The Billionaire's Passion
Page 5
“The problem is, we need a pilot,” I say. “Somebody you can trust, who won’t ask questions, even if he knows who we are. Somebody who would never tell the authorities.”
Connor nods and smiles. “I’ve got just the guy.”
21
We’re almost ready to leave.
“We can go out the way we came in,” Grant protests.
“You’re already showered and your clothes are clean,” Connor says. “Besides, you’ve fucked up my bedroom wall enough for one day.”
“But this puts you at even greater risk.”
“Better that than you get caught crawling out of my air ducts.”
Grant shakes his head. “It wouldn’t happen.”
Connor snorts in amusement. “Said the guy whose illicit art collection just got exposed to all the world.”
I hug Lily. “Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome,” she smiles. “Good luck…”
Connor shakes my hand. “I was serious about using your help after all this is over.”
“I’ll come see you,” I say, not adding what I’m really thinking:
If we make it out alive.
Connor shakes Grant’s hand. “We square after this? I don’t want any phone calls like, ‘Hey, man, I need a lift to Morocco.’”
“We’re more than square. I owe you now.”
“Don’t forget it. In case Lily and I ever go on the lam,” Connor jokes, then turns to his bodyguard. “Take good care of them, Johnny.”
“You got it.”
Johnny, Grant, and I walk into the penthouse’s private elevator.
As the door closes, I can’t help but think that Connor and Lily’s expressions are like people who think they’re never going to see someone again.
22
After an hour-long drive, Johnny opens the trunk of the Rolls Royce, spilling sunlight in on me and Grant. “Rise and shine.”
We crawl out of the trunk onto the tarmac. The airstrip is small, with only a few hangars on the property. At the end of the runway sits a small Gulfstream, ready to go.
“That’s it?” Grant asks.
“That’s the one. Mike’s waiting for you inside,” Johnny confirms.
“Thanks for everything,” Grant says as he shakes Johnny’s hand.
The bodyguard sighs. “Good luck, you crazy kids.”
Then he gets in the car and drives off.
The walk down the tarmac is nerve-wracking. I’m half expecting the cops to jump out of the woodwork – or maybe a fake FBI SWAT team.
But no one appears, and we board the plane through its open doorway.
There’s a guy in the cockpit checking the gauges and throwing switches. Maybe 45, with salt-and-pepper hair.
“You Mike?” Grant asks.
“Yup. You’re the cargo?” he asks gruffly without turning around.
Grant nods. “Yeah – I’m – ”
“No names,” the guy interrupts.
“…okay…”
“According to Connor, this is a black ops type deal. As such, it’s just me and you guys. No crew, so you’re going to have to pour your own champagne.”
Grant’s not exactly happy about the guy’s tone. “We won’t be needing any champagne.”
“Whatever you say. Food’s in the crew area. You’ll need some, it’s a seven-hour flight. Take-off’s in five.”
“Are you going to be able to pilot this thing alone?”
The guy pauses and looks back at us with a vaguely amused expression. “Yes.”
“Isn’t that dangerous, not having a co-pilot?”
“Flying F-16s in Iraq was dangerous, son. This is a cakewalk.”
Grant and I exchange looks.
The pilot goes back to his pre-flight check. “Take-off’s in four. Better buckle up.”
23
The take-off goes smoothly, and we settle in for the long flight.
The cabin is sumptuous but small. Completely unlike Grant’s plane – which makes sense for a small jet kept off the record books, to be used only when ‘the shit hits the fan.’
But since there isn’t any real privacy, there isn’t any hanky-panky this time around.
“It’s almost noon, so that should put us into France around 7PM Eastern time, which is… 1AM local time,” Grant calculates.
Connor arranged to have us land at a small private airfield, where Mike would get refueled and then turn around and head back.
“What’s the plan once we get to France?” I ask.
“I have some property in Paris – ”
“We can’t use it.”
“It’s owned by a shell company.”
“What, Palladin Terminus Inc.?”
Grant gives me a dirty look.
“I found it when I was trying to get my cell phone back from you,” I say. “If I know about it, you can bet Epicurus does.”
Grant shrugs. “Fine. We’ll find some empty place like we did in New York, and we’ll lie low while I contact my guys.”
“What, do you have more billionaire friends you can call in favors from?”
“Something like that.”
I nestle against his shoulder and stare out the window.
“We’re going to be fine,” Grant says quietly.
“I know,” I whisper.
“We’re going to find out who he is, and we’re going to catch him.”
“What do we do about your art collection being on the evening news? What do we do about staying out of prison? What do we do about – ”
“One step at a time, Eve. One step at a time.”
24
We doze on the flight. We eat roast beef sandwiches from the fridge in the crew gallery. We talk, and theorize, and try to come up with a plan.
But by the end of the flight, I’m still as unsure about finding Epicurus as I was at the beginning.
At least we have a few things in our favor. We have about $45,000 left, and the other contents of the backpack – plus a new laptop Connor gave me that I have set up for what I need.
I just hope it’s enough.
It’s almost one AM when Mike comes over the intercom. “Okay, kids, we just entered French airspace. We’ll be landing in twenty minutes.”
Grant kisses me. “Still time to join the Mile High Club.”
“I already joined, remember? Multiple times.”
“You could earn frequent flyer miles.”
“Next time,” I smile. “When we’re not on the run from international authorities.”
“That might be awhile.”
The landing strip is tiny, with only a few lights to guide our way in through the darkness. Nevertheless, Mike guides us in as smooth as silk.
As we unbuckle and stretch our legs, I look out the window. It’s dark all around us, but Paris’s lights shimmer in the distance.
With the engines still running, Mike sticks his head out of the cockpit.
“Thank you,” Grant says, and extends his hand.
Mike shakes it. “You’re welcome.”
Grant turns to leave, but something in me can’t leave without saying my final piece.
I turn back to Mike. “When you find out who we are, I want you to know… we’re not bad people.”
Mike regards me silently for a few seconds, then says, “I know who you are.”
That takes me by surprise. “You do?”
Mike gives a wry half-smile. “I watch the news.”
I don’t know what to say to that.
It doesn’t matter, because Mike continues, “I would’ve known who you were as soon as you got onboard. Connor knew that, so he told me upfront. Gave me a choice.”
“And you still agreed to do it?”
“For a price.” Mike gestures with his head towards Grant. “Plus, Connor said he’d trust your boyfriend there with his life. And I trust Connor, so… we’re good.”
I blush. “He’s not my – ”
“Figure of speech.”
“Thank
you again,” Grant says to Mike, then puts his hand on my shoulder. “We need to go.”
“I know…” I say, then turn to Mike again. “Thanks.”
“Good luck.”
“We’ll need it.”
Mike smiles wryly again. “I figure you will.”
Grant goes to open the gangplank door –
Suddenly lights go on all around the plane, turning the cabin as bright as noonday.
“This is the Police Nationale!” a French-accented voice reverberates over a loudspeaker. “You are under arrest – exit the airplane immediately!”
The next and final installment, The Billionaire’s Obsession, will be a full-length novel available around Christmas, 2015.
Meanwhile, if you haven’t read any of my other books, I highly recommend this one, so you can find out who Connor and Lily are:
ALL THAT HE WANTS Volume 1
The Billionaire’s Seduction Parts 1-4
You can read the first installment in the series for free: All That He Wants Part 1 - free on Amazon
To be notified as soon as new installments are released, go to OliviaThorneBooks.com and fill out the form. Make sure my automatic email reply doesn’t wind up in your Spam folder!
Books By Olivia Thorne
ALL THAT HE WANTS Volume 1
The Billionaire’s Seduction Parts 1-4
Over one passionate weekend, mysterious Connor leads Lily through a world of sensual delights - but every forbidden fruit comes with a price. Connor is not the man he claims to be, and dangerous figures from his past are lurking in the shadows, waiting to destroy him – and Lily, too, if she gets in their way.
You can read the first installment in this series for free: All That He Wants Part 1 - free on Amazon
ALL THAT HE LOVES Volume 2
The Billionaire’s Seduction Parts 5-7
It has been the most thrilling and sensual week of Lily’s life, but all that is about to change. Enemies from Connor’s past have resurfaced, determined to destroy him – and they plan to use Lily to do it. Will Lily and Connor’s love for each other survive the destruction all around them?
ROCK ME HARD
The Rock Star’s Seduction Part 1
Kaitlyn gets her big break as a journalist, but it’s the one job she doesn’t want: a Rolling Stone cover article on rock star Derek Kane, the ultra-hot, bad-boy rocker who spent one unforgettable night with her four years ago.
ROCK ALL NIGHT
The Rock Star’s Seduction Part 2
Four years after one passionate night together, Kaitlyn is finally face to face with Derek Kane once again. Kaitlyn is wary. But Derek is gorgeous, charismatic, and seductive – and he still seems to be in love with her. The longer Kaitlyn holds out, the more she wants to give in to him… body and soul…
HARD AS ROCK
The Rock Star’s Seduction Part 3
Betrayal. Heartbreak. Devastation. Kaitlyn is reeling from the events of the last book, and flees back to New York to heal. All her dreams and hopes seem dead… but could she find happiness with someone else waiting in the wings? Or will Derek, now obsessed with her, refuse to let her go?
MIDNIGHT DESIRE
(Part 1 of A Midnight Riders Motorcycle Club Romance)
Fiona was a private investigator in Los Angeles when her cousin was murdered. Now she’s going undercover in the California town where a dangerous motorcycle gang holds sway. She was determined to find her cousin’s killer. What she didn’t count on was Jack Pollari - the insanely hot, bad-boy president of the MC who takes an immediate interest in her. As their mutual desire spirals deeper and hotter, the question remains: will Jack help her solve her cousin’s murder… or doom Fiona to the same fate?
MIDNIGHT LUST
(Part 2 of A Midnight Riders Motorcycle Club Romance)
Fiona came to Richards, California to solve her cousin Alison’s murder. Now, however, Fiona’s the one in danger. On one side is Jack, the hot, bad-boy president of the Midnight Riders Motorcycle Club. On the other is Louis Shaw, the devilish but charming VP who has his own treacherous plans. As the web of violence and intrigue tangles around Fiona, one thing becomes startlingly clear: she may be falling in love with the man who killed her cousin.
MIDNIGHT DECEIT
(Part 3 of A Midnight Riders Motorcycle Club Romance)
Fiona plunges further into danger - and falls deeper in love/lust with bad boy biker Jack Pollari, president of the Midnight Riders Motorcycle Club. Villainous VP Louis Shaw is playing his own deadly game, and is on the verge of discovering our heroine’s secret. Fiona came to town to solve a murder. Will someone now have to solve hers?
ALL THAT *SHE* WANTS
The Billionaire’s POV Part 1
A retelling of Connor and Lily’s love affair from Connor’s POV.
ALL THAT *SHE* DESIRES
The Billionaire’s POV Part 2
THE BILLIONAIRE’S KISS
A Billionaire Alpha Romance Part 1
Eve meets gorgeous billionaire Grant Carlson at a Hollywood gala. Things get hot beyond belief - until Grant does something unforgivable. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Especially when she’s an internet security expert and former hacker. But Grant has a secret - one that will plunge both him and Eve into even greater passion - and incredible danger.
THE BILLIONAIRE’S TOUCH
A Billionaire Alpha Romance Part 2
After being screwed over by handsome billionaire Grant Carlson, Eve decided to take revenge. But Grant changes her mind with a simple proposition: he needs her help. Someone wants Grant dead, and Eve is the only person he trusts. Unfortunately, by helping Grant, Eve has put herself in the sights of a madman…
THE BILLIONAIRE’S CARESS
A Billionaire Alpha Romance Part 3
Eve found everything she ever could have wanted in billionaire Grant Carlson: incredible looks. Amazing body. Charm, humor, and intelligence to burn. But there are secrets, too. Secrets she never could have guessed… And now they threaten to destroy not only his life, but hers.
THE BILLIONAIRE’S PASSION
A Billionaire Alpha Romance Part 4
On the run and out of options, Eve and Grant turn to an unlikely source of help. But a killer is fast on their trail, and what was supposed to be a grand escape may be nothing more than a temporary stay of execution…
PASSION AND PRIDE
Master and servant, aristocrat and commoner… Passion brings them together, but pride will tear them apart. When Marian is in danger, will Evan risk everything - his fortune, his title, his life - to save the woman he loves?
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Thanks to Patricia Schoon for her help in editing this book! Your help is always greatly appreciated, Trisha.
The Billionaire’s Passion (A Billionaire Alpha Romance Part 4)
Copyright 2015 Olivia Thorne
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons living or dead, actual events, locales, or organizations is entirely coincidental.
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Edition: September 2015
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