Page 4 of Billionaire Wolf Needs a Pilot
“Perfectly normal,” I lied smoothly.The severity wasn’t normal, but panic wouldn’t help the situation.“Just a weather front moving through faster than forecast.I’ve flown this route dozens of times.”
I checked our instruments, running through calculations in my head.We could divert east, attempt to skirt the worst of the system.Or push through, which would be uncomfortable but quicker.The storm hadn’t been on any weather report.It had materialized almost supernaturally fast.
“I don’t pay for detours,” Tanner said, as if reading my thoughts.
I bit back a retort about choosing safety over schedules.Instead, I maintained our heading, hands steady on the controls as we bounced through another patch of rough air.
“We’ll be through this in ten minutes, tops,” I assured him, though I wasn’t entirely convinced myself.Something about this storm felt wrong.It was too intense, too sudden.My pendant seemed to burn against my skin, almost like a warning.
The white enveloped us completely now, visibility reduced to mere feet beyond the windshield.I flew by instruments, trusting the technology and my training more than what my eyes could see.
“You better know what you’re doing,” Tanner muttered, but the usual bite in his voice had softened.
“I always know what I’m doing, Mr.Roberts,” I replied, allowing myself a small smile he couldn’t see.“Especially in the air.”
The Cessna lurched violently, dropping several hundred feet in seconds before I could pull us level again.My stomach flipped, but my hands remained steady.
“That was just a downdraft,” I called out, fighting to keep us stable as more turbulence rattled the small jet.“Common in mountain storms.Nothing the plane can’t handle.”
As if to contradict me, the aircraft shuddered again, more violently this time.Warning lights flickered on my control panel.The de-icing system was struggling against the rapidly forming ice on our wings.
This wasn’t just abnormal weather.This was impossible weather.The conditions outside matched nothing in my years of flight experience.It was almost as if the storm had targeted us specifically.
“Captain!”Bryce’s voice cracked slightly as his training warred with instinct.His face had gone pale, but his hands remained steady on the controls.“Fuel pressure’s fluctuating on the starboard engine.”
I nodded, appreciating his attentiveness.Despite his inexperience, he’d caught the indicator before I had.“Good eye.Compensating now.”
I adjusted the throttle, feeling the subtle shift as the Citation responded.
“Run the emergency checklist, Bryce,” I instructed calmly, watching as he immediately reached for the laminated card without hesitation.His fingers trembled slightly, but his voice remained clear as he read through each item.
“Backup systems engaged.Cross-feeding fuel.”He worked methodically through the procedures every pilot practiced dozens of times in simulation.“Engine parameters stabilizing.”
“Not bad for your fifth flight,” I murmured to Bryce, intentionally loud enough for our passenger to hear.
Bryce’s head snapped up, panic flashing across his features before he caught the teasing glint in my eye.“Very funny, Captain,” he replied, the color returning to his face as he continued monitoring the systems.“For the record, Mr.Roberts, this is actually my twenty-third flight with Captain Foster.And in case you were wondering, Captain Foster has logged over eight thousand flight hours and has a perfect safety record.There’s literally no one better to fly through whatever this is.”
I raised an eyebrow at his newfound boldness.“Careful, Bryce.Compliments go to my head faster than altitude.”
“Just stating facts, Captain,” he replied, his earlier nervousness now replaced with determination as we prepared to navigate back into the storm’s fury.
The plane shuddered as we hit another pocket of turbulence, but this time Bryce matched my adjustments without prompting, his movements becoming more intuitive with each passing minute.Whatever awaited us on the other side of this unnatural storm, at least I could count on my co-pilot.
“I thought you said ten minutes,” Tanner called out.
“Change of plans,” I replied, forcing confidence into my voice as I increased power to the engines.“We’re going up and over.”
I pulled back on the yoke, climbing to find clearer air above the storm.The Cessna fought me, sluggish with the weight of ice forming on its surfaces.
“Come on,” I whispered to the aircraft.“You can do this.”
Through the white chaos outside, a flash of blue sky caught my eye.A way out.I adjusted our heading toward it, heart pounding as the engines strained against the battering winds.
“Hold on, Mr.Roberts,” I called back.“We’re almost through.”
The turbulence intensified for one terrifying moment.The plane shook so violently I feared the wings might tear away.Then suddenly, like breaking through a barrier, we burst into clear, calm air.
Brilliant sunshine streamed through the windshield, nearly blinding me after the storm’s gloom.Below us, the cloud bank boiled like an angry sea, but up here, everything was perfectly still.
