by Sofia Grey
“Fuck.” Nick’s mouth dropped open for a moment, then he snapped into action. “Come on, Lara. Let’s get some bottles of water and food supplies to share.”
“What’s the oscillator?” Daisy asked. “And what’s going to happen at midnight? That’s less than an hour away.”
“It’s bad. And we don’t wanna be in Wellington at midnight. Believe me.”
Kate stood and moved to her husband’s side, taking his hand. “What about my sister? I can’t leave Sophie and Zak if they’re in danger, too.”
“Call them. Tell them to get their asses to the airport. I’ve got to contact my staff as well, and they’re all over the city. It’s a nightmare, but my priority is to get you out of here. Now go pack some things for you and Pops. We can’t delay.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Aiden’s car stopped at the hospital, for Juli to get out. He made sure she had a phone with several key numbers programmed into it.
“Be ready at midnight,” he told her. “Try to get Jack to a safe place and take shelter in a doorway. He’s going to be dopey from surgery, and the staff will resist your attempts to move him. I can’t spare anyone to go with you.”
She nodded, and shivered. Her clothes were still damp and she was chilled to the bone.
Tanner leaned across and placed his hand on her arm as she prepared to climb out of the car. “If you care anything for O’Donnell, get him out of there before it hits.”
“I will.” She held his furious gaze and drew a grudging smile from him before slamming the door and hobbling up the steps into the hospital. She’d no idea how to move Jack, apart from wheeling his bed. Or where to take him to.
She glanced at her watch. Eleven-fifteen. Her first job was to find him.
On the plus side, the hospital was almost deserted at that time of night. However, the flipside meant there was hardly anyone available to ask for help or directions. She found a friendly porter, and he directed her to Level Seven and the general surgical ward.
Level Seven was almost at the top of the building. Would this be safer in an earthquake or more dangerous? Surely the entire hospital would have been constructed with earthquake safety in mind? She asked the porter.
“We get little earthquakes in Wellington all the time,” he assured her. “All the buildings are designed to withstand them.”
“And if it was a big one?”
He shrugged. “I guess we’ll find out if it ever happens, aye?”
She tried to smile. “I’m a visitor here. If there was a quake—a big one—where would be the best place to go? You know—to be safe?”
“Well, the general opinion is to take shelter in a doorway. Either that or outside, well away from falling walls and such.”
Inspiration struck. “I know there’s a helipad here, but can you tell me where it is, please?”
“On the roof, of course.” He looked at her as though she was simple.
Was there enough time to charter a helicopter to take them to safety?
One person had the financial ability to make almost anything possible—Alex Hamilton.
*
Charlie had Sylvie’s phone tucked into his pocket and her PIN memorized. He wanted to text Daisy again but held himself back. She promised to see him when he returned to Plimmerton, and that wouldn’t be long now they’d landed in Wellington.
He strode through the hall with the others, eager to find their car, when AJ tugged at his arm.
“Wait up, man. Jordan needs to speak to us urgently.”
It had to be about Callum.
The airport was quiet, and they huddled around AJ’s phone on speaker.
“We’re here,” said AJ.
“I don’t have time to explain, but this is important. We’re on our way to the airport right now. We all need to leave the city before midnight. I’ve chartered a private jet. It’s prepping for immediate departure, so if you’re at the airport now, make your way to Gate 14 and wait for us there.”
“Is this something to do with Cal?” AJ asked.
“No, there’s no news. I’ll explain when we’re all safely on board. But Alex, we have to leave. I can’t tell you how urgent this is.”
“Okay. Do you have Daisy and everyone else with you?”
“Yep, and we’ll be there in ten minutes. While you’re waiting, go buy bottled water and snacks to carry with you—chocolate, cookies and the like. Got that?”
“Yeah. We’ll go do that now. Gate 14, did you say?”
Jordan confirmed the gate number and terminated the call. They all stared at each other with similar baffled expressions.
“I’ve got an urgent message to call Tanner,” said Jean-Luc. “I’ll see what he says. In the meantime, I suggest you follow Jordan’s directions. I’ll catch up with you in a couple minutes.”
They were queuing to pay for the shopping, when Jean-Luc raced to them. “Tanner briefed me. Get this lot paid for, and then we need to get our asses to the gate. There’s no time to lose.”
*
One of the numbers in Juli’s phone was for Jean-Luc, who was with Alex. Juli took a moment to compose herself, and then called him.
“Hey,” he said. “I just talked to Tanner. Any news?”
“Nothing. I need to talk to Alex urgently, is he with you?”
A moment later, Alex said, “Juli, we’re a bit busy at the moment. Can it wait?”
“No. This is about Jack O’Donnell. He’s in hospital in Wellington, and I need to move him. Are you able to arrange a helicopter for us? I’m asking you because I know you can afford it and Jack works for you.” She didn’t give him chance to interrupt. “And I don’t know who else to ask. Please, will you help him?”
There was a pause. She heard a muffled PA announcement in the background.
“Leave it with me. Get him to the helipad, Juli, and I’ll get someone there to pick you up.”
“Thank you. So much.” Tears pressed at the backs of her eyes. She had a fighting chance to get Jack to safety, and she’d grab it with both hands.
*
Charlie had no clue what was going on, but he helped Sylvie carry several bags of drinks and snacks as directed, as they waited for Jordan and the others. AJ and Lucky followed a few minutes later. Behind them was a crowd of people, with Jordan and Kate at the front. Bloody hell, how many were with him?
Daisy slipped away from the group and hurried to Charlie’s side, smiling up at him as though he was the nicest thing she’d seen all day.
“Hey.” He couldn’t help smiling back.
“Hey, Charlie.”
Without even thinking about it, he reached out to take her hand and mesh their fingers together. It felt good. Way better than he deserved. “What’s going on, Daisy? We got a message that we were leaving, but I don’t know any more about it.”
A frown crept across her face, and she rubbed her eyes. “I don’t know, but it’s something serious.”
He squeezed her fingers. “I’m glad you’re here.”
They were interrupted by Jordan, who strode to the front of the group. “Okay, folks. We’re ready to board. Let’s go.”
Charlie had no intention of letting go of Daisy. They walked through the gate and out onto the tarmac together. The rain felt more like a monsoon, as they hurried toward the steps. Daisy’s phone rang as they reached the plane.
Charlie tugged her hand, but she stood still while the others surged past them.
“Oh my God,” she said. “It’s you.”
Who is it? Charlie mouthed, but Daisy ignored him, looking around wildly.
She clamped one hand over the phone. “Where’s Alex? It’s Joni. On my phone.”
*
After all the shocks and surprises today, Daisy should have been expecting this call. She needed to get Alex, right away.
He was on board, helping Jordan and Nick direct people to seats, but when Daisy shouted to him, he made his way to where she stood in the little galley. Charlie squeezed in too, one arm around her wai
st. It helped to ground her. She no longer felt so alone.
Daisy held up the phone and hit the speaker button.
“Hello, this is Alex.”
“Hello, AJ. Long time, no speak.”
His jaw looked so tight, Daisy was surprised he could speak. “Where are you, Joni?” he asked. “And where’s Callum? Are you still in Wellington?”
“He’s fine.” Joni sounded hesitant. Nervous perhaps. “He’s with me now, asleep.”
“Are you going to bring him back to us? We love him very much.”
There was a long silence. Daisy clenched her fingers around the phone. How hard must this be for Alex? He had to be nice to Joni, though the prospect must make his skin crawl.
“I thought I could make it up to him.” Joni’s voice faded.
Sylvie snuck under Alex’s arm, and clung to her husband.
“Joni, who do you mean?” Alex sounded amazingly calm.
“Sam.”
Behind Alex, Jordan tapped his watch and made a wind-up signal. For whatever reason, he wanted this plane to take off soon. Alex needed to finish the call quickly.
“Joni,” he continued, “I’m at the airport right now. Can you please tell me where you are? I can come get you both.”
Soft sobbing came down the line. Daisy’s last nerve was stretched.
“Joni, please talk to me,” said Alex. “Tell me where you are. I can make everything okay. I promise nobody is going to do anything to you. You have my word. Just let me take Callum back.”
“Plimmerton.” She sighed. “I was bringing him. He kept crying for you. But there’s nobody here. The house is dark and empty. Have you left?”
Jesus. She’d gone to the house.
“Stay there, Joni. I’m guessing you’re in a car?”
“Yes. I’m sitting outside the house you stayed at. The one I saw on the news.”
“Okay, that’s fine. It’s brilliant, really.” Alex glanced at his watch. “I want you to stay there, in the car. I can be there in half an hour. You’ll stay there and wait for me?”
Another long-drawn delay. Daisy felt like screaming.
“I’ll wait for you. You promise you’ll look after me, AJ?”
“Yes, Joni. I promise. I have to hang up now. I’ll see you soon.” He nodded to Daisy, and she disconnected.
The flight attendant stepped forward. “We need you to take your seats, please. We’ll be taking off in a few minutes.”
Alex rubbed a hand across his face. He turned to Jordan and spoke urgently. “I have to leave. I have to get Callum.”
Jordan’s face looked pinched in the artificial lighting. He shook his head. “I’m sorry, Alex, but we can’t wait for you. I have to make sure the others get to safety, but I’ll come with you.”
“No.” Charlie gave Daisy a squeeze. “This is my turn to step up. I’m responsible for Joni taking Callum. If anyone’s going with AJ, it’s me.”
Tears shone in the corners of Sylvie’s eyes. “I have to come too—”
“No, Sylvie. You have to stay on board.” Jordan was firm.
“And so do you.” Jean-Luc had been listening too. “Someone needs to head up this group, Jordan, and they’re your responsibility. I’m the best trained for this. The minute we get off, for fuck’s sake, get this plane in the air.”
*
Jack came around after surgery, was given painkillers, and moved to a small ward, before being settled into a bed. Someone in scrubs assured him that there wasn’t much damage and his leg would be fine.
Jack settled down to sleep.
He woke to hear his name being called. Except that it was his old nickname, Donny. Only one person ever called him that. The drugs they used must be good. He tried to drift back again.
The voice became more insistent, and Jack reluctantly cracked his eyes open. Rico stood by the side of the bed, grinning down at him. Okay, now Jack knew these drugs were strong. Rico had been dead for over a year. Jack had carried his friend’s lifeless body. There was no mistake.
“Hey, Rico.” What the hell—if he was dreaming, he might as well enjoy the conversation.
“Donny, you need to wake up.”
“I am awake. You woke me. I’d like to go back to sleep now.”
“Sorry, pal. Juli’s on her way up, and you need to be ready to leave.”
“Juli? Coming to see me?”
“Yep. But Donny, you really need to get out of here. And quickly.”
Jack closed his eyes again, sleep claiming him. It felt like seconds later that someone took his hand. This time, when he opened his eyes, he saw Juli.
She smiled at him, tears trickling down her cheeks. “Hey, you.”
Maybe this was another dream? “Hey, yourself. Rico said you were coming. Something about us leaving?”
Her eyes opened wide. “How did you know? But yes. We need to get out of here. Fast.”
*
Daisy still had no idea why they needed to leave in such a hurry, but it had to be important. And now Charlie was getting off the plane with Alex and Lucky. Sylvie had to be stopped by Jordan from following them.
Daisy snatched Charlie’s arm as he hurried past. She had time to press the fastest kiss onto his lips, before Alex hustled him out through the door. Things were a million miles from being resolved between her and Charlie, but something told her she’d regret it if she didn’t.
The flight attendant hauled the door closed, and then sat down, fastening his own seatbelt while the engines revved up. Within seconds they were taxiing toward the runway.
It was silent inside the cabin, apart from Sylvie’s quiet sobbing. Jordan sat next to her and held her in his arms, talking soothingly to her. Once they levelled out in the air, he stood and moved to the front to address, them as a group.
“This feels weird. I can’t believe it’s happening.” He paused and rubbed his chin. “Juli Pascal, one of my employees, had developed a particular piece of technology which has fallen into the wrong hands. An arms dealer. He’s used it to create a machine that can actually trigger earthquakes, or so he claims, and he’s supposedly arranged for one to be set off tonight at midnight. If the information is accurate, there could be a massive quake in Wellington, which is why we’re in such a hurry. I’ve filed a flight plan for us to head to Sydney. If it’s all a false alarm, we’ll refuel there and come back.”
Sylvie spoke up, her voice little more than a whisper. “Alex, Charlie, and Lucky have gone to Plimmerton to get Callum. How safe will they be?”
Jordan was silent for a long moment. “It depends on if it actually happens. It might not.”
“But if it does?”
“Plimmerton could be badly affected.”
He didn’t say anything more. He didn’t need to.
Daisy unclipped her belt and hurried to Sylvie’s side. Her on/off lover had gone too. Perhaps out of everyone on the plane, Daisy best understood how Sylvie felt. There was nothing they could do. Sydney was at least four hours away.
*
Unless Charlie had missed something, there seemed to be no reason why Jordan insisted on this mad dash from Wellington.
In the short period since they boarded the plane, the storm had intensified, soaking them as they ran across the tarmac.
Lucky barked instructions into his phone, while steering them toward the main entrance.
“I’m getting one of Jordan’s cars,” he shouted over the noise of the storm. “The driver will be here any minute.”
Shortly after, with Lucky behind the wheel, AJ asked the question on Charlie’s lips. “Will you tell us what the fuck is going on?”
Lucky launched into a ridiculous story about a madman with a plan to create an earthquake at midnight.
Charlie huffed a laugh, but Lucky didn’t join him. If anything, the guy looked more serious. Fuck. Could it be for real?
AJ gazed at Charlie from the front seat of the car. “Do you want to go back, mate? Cal is my responsibility, not yours. I wouldn’t hold it a
gainst you.” He mustn’t know yet that Cal was also Charlie’s nephew. He probably thought the headlines were made up to sell the story.
Though Charlie’d still be by AJ’s side as his friend.
Charlie shook his head in reply. “No, man. We do this together.”
Traffic was light as Lucky raced through the darkened city streets and out onto the motorway. With luck, they’d be back in Plimmerton soon. He seemed to ignore the torrential rain, driving through the puddles and standing water with a grim determination.
Charlie still had Sylvie’s phone in his pocket and enough time to text Daisy after composing a message in his head. He wanted to get this right. He might not get another chance.
Daisy, I know this is risky, but I need to go with AJ. Cal is my nephew too. I hope you get away and that none of this shit happens tonite. But if it does, and we don’t come back, I want you to know that I love you and I’m sorry for everything. If we get thru this, I want to make it up to you. Love you, C x
He re-read it. His vision blurred as he hit the Send button.
Seconds later, AJ’s phone chirruped.
“—the fuck?” AJ glanced at him, an agonized expression on his face. “I kept hold of Daisy’s phone. She gave it to me when Joni called.” He paused and stared at Charlie hard. “I read your text.”
*
Juli held Jack’s hand for a long moment, enjoying the feel of his skin and the happy, doped-up smile on his face. How did they get to this? Why didn’t she trust him when he asked?
The ward nurse popped her head around the curtains of his cubicle. “You can only stay for a minute. Your husband needs his rest.”
Jack’s eyes widened when the nurse retreated. “I know I’m dreaming now.” His voice was adorably croaky. He squeezed Juli’s fingers. “I haven’t asked you to marry me yet.”
“Idiot,” she murmured, smiling down at him. Even bruised and scuffed, he looked sexy as hell. “I had to say we were married, otherwise she wouldn’t let me in.”
‘Mmm huh.” He tugged her closer for a kiss.
She could have stayed there all night, but she had to make him understand the urgency. “Jack, we have to move. I have to get you out of here. Now.”
His brow wrinkled, but his gaze looked sharper. “What’s happening? Where’s Tanner?”