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Regan Harris
North Las Vegas Airport
Las Vegas, Nevada
I watched Ben as he walked through the doors leading to the tarmac. His back was ramrod straight. We may have broken up years ago, but I recognized the signs of his anger. Something had him upset. But what?
“Let’s ditch him,” Liam said. “I don’t trust him.”
“I agree,” Jax said. “I can’t believe you called him.” The disgust was clear in her voice.
“I thought I needed him. I called him before we realized Gray was leaving us clues,” I said to them, trying to justify my actions. “Plus, he has a plane ready. We’ll get to leave immediately.”
“We could’ve flown down on our own,” Liam shot back.
“Yes, but it would’ve taken longer. And, we’d be at the mercy of the airlines,” I pointed out.
“We could charter our own flight?” Jax suggested. “You do have Gray’s credit card. I’m sure his limit would cover the costs.”
“That would take more time. Ben is here, with a plane, no less. I won’t compromise on getting there the quickest way possible, and Ben is it. If we chartered our own plane, it would take time. Time Gray might not have.” My tone was harsh. I wanted the debate over with. I started to pace back and forth while we waited for Ben to fetch us.
“Did you catch his mistake?” Liam asked. I shook my head no as I turned and marched the other way. Liam continued talking. “I cut him off. I wish I hadn’t. He was revealing Gray’s location, but he wasn’t going to say Teguc. It was something else. He was angry when he realized we already knew.”
“So, what? He was probably angry because you were being rude,” I said, defending Ben’s honor.
“No. It wasn’t that. We can’t trust him,” Liam said.
“I agree with Liam,” Jax threw in her two cents. I instantly got defensive at being ganged up on.
“What do you want me to do? I am getting on that plane. With or without you.” I pointed toward the doors that Ben had exited. I stopped my pacing and stared at them, waiting for their replies. I’d drawn my line. It was up to them to cross it or not.
Liam came to stand in front of me. He held my arms in his hands. The touch comforted me. I realized I was being hardheaded, but that didn’t mean I would change my mind.
“I’m not saying we don’t use him. I’m saying we only use him. Ben doesn’t need to know that Gray is leaving us clues, or that we are following them. We need to keep that between us, got it?” Liam said.
“Why? He could help us look.”
“Exactly. If I’m right, Ben was going to lead us to the wrong city. What if we confided in him and he found a clue first? He could destroy it.”
“What would Ben gain from that? He’s here to help. He’s here because I asked him,” I said. Liam squeezed my arms.
“No, Regan. Ben wants you to think he’s here to help, but I don’t think he is. He has his own agenda,” Liam said gently.
“What other reason is there?” I asked. I looked between them as the silence stretched between us. Jax bit her lip as she thought. I knew that look. Her eyes were glazed over, and she was contemplating something.
“You,” Jax said. She walked over to stand next to Liam. “You. Ben still wants you.”
I shook off Liam’s hands and went back to pacing. I didn’t want to hear any more. This was ridiculous. Ben knew our relationship was over. Very over. And had been for years. There wasn’t a chance I would go back to him.
“I’m married now. Ben is old news,” I pointed out.
Jax snorted. “Does he know you’re married? Maybe you should tell him.”
The thought of telling Ben I married Gray made me pause in my pacing. I took a moment to examine my feelings, worried I might still hold a small torch for him. Not even a torch, more like a burned-out match. The thought of Ben refusing to help me when he found out I was married worried me more than the last twinkle of feelings between Ben and me.
“I don’t believe it,” I said to them. I chewed on the edge of my thumb while I waited for an answer.
“You don’t have to believe it,” Jax said. “Just don’t give away our secrets. It won’t hurt to play things close to the chest.”
“Fine. But what do we tell him when we land? We’ll have to check every nook and cranny of the local airport. And, what if we don’t find anything next time?” I asked.
All of the fears and worries of the night overwhelmed me. We were on a fool’s errand. My shoulders sagged. This roller coaster of emotion was winning. One minute I was high from finding a clue and the next the daunting task was overwhelming me again. My adrenaline was running low and I felt the crash coming.
Before either of them could answer me, the front doors opened in a flurry of activity. I looked over my shoulder as Gracie raced in. She wore jeans with black rain boots and a button-up chambray shirt. Gracie looked like she was about to do a photo shoot for casual wear for the uber-rich and beautiful.
She paused and looked around her, making a beeline for us once we were spotted. A bag was slung over her shoulder.
“Good. I made it. What’s the plan?” Gracie jumped right in. Liam led her off a few steps and got her up to date on what had transpired. Liam talked while Gracie nodded along. Every once in a while, she would interrupt him to ask a question.
Jax took Liam’s place in comforting me. She wrapped me in her arms and rubbed my back. I laid my head on her shoulder and cried. I let all of the stress out. All of the fear and worry. I let myself completely break down, emptying myself of all unwanted emotion. Jax never said a word. She just held me. I felt other hands on my back and guessed that Liam and Gracie had joined Jax in comforting me. When the last tears were shed, I took large, hiccupping gasps. My eyes burned and my throat felt raw. Jax gave me one last squeeze before letting me go.
Jax wiped the tear tracks from my cheeks with her thumbs. “Why don’t you go to the bathroom and splash some cold water on your face?”
I nodded, afraid to try my voice yet. Each of them gave me one last pat of comfort before I walked away. Ben stood about ten feet away from us, watching the emotional exchange. Sympathy showed in his eyes as he watched me walk toward the restroom.