Page 107 of Property of Bones

“Talk,” Spike barks.

“We’re safe,” Max says first. “But Sunny’s hurt. Bad. Worse than before.”

“What the fuck, Max?!” Jack explodes in the background.

“I’m in pain, Jack,” I say, cutting in, voice thin but clear. It takes every bit of strength I have left to talk as calmly and clearly as possible so Jack doesn’t lose it. “But it was the only way out. We had to make it look real.”

“What happened?” Spike demands.

“The only way out was through,” Max says. “I needed her to struggle against me to make it look real. One person so much as suspected I was going against the boss, and they would have called him. Struggling caused something to happen to her already broken ribs. But I can’t stop anywhere to get her help. I need a way across the border. And fast. We can’t take the highway and we sure as hell can’t risk a checkpoint.”

“Give me five,” Someone’s voice cuts in. “I’ve got a contact. Private plane. Quiet landing strip near the compound. I’ll falsify the flight manifest and papers. You’ll be cleared as medical transport.”

“You sure?” Max asks.

“Since when did you start doubting me, Max?” the man replies. “You’ll be wheels up in under twenty minutes. Sending you the location now.”

Max looks back over his shoulder at me. “You good to hang in there a little longer?”

I nod, jaw clenched, voice barely above a whisper. “I just want Jack.”

“Hang on, baby,” Jack says, voice thick with emotion. “When I get you home, I’m never letting you leave again.”

I sigh and gently rest my forehead against Max’s back.

“I think I’m okay with that,” I whisper.

“I love you, Sunny,” Jack says. “Max, take care of her and we won’t have any issues.”

“Not that my word means much these days,” Max replies, his voice low but steady. “But you have it. I’ll get her there in one piece. Just... have Patch waiting at the landing site. She’s not doing too well, brother.”

“Pilot’s en route,” another voice cuts in…cool, direct. “Don’t be late. He won’t wait around.”

“Thanks, Maverick,” Max says, already shifting the bike’s weight like he’s preparing to ride again. “Heading out now.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

Bones

“What’s the location?” I ask, turning to Maverick. My fists are already clenched. “I’m going to meet her.”

“No,” Spike says firmly. “If Muerte shows up and notices you’re missing, he might grow suspicious.”

I turn to him slowly, heat rising up my spine.

“No offense, Spike,” I grind out, jaw tight, voice low and dangerous. “But I don’t give afuck.”

Everyone goes quiet.

I pace once, twice, trying to shove down the fire inside me. My hands won’t stop curling into fists. I should be there. I should be the one pulling her off that goddamn plane, wrapping her in my arms, telling her she’s safe now.

Instead, I’m stuck here, waiting.

Helpless.

Spike watches me, calm but firm. “She’ll be with you soon, brother. And when she is, you can fall apart. But right now? We need you stone cold.”

I stop pacing.

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