.
But the gods of fate had finally smiled at me as the captain I now propositioned had walked through the terminal with his flight bag and weary eyes ready for a nightcap and bed. He paused, eavesdropping on my conversation with another pilot offering all number of things if he’d charter a plane and get me to England tonight.
He’d interrupted and guided me outside where no other ears would hear.
The moment it was just us, I’d pulled free the pocketed diamonds and given him my terms. There were a few missing—I’d paid the worker a big bonus for driving me so quickly before sending him back to the mine to find the guy who’d driven me last night. I’d promised my previous ride two thousand pounds. Who knew if he still waited by the gates, but he deserved to be compensated for his loyalty.
I would never take people’s willingness to help another ungratefully again.
The pilot rolled a clear stone in his fingers, a decision solidifying on his face. Finally, he nodded. “Fine. Let’s go.”
“Good choice.” I wanted to fucking kiss him. Instead, I prowled toward the aircraft and prepared to face my father one last time.
* * * * *
I checked the clock above the cockpit for the millionth time.
Almost there.
By my calculations, I was only a couple of hours behind Nila and Cut. Their international service had been delayed—I’d seen the departure board at the terminal—and their airliner travelled at a slower speed.
Also, once in England, clearing customs would’ve taken a while depending on Nila’s acting skills.
Even though I was so close, chasing Nila through the skies—it wasn’t quick enough.
Come on. Fly faster.
The air-hostess, who hadn’t looked happy when the pilot asked her to pull a double shift, came forward. The co-pilot had also grumbled, but nothing a few bribes and promises couldn’t fix. Both the flight attendant and the crew had assumed they’d finished for the day. But they’d agreed. Everyone agreed for money. Even if tiredness and common-sense told them otherwise.
We were all running on fumes, lethargy and stress slowly polluting the interior of the plane. Mile after mile we travelled and I drank coffee after coffee, refuelling on pre-packaged sandwiches and fruits stocked in the plane’s galley.
My stomach was no longer empty and with edible vitamins came healing. My body knitted together enough to get me through the day. My vision stabilised and my headache receded. My fever remained, however, staining my hope with an unwanted film.
“Another drink, Mr. Hawk?” The air-hostess with her plaited dark hair was pretty enough but held nothing compared to Nila.
God, Nila.
I’d never been so attracted to someone both physically and emotionally. The shared text messages had made me proud of her, pissed at her, lusting for her. She’d become a friend...then lover. But mostly, she’d become everything I ever needed.
Clenching my hand, I rubbed at the sudden ache in my heart.
I fucking miss you, Needle.
I shook my head. “A phone. Do you have an in-flight phone I can use?”
She nodded. “I’ll get it for you.” Disappearing down the back of the aircraft, she returned with a satellite phone.
The moment I turned it on, I forgot all about her and focused on rallying every plan I’d put into place before Jasmine called to say Nila had been taken to Africa.
How long ago was that?
A decade? Two?
Shit, it felt like an eternity.
The first call was to Tex.
He answered on the first ring, almost as if he sensed the magnitude of the situation and the peril his daughter was in.
“Arch speaking.”
“It’s Jethro.”
His voice turned sharp. “You said you’d call me hours ago, Hawk. What the hell happened?”
“Change of plan.” I swiped a hand over my face. “Look, they took her before I could put everything into place. It’s happening right now. You need to gather whoever you’ve been working with and get to Hawksridge this very fucking second.” My heart charged with gunpowder. “Can you do that?”
“What the fuck happened? Is my daughter okay? Tell me what the hell you did!”
“She is for now, but she won’t be if we don’t move fast. Get ready. I’ll meet you outside the gates to the estate in—” I checked the clock. Landing was in two hours. The local airport I’d ordered us to land in was closer to Buckinghamshire than Heathrow. Every extra minute I gained on my father counted. On a commercial service, Cut would’ve had no choice but to land at Heathrow.
Local time would place my arrival at late morning.
I’m closing in.
Working out the time differences, I said, “Meet me at eleven thirty a.m. Bring everything you have. I’ll tell you what we need to do when I’m there.”
“Jethro—”
“No, I don’t have the time to console or repeat myself—just be there.” I hung up and dialled the next man on my list.
Kill answered on the third ring.
“Speak.”
“Kill, it’s Hawk.”
“About time you fucking called. Been sitting in this damn bed and breakfast waiting for the green light to move.”
“You’re in Buckinghamshire?”
“Where the fuck else would I be? I said I’d come. I came. Brought three of my best men with me, too.”
I slouched in my seat with gratitude.
Thank God for friends in random places.
I took a deep breath. “I need you to get to Hawksridge as soon as you can. Sneak onto the grounds. Hide. If you see anything threatening Nila Weaver’s life, you have full permission to do whatever’s necessary.” My voice faded. “Just keep her safe for me. I’m almost there.”
“The woman I met at your diamond warehouse?”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “That’s the one. My father will have her, or possibly my grandmother. I want to deal with them on my own so keep them alive if possible. But above all, do whatever you need to keep Nila unharmed—even if it means slaughtering them.”
Kill’s voice grew cold and calculated. “You have my word. We’ll leave now. See you soon, Hawk.”
Hanging up, my fingers shook as I dialled the final number.
“Flaw speaking.”
“Flaw...it’s Kite.”
It didn’t escape my notice I’d made three phone calls and used three names. Was that who I’d become? Three facets of myself? How would I choose which was the better side of me and settle into one person after so much strife?
“Shit, man. Cut just arrived ten minutes ago. Bonnie has Nila up in her quarters. Where the fuck are you?”
Shit!
“I’m on my way. I’ve sent reinforcements, but I need you to do something for me.”
“Name it.”
“I’m making you vice president of the Black Diamonds. I need you to gather those you trust to take down the members loyal to Cut. Fracture and Cushion should swear allegiance to you. Colour might, too—he was friends with Kes and not a bad guy. But the rest, I’m unsure of. You’ll have to work out who to trust and who to peg for a rebellion. You think you can do that?”
Silence before he gulped. “You want me to start anarchy?”
“I’m asking you to get the brothers out of the way. The war is happening right now. It’s going to end tonight. I can’t have the club getting in the way.”
“I know which members will stick by you and which won’t. Leave it with me. I’ll make sure to keep them out of the way and deal with those who won’t behave.”
I smiled with thanks. “Appreciate it. I’ll be there soon. Help will arrive with me. I have reinforcements. Just stay low and get ready.”
“Been born ready, my man. This is yours. Don’t fucking care it’s not your thirtieth or you haven’t inherited the estate yet. This became personal when that motherfucker shot Kes in cold blood.”
Leaning against the window, I sighed. “It’s personal. And it’s almost over.”
Flaw growled, “Let’s finish this for him.”
The ache returned to my heart—this time for my brother.
I fucking miss you, Kestrel.
“For Kes.” Hanging up, my eyes fell on the clouds and world far below us.
Up here, I was closer to my brother. Closer to his untethered soul.
If you can hear me, brother. Don’t leave. Not yet. Things will be better after tonight. You’ll be safe. Jaz will be safe. We can have the life you always dreamed.
Turbulence hit the plane, bouncing us like a skittle.
I liked to think it was him...telling me he’d heard and wouldn’t give up.
Stay alive. Give me a little more time.
And then wake up and come home.
