My Best Friend's Father (A Best Friend's Series Book 3)

by Eliza Ellis

  “Relax,” Marshall commanded. The plane picked up speed, jerking them around as it ran over bumps along the runway. “We’ll be fine.”

  “You can’t promise that,” Jarod snapped.

  “I can promise to put you to sleep for the duration of the flight if you don’t shut up,” Marshall replied in a cool tone, his hard gaze on Jarod. Jarod looked away, his pale face holding a defiant grimace.

  The plane’s nose lifted, and they were in the air. Kori let out a sigh of relief. She slipped her hand beneath his arm and gripped it. Marshall wanted to cover her hand with his own, but Jarod’s eyes were only a few feet away. Marshall inched closer to Kori to hide her hand with his body.

  “Looks like we took off just in time,” Kori whispered.

  Marshall winked at her. “Why are you trying to jinx it?”

  Kori chuckled and squeezed his arm. “I’m not! I’m glad we made it, but I’m sorry we didn’t get to spend any time in Bendola.”

  “Same here. They have a gorgeous beach—”

  A loud noise erupted right outside the plane, which violently tilted in response. They let out sounds of shock.

  The pilot came over the intercom. “I’m sorry, folks, but we have to make an emergency landing.”

  “What? We just got off the ground!” Jarod cried out.

  Kori’s gaze was trained on the window behind Marshall’s head. “The engine is out! We’re going down!”

  Marshall’s head whipped around. Kori was right. Thick, black smoke billowed past the window. The steward rushed past them toward the front of the plane, nearly crashing into a wall when the plane tilted again. Marshall strained to hear the pilot’s message over the intercom system. He’d said something about an engine, and then he was frantically speaking, probably to the control tower.

  The plane shifted unexpectedly. Kori let out a yelp as she fell over and onto Marshall’s lap. The nose of the plane shifted up, and she fell back, taking Marshall with her. He quickly righted himself and readjusted his seatbelt.

  “I think the pilot is trying to level her out,” Marshall said.

  “Can’t wait,” Kori said sarcastically. She clung to Marshall, who gripped the armrest to his right side.

  “Are you scared?”

  Her gaze met his. “I’m fine. I like rollercoasters.”

  Marshall grinned. “Same here. Although I haven’t been on one in years.”

  “Me neither.” She rolled her eyes.

  One incessant sound kept hitting Marshall’s ears and distracting his focus. When he found the source, he grimaced.

  Jarod.

  Jarod was yelling at the top of his lungs over the attendant who was yelling instructions through the intercom system.

  “Shut up!” Kori cried out.

  Jarod’s mouth snapped closed, and he wildly stared at Kori. She tightened her arm around Marshall’s and pressed herself as close to him as she possibly could. Marshall couldn’t stop the boost to his ego if he wanted to. If they weren’t going to make it, he was going to relish every bit of their last moments. Their last touches.

  Marshall wrapped his right arm around her body and wrestled to keep them steady against the dip and shifts of the plane.

  Kori looked outside the window. “I see water! I think it’s the ocean.”

  They had made it over the forested area and the beach. The plane wasn’t in a nosedive, thankfully, and was descending at a fairly steady pace. They had a chance if they could land on the water.

  “We’re doing great, everybody,” the pilot said over the intercom. “Attendants, prepare for a water landing.”

  Kori and Marshall stared at each other. “Are you okay?” she said.

  “Perfectly fine.” Half-truth. He was scared not for himself, but for her. If she got hurt, it would be his fault, and he’d never forgive himself. “You?”

  She grinned. “Doing okay, all things considered. You did say this job would be an adventure. Marshall Buchanan, you don’t disappoint.”

  Marshall’s eyes went to the ceiling. “Not the kind of adventure I meant.”

  Kori laughed nervously. “Still, you could use it to leverage more time with the company. They put our lives in danger, after all. I hope it’s not insensitive to ask for another raise, or at least a one-time bonus.”

  Marshall’s eyes narrowed. Kori’s lips widened into a Cheshire cat-like smile. “Devious. Absolutely diabolical.”

  “I’m being paid to make you look good, sir. I take my job very seriously. I believe I’ve told you that.”

  Marshall was in love. No doubt about it. Not because he could always count on this woman to stroke his ego, but because she could be a partner he could trust. He had a feeling she would be right here, by his side, even if she weren’t getting paid.

  At least he hoped so.

  A nagging thought of doubt emerged. She couldn’t possibly love him back. She was getting paid to make him look good. If she weren’t, he would be some old guy she was clinging to because the plane was going down.

  That was all it could ever be.

  Marshall looked away and cursed under his breath. Life had been fairly decent, but now it was in a full-blown nosedive with a jet engine attached. Thankfully, only one jet engine. He was a successful businessman who was unsuccessful in life and would have to start from the bottom again in both. He didn’t want to die with this plane, but with it, he hoped to make a fresh start.

  And he certainly didn’t want to lose Kori. If they survived this, he’d make it his mission to start his life fresh with her.

  They followed the flight attendant’s instructions and put their heads between their legs. Kori gripped his hand, and Marshall squeezed back.

  “Marshall!”

  “I’m here.”

  “I’m sorry for everything.”

  He shook his head, constrained by his legs. “No deathbed confessions. We’re not going to die.”

  Her head peeked out from behind her legs, and he saw her tearstained face. “I just don’t want to have never said it.”

  “You have nothing to be sorry about.”

  “Thank you for everything,” she whispered.

  “Stop it!”

  “What are you saying?” Jarod cried out.

  Marshall groaned. Even with the plane going down, this guy was trying to dig up dirt on the two of them.

  The plane shifted again, and this time, it was enough for all three of them to cry out. More papers went flying. Glasses that weren’t already shattered broke against the walls of the plane. The pilot’s voice came over the intercom saying a water landing was imminent and to prepare. Marshall’s and Kori’s gazes clung to one another and then…impact.

  Marshall felt himself being lurched to his right side and instantly felt a sharp pain around his middle where the seatbelt dug into his waist. Kori still gripped his hand, squeezing so tight it had gone numb. The pitch of Jarod’s scream reached a new octave, irritating Marshall’s inner ears.

  After a few moments, the plane settled, Jarod finally stopped screaming, and Marshall rose up. Kori came with him, looking frantically about.

  “Kori.” With a hand on her cheek, he guided her eyes back to him. “Are you okay?”

  She clutched his hand and nodded. “You?”

  “I think I broke my hip.”

  Her eyes widened, and her hands went to his seatbelt.

  Marshall chuckled. “I’m kidding, but the seatbelt is definitely going to leave a bruise.”

  Her eyes were full of water when they lifted back to his. He threw caution to the wind. He no longer cared about the consequences. They survived a plane crash, for Pete’s sake. He was going to kiss the girl.

  He cupped her head in his hands and drew her close. Their lips met in a passionate kiss. His lips lingered on hers, and then he placed kisses on her cheeks and the tip of her nose. He tasted salty tears and smiled against her lips. When he opened his eyes, over her shoulder he saw Jarod’s still-crazed gaze on the two of them. He had a story
to tell the board.

  Marshall moved his focus to the woman he still held. She was smiling up at him. “I guess you are okay.”

  Marshall returned her smile. “Sorry about that.”

  She shook her head. “I’m not,” she whispered.

  “Neither am I.”

  “I know.” She winked.

  His hands dropped, and he frowned. “I am sorry about Jarod though.” His voice was low.

  She glanced over her shoulder. Jarod was now red-faced and looking highly annoyed. Kori sighed. “Well, he can’t blame you for the plane crashing.”

  “But he will tell the board about the kiss.”

  Kori shrugged. “Let him tell them. This isn’t Brigham all over again. You’re a different man. One I trust.” She took his hands in hers and brought them to her lap. She squeezed them. “It’s been an incredible adventure. The best week I’ve had in a long time.”

  Marshall sighed and leaned back against the seat. “It’s not over yet.”

  The attendants asked if everyone was okay. The only person to complain was Jarod, who went on and on about how he was going to sue the maker of the airplane, the pilots, everyone. Marshall had to order him to keep his mouth shut. They were still on the water and had to be rescued.

  The attendants followed protocol, inflating boats outside of the aircraft and guiding everyone into the boats. Kori remained composed, and Marshall took the opportunity to hold her close, not knowing how long it would last. Jarod kept quiet, but his angry gaze remained on both Kori and Marshall. Marshall wanted to know what was in it for the young man to keep his attention on the two of them. A pay raise? A promotion? What had been promised?

  “My cell!” Marshall said after they had been seated in the boats and had rowed a short distance away from the plane.

  “I have it,” Kori said. She reached inside her messenger bag and pulled out his jacket.

  “How in the world did you manage to snag your bag? And my jacket?” Marshall took the phone from her and breathed a sigh of relief. He had reception; one bar, but it would be enough to get a call or message through.

  “Yeah, your jacket hit me in the face at one point.”

  Marshall sputtered a laugh. At her look of annoyance, he muttered, “Sorry.”

  “Your cell hit the side of my head.” She rubbed her head, and Marshall’s hand came up from her shoulder to assist. “I was able to grab the strap of my bag before it flew off the table next to me.”

  “I’m going to try to get a message to Perry.”

  “The tower knows we’ve gone down. They should be sending rescue boats for us,” the female attendant said.

  “I wonder who shot at us,” Marshall said.

  “There it is!” Kori pointed to a boat coming rapidly toward them. “That was fast. Do they have boats patrolling the water?”

  The male attendant shook his head. “I don’t think so.”

  “The country has a limited coast guard,” Marshall offered. “Very few capabilities.”

  “That doesn’t look like a rescue boat,” Jarod said, peering at the craft. “I think that’s just somebody’s speedboat.”

  In a couple of minutes, the boat pulled up alongside their own. Marshall read the words Knight’s Shield on the side. Wasn’t that a security company?

  “You guys look like you need a little help.” A young blond male stood on the deck with his hands on his hips.

  Marshall stood. “We do. Who are you?”

  “Daemon Knight. We’ll get you pulled right up.”

  Kori looked at Marshall. “Why does that name sound familiar?”

  “His father is Arthur Knight,” Jarod said. “A billionaire. They’ve got holdings in a ton of companies. Daemon runs a protection service company. Elite clients only. He’s the heir-apparent.”

  “Wonder what he’s doing all the way over here,” Kori muttered.

  “I don’t care,” Marshall said. “As long as we can get back to the mainland and get another plane out of here.”

  “We were in the right place at the right time,” Daemon said, taking Kori’s hand and helping her on board. Marshall watched from the boat, waiting until everyone was successfully off the rafts before he boarded.

  “We saw the smoke plume from your plane’s engine. Thought you were in trouble,” Daemon continued, “and we figured we better stay close by. You were already losing altitude.”

  “Thank you,” Kori said as she settled onto a bench on the side of the boat. “I don’t even know how we lost the engine.”

  Marshall offered an outstretched hand to Daemon. “Thank you, sir. We really appreciate it.”

  “It’s my pleasure, really.”

  “What are you doing here?”

  “I’m here on assignment.”

  “Are you protecting someone?” Marshall looked around the boat. Outside the people on the plane, he saw no except the crew.

  “Maybe. This place is a powder keg that’s about to blow. I was doing a quick survey of water routes for an exit out.” Marshall sat next to Kori. “And what probably happened is rebels got to your plane. We’ve had reports of recent tampering of transportation vehicles by rebel forces. They’re trying to keep the dictator and any of his staff from leaving the country. If they get out, then they’ll have a shot at keeping power.”

  “If they get captured—”

  “They could potentially face the justice system of the next government.”

  Marshall nodded. It made sense. If it were just some punks or even a terrorist group, he would be angry. But he understood the Bendolans wanted to be rid of their despot, and he sympathized. “Well, they shot the wrong plane.”

  Daemon’s mouth twisted into a smirk. “They aren’t taking any chances.”

  “We need to get to Italy. Any way you can help us out? Even getting us back to shore would be great.”

  “Italy? That shouldn’t be a problem. As long as you don’t mind finding another flight out in a neighboring country.”

  Marshall and Kori exchanged glances. That would mean more traveling, probably by land or sea.

  “Don’t worry about it,” Daemon said with a smile. “I’ve got you covered. Once we reach shore, I’ll have a driver pick you up. I’ll arrange for a boat to take you north. It won’t be a yacht, but it’ll get you where you need to go. Are you two on your honeymoon?” He directed the question to Marshall and Kori.

  Kori grinned and ducked her face. Marshall cleared his throat. “Uh, no. We’re with Buchanan Financial. I’m Marshall Buchanan.”

  “Ah. Planning on investing in Bendola?”

  Marshall eyed Daemon with slight suspicion, now that he knew who Daemon’s father was. Arthur Knight was ruthless in how he acquired his holdings. He’d met the man once at a function and was left with a strong distaste in his mouth. Daemon didn’t give him a similar impression at all, but how much was the younger Knight cut from the same cloth? “It’s possible.”

  Daemon winked. “Whatever you decide, let me know. Maybe we can partner on some ventures together.”

  Like his father, the young man saw opportunities. Marshall smiled. “I’ll keep that in mind.” A partnership with Arthur Knight would be incredibly lucrative, but he hadn’t pursued one because of the challenges of dealing with Arthur. Fending off Arthur’s inevitable strong-arm tactics to acquire Buchanan Financial wasn’t something Marshall was keen to face. But since the board was going to fire him, what difference did it make now? Partnering with Daemon Knight? That probably wouldn’t be a bad thing.

  His board might even like the idea and keep Marshall on.

  Chapter 16

  Kori’s palms sweated as she heard the fourth ring. If Sabrina didn’t pick up, then her stomach would finally be able to rest. Then again, if she didn’t pick up, that would only delay the inevitable.

  She had to tell her best friend the truth. There wasn’t any way around it. Kori had to go through. Jarod saw her and Marshall kiss on the plane. If Jarod was a spy for the board, then it wa
s only a matter of time before Kori would get the call that would put her on a plane back home. Sabrina would want to know the truth: if her father had anything to do with it.

  Yes. Yes, he did. He had everything to do with it, but in the most beautiful way possible. Too bad it was a dream that couldn’t ever come true.

  “Oh, so you finally call,” Sabrina answered in a clipped voice. “It’s only been a couple of days.”

  Kori went cold, the sweat evaporating. “I’m sorry. I should’ve called sooner, but it’s been so hectic. We got back, and then the board allowed us a few days off because of the—”

  “I managed to hear from my dad. Your plane crashed into the Atlantic, and you were stranded in Ghana for a day.”

  “Good! Then you knew we were okay.” Kori stopped talking. She didn’t have a ready excuse for why she hadn’t at least texted her friend that she was okay. She didn’t know Marshall would’ve phoned her, but of course he would—he’s her dad. He’d want to tell his daughter that he had just survived a harrowing experience.

  Kori, on the other hand, had been holed up in her hotel room, refusing to show her face. She did her work from her room while Marshall made trips back and forth to the office after getting the okay from his doctor that his seatbelt only bruised his hip bone and he would be fine. Jarod had taken advantage of having several days off, but who knew what he had said—if anything.

  As far as both Kori and Marshall knew, Jarod hadn’t spoken to the board about their kiss, although Marshall said he’d keep his ear to the ground. It was half the reason why he continued to go into the office; he wanted to find out as soon as possible, to shield Kori.

  “You’ve got something to tell me, don’t you?” Sabrina asked after a few moments of silence. “Why don’t you cut the small talk and get it out.”

  Kori’s mouth snapped shut. Sabrina was sharp around the edges, but she’d never spoken to her in this way—unless it was to motivate her. Kori didn’t feel motivated at all. She felt like a cornered mouse about to get slaughtered by a cat.

  Sabrina laughed harshly. “Oh, come on. You can’t be this much of a coward. Not when you were so strategic in setting things up for yourself.”