Final Debt (Indebted #6)(71)

Letting me go, he strode off, saying over his shoulder. “When you’re dead and Jethro’s been taught a lesson, he’ll no doubt try to find a way to kill me. What he doesn’t realise is, I’m one step ahead of him. I’ll hurt him. I’ll ruin him. And I’ll tell him word for word what I did to you and watch it break him apart.”

Rounding the corner, Cut’s voice sailed back with promise. “He won’t kill me because he’ll be ruined before he ever gets the chance.”





FINALLY.

Finally, fate decided to throw me a f*cking 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 f*cking 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 f*cking 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 f*cking 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.