Page 61 of Knot Unwanted: Part Two

“Maybe he’s trying to figure out what she’s worth,” he says quietly. “If she’s valuable.”

The thought makes my blood run cold. “You think they’d?—”

“I don’t know,” Stone cuts me off. “But don’t tell them anything else.”

I nod, slipping my phone back into my pocket. The idea that the Ashgraves might have their own agenda regarding Hailey isn’t surprising, but it is terrifying.

“Jax,” Stone says, leaning forward between the seats. “We need to be prepared for the possibility that the Ashgraves aren’t just helping us.”

Jax nods grimly. “Already on it. I have a contingency plan.”

“Care to share?” I ask.

He glances at me in the rearview mirror. “The less you know, the better. But trust me, I’m not letting anyone take Hailey from us again.”

Jax’s phone rings. He puts it on speaker.

“Approaching the target area,” Riordan’s voice comes through. “Cut your lights.”

Jax complies, our SUV going dark as we continue along an increasingly narrow road. Ahead, the Ashgraves have done the same.

“There,” Stone says suddenly, pointing through the windshield.

In the distance, barely visible through the trees, are the lights of what must be the private airstrip. A small hangar, a control tower, and a runway illuminated by low lights. A few vehiclesare parked near the hangar, including what looks like a black limousine.

“That’s her,” Jax says, his voice tight with certainty. “Heath travels in style.”

The Ashgraves’ SUV pulls off the road about half a mile from the airstrip, concealing itself among the trees. We follow suit, parking beside them.

As we exit our vehicle, the night air hits me with a chill that has nothing to do with temperature. This is it. We’re really doing this.

The Ashgraves are already checking weapons. Riordan holsters a pistol at his side, while Ellis adjusts what looks like a sniper rifle. Declan is strapping on a tactical vest, and Connor checks something on a tablet device.

“She’s inside the hangar,” Connor reports, showing the tablet to Riordan. On the screen is a thermal image of the airstrip, with several heat signatures visible inside the main building.

“How many?” Jax asks, moving to peer at the screen.

“Eight,” Connor answers. “One’s separated from the others—that’ll be Heath. The rest are security.”

“Private jet’s already on the tarmac,” Ellis observes, looking through the scope of the rifle. “Fueled and ready to go.”

“Then we don’t have much time,” Stone says, checking his weapon.

Jax turns to me. “Finn, I want you to?—”

“Don’t,” I interrupt, already knowing what he’s going to say. “Don’t tell me to stay behind.”

Jax’s eyes darken. Before I can speak, he grabs the front of my vest and yanks me forward, crushing his mouth against mine. I gasp against his lips, a soft whimper escaping before I can stop it.

The kiss is hard, all desperation and barely restrained fury. I can taste his fear, his determination, the unspoken promise that we’re all coming back alive.

When he pulls away, his breath comes ragged. “Stay with Stone,” he orders, voice rough. “Do exactly as he says. If things go sideways, you get out. No arguments.”

“But—”

Jax cuts me off with another bruising kiss, his fingers digging into my jaw. “No arguments,” he repeats against my lips. “Hailey needs you alive, Finn.Ineed you alive.”

Before I can respond, Stone’s large hand wraps around my arm and spins me around. His kiss is even more punishing than Jax’s—a claiming, a vow. His teeth scrape my bottom lip hard enough to draw blood, and I groan into his mouth.

---