Page 53 of Aviator
Riley gives my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “It’s probably just housekeeping, but be careful.”
But my heart sinks as I cautiously peer through the peephole. Instead of the welcome sight of Dean, two figures I never thought I’d see together are standing there—my estranged father and Garrett, my ex-fiancé, the man who shattered my heart after cheating on me.
“Dad? Garrett?” I stammer, shock and disbelief flooding my veins. I yank open the door. “What the hell are you two doing here?” I demand.
My father shifts uncomfortably, his expression a mix of guilt and longing. A young woman with a full, rounded belly stands behind him. This must be the fiancée he was talking about. “Kenna, we. . . we heard about the crash and wanted to make sure you’re okay. Klaire gave me your room number,” he says at my questioning glance.
Garrett avoids my gaze. “I know I messed up, Kenna. I just needed to see you and make sure you’re all right.”
Riley steps up beside me, a protective presence. I glance back at her, my mind racing. What are they doing here? Why now, after everything that’s happened?
“Kenna, I know I’ve made mistakes,” my father continues, his voice wavering. “But I’ve missed you. I want to make things right.”
Garrett finally looks up, his eyes filled with regret. “And I. . . I can’t change what I did, but I want to apologize.”
My emotions churn like a storm, memories and hurt resurfacing. But beneath the anger and pain, I feel a strange sense of detachment. The intensity of the past few days has shifted my perspective, and I look at my father and Garrett as flawed individuals rather than sources of my anguish.
Riley’s presence grounds me, her silent support a lifeline. “You mean, you two saw the news and figured she could be your cash cow. Why do you think she never told you about the money? If that’s why you’re here, you can get your asses home. ’Cause she’s got a new boy toy with lots of big guns.”
I give Riley a wide-eyed look of censure, and she grins back at me. I take a deep breath, my voice steadier than I anticipated. “I appreciate your concern, Dad, Garrett. But right now, I need some time. I’ve been through a lot, and I need to focus on myself. Dad, if you really want to be there for me, you need to start sincerely trying to be around for the girls. I don’t know if I’ll ever forgive you, but they’re still young and could use their father.”
My father’s eyes glisten with unshed tears. “I understand. Just. . . We’re going to get a room in town for the night. Maybe we can have breakfast or something before we head back.”
“That’ll be up to the girls to decide. Later.” I turn to Garrett, my lips pressed into a line. “I’m not exactly sure why you’re here. I was serious when I ended things. We’re not getting back together. I suppose I appreciate the gesture, but I think it’s best if we go our own way from here.”
Garrett nods, a mix of sadness and resignation in his eyes. “Yeah, I figured. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
I nod at both of them. “We need to get some sleep. Ya’ll be safe now.”
As they turn to leave, Riley gently closes the door behind them. I slump against the door, my emotions swirling in a confusing mix. The unexpected encounter leaves me feeling vulnerable and exposed, but it also reinforces the importance of the choices I’ve made in the wake of the crash.
Riley’s hand rests on my back, her presence a steadying force. “Men. What goes through their minds, I’ll never know.”
I meet her gaze, a mixture of determination and weariness in my eyes. “Thanks for having my back.”
She smiles, pride evident in her expression. “That’s what I’m here for. But from my point of view, you handled yourself just fine.”
There’s a third knock at the door, and the girls erupt into veritable gales of laughter from where they’re trying and failing to sleep on the bed. To Riley, I say, “This better not be Mom, or I’ll lose my shit.”
But it’s not Mom when I peer through the peephole.
In fact, it’s the last person I expect.
I open the door. “What are you doing here?”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
DEAN
After she leaves,I can’t settle and don’t sleep worth a damn without her next to me. When I do manage to pass out, I have nightmares about Georgia and Penny and then about Kenna getting shot and me not being able to save her. I can’t bear being in the house without Kenna. I leave later that night after tossing and turning. Gramps is passed out, so I don’t need to worry about him. He’s also got a brand-new watch that he can use to call me if there’s an emergency.
Because I have nothing else to do and want to keep busy, I head to the airport to clear my head. Lawrence usually doesn’t mind if I tool around in the hangar or even take one of the older birds out for a flight. The dimly lit space feels different today, a sense of urgency hanging in the air that has my skin buzzing and my heart pumping with awareness. I have my Glock strapped to my shoulder holster under my jacket just in case, but I hope to fuck I won’t need it.
That hope is dashed the second I step into the main office area and hear the terse whispered voices lifted in argument. I know better than to write anything off as coincidence, and my guard is already up, so I pull out the gun, just in case. Someone’s tried to kill me twice in the last week. I’d rather not make it a third time. The voices quiet, and my hackles rise. What the hell is going on?
I find Lawrence shredding paperwork, his usually composed demeanor replaced by a hint of panic. His generous face is flushed pink, and sweat stains are under his pits and down his back.
It hits me then, like a freight train. Gunfire wouldn’t have been able to bring down the helicopter. I mean, there’s a slight chance, but the odds are so slim it’s next to impossible. But tampering? There are several ways to tamper with an engine to cause a delayed fire to start. Lawrence was the only one who had complete access. He was the one who readied the helicopter for us. He knew where we were going. My mouth goes dry. Lawrence was the one who tried to kill us. Does he have some sort of tie to the drug traffickers?
