Chapter 37

We arrive at the airstrip an hour later.

As I was told, there's another jet waiting for us.

As soon as we board the other jet, I ask Ryder what will happen to his jet. He says it will be refueled and wait for our arrival. Then we will fly back home.

"Sir, the cars are waiting for us at Athens airport." LeAnn walks up to us, hanging up her cell phone.

"What do you mean by cars?" I ask, confused. Ryder gives LeAnn a serious look. She nods and walks away.

He then looks back at me. "As I said before, you and LeAnn are going straight to the hotel. I'm going to do this alone. This isn't up for discussion."

Ryder and LeAnn have a total of four big, metal suitcases. She goes through everything to make sure they both have everything they need.

Ryder is on his laptop towards the back. I also hear Freddie's voice. He must be face timing him.

I make my way towards LeAnn.

"Seems excessive, right?" She asks.

I agree, watching her put the knives into their spot, in the suitcase, and some into duffle bags. "But it's not! We've done this a thousand times! By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail. If your enemy is secured at all points, be prepared for him."

She's absolutely right! Better to be over-prepared than underprepared. I wonder if she works with Ryder all the time?

"So you always accompany Ryder on these jobs of his?"

LeAnn laughs. "No. I was actually in special forces. I loved my job. I just didn't like who I was working for. The pay also sucked. I quit and got a random call from someone named Freddie one night."

"He said Ryder heard of my expertise and wanted to sit with me. I'm skilled with knives." She holds one up.

"He met with me and told me he needed a flight attendant, knowing full well my background. I laughed right in his face."

LeAnn takes a gun out of the case and inspects it, placing it back.

"How is a man going to assume I want to be in a skirt all day, fetching his steaks?! Well, that was until he told me how much I'd be making every time I got on his jet."

She looks at me and grins. "I didn't have to think it through, of course! What I make in one weekend, I would've made in 3 years in special forces. So anyway, I was torn. I loved the pay but didn't like serving him or any of his clients," she says, sighing. "Boring was, to say the least! That was until one day he showed me his arsenal."

We both laugh when she realizes her double entendre.

She looks around. "I nearly passed out from excitement!" LeAnn walks around me, grabbing a gun off the back of one of the seats. "I'm in charge of making sure this plane is fully stocked. With weapons and food, of course! I like it, though. Never knowing when the danger is going to come...but always ready for it," LeAnn says as she shrugs.

I look towards the cockpit. "And Captain...uh..." I motion to the cockpit, not knowing the captain's name.

LeAnn takes another gun out and looks toward the cockpit. "Captain Willard and Captain Charles? Both good guys! They both served in the air force. They know what Ryder does. They never ask any questions, and I don't think they care. They've been with Ryder a long time. I believe Willard use to fly his parents around also. I only came on the scene about three years ago."

That information surprises me!

The captain comes over the loudspeaker:

"Final approach, Mr. Forñay!"

LeAnn places the guns back into their cases and begins to close them all. "All right, Miss Hallowell! Buckle in."

I grin at her as I sit.

"Call me Sam," I say, and she smiles at me, putting the cases on the floor.

We arrive in Athens soon after.

LeAnn grabs two metal cases and puts them into our black Cadillac Escalade. I'm still on the jet waiting for Ryder to exit.

He walks up to me, placing his hands on my hips.

"I want you to listen to everything she tells you, okay? And don't leave her side at all."

He tucks a piece of hair behind my ear.

"I will, I promise," I say as I smile nervously. "I expect the three of you back in one peace."

Ryder nods.

"And we still haven't finished our conversation from earlier. I intend to have it," I say as I blush. He pulls me into a kiss.

I wrap my arms around his neck, standing on my toes. Placing my hand on the back of his head, I deepen the kiss.

Do I really love this man? After all, I am sending him to death's door to get my parents back. Is he going to return to me or disappear as he has done before?

No! I can't think that way! It's his love for me that has him risking his own life.

Ryder breaks me from my thoughts when I hear him moan. He puts his hands on my ass and lifts me.

I wrap my legs around his waist, continuing to kiss him. I rake my hands carefully through his hair. He stops and looks up at me.

"I intend to have that conversation with you, Sam. And a bunch of others as the years go by."

Ryder runs his hand down my neck. I hug him, and he slowly puts me back on the floor, never letting go of me.

He then lets me go and searches my face. I don't know why he's doing that. I get the uneasy feeling that he's trying to remember my face in the event something happens to him.

I instantly get goosebumps.

"Come back to me, please," I whisper to him.

"I will." He kisses my forehead, cheek, and softly on my lips.

"Let's go." He grabs both suitcases, and we exit the jet.

"LeAnn, you know what to do," Ryder says as he puts the cases into the trunk of his black Range Rover. LeAnn walks up to us.

"I do, sir! I'll take great care of your special cargo." LeAnn looks at me and smiles, walking back to our truck.

I put my hands around his hips, looking up at him, praying this isn't the last time I see him. "Thank you again for everything! For what you're about to do."

He grabs my chin and softly kisses me. "I'll do anything for you. All you have to do is ask."

"Come back to me."

He smiles weakly as his eyes bore into mine. "Please, stay with LeAnn. I'll call her the moment I have your parents, and we are at a safe distance."

I nod as hopelessness falls on me.

Ryder walks me to the truck, where I climb into the passenger seat and buckle in. He closes my door.

"Be safe! Both of you."

We both smile at him. Tears start to pool in my eyes.

Through the window, he cradles my face. I have never seen true sadness on his face until now. I rest my hand on top of his.

Ryder's look of sadness turns into the creepy, calm look I'm starting to love.

I know he doesn't want to leave me, but he's doing something dangerous. My safety is essential to him.

I love you, he mouths as LeAnn slowly drives off.