Unsteady

by Elizabeth York

  “I forgive you,” I yelled out over the singing sirens inside the cabin. I had finally learned how to forgive it just came a little too late.

  The sound of the plane hitting the water was like a loud can being torn open. Every creak and slap of the metal made way to the sounds of rushing water.

  Nate and I felt the impact, but the cabin had stayed in tact. We unbuckled as fast as we could and tried to get the door open, but we couldn’t hold it open for us both.

  “Go Logan,” Nate screamed as I slid out and saw people bailing out of the plane where the water was cresting into the plane. “This was my fault. Go save yourself.”

  “No!” I shouted as the waters rose and the plane was sinking. I took a piece of a broken chair and shoved it into the door. “Come on!” I screamed as I tried to pry it open against the raging ice cold waters. “Nate,” I screamed, but he went and buckled himself in the pilots seat.

  “I made my choice,” he told me as the door slammed shut. I slipped and fell into the waters that stole my air and my limbs fought against movement in. I grabbed onto the seats and carried myself to an opening in the side of the plane as the ocean took her hostage as her own. I tried to swim up, but the plane was sinking too fast.

  I couldn’t get out and had come to terms with it when a little girl that reminded me of London came across the waters like light and pulled me to the hole. I kicked and swam as hard as I could, but my lungs were burning as they took on water. The little light never let go. She kept pointing me toward the stars and carrying me until everything went black.

  “Logan,” I heard the voice of an angel. “Logan can you hear me?” I heard it again. Luring me toward Heaven I was sure. I wouldn’t give in I wasn’t ready to go. I was just going to keep swimming for the stars and hope for air.

  “Can he hear us?” Another voice asked and I heard a familiar sound walk into the room.

  “He can hear you,” someone spoke and then I realized I wasn’t alone. I opened my eyes and looked to see London, Brooklyn, Mark, Nikolas, and everyone was inside my hospital room. I blinked as the light hurt my eyes as machines beeped in the background.

  “How did you-,” I asked with a rasp in my voice.

  “You’re family,” London replied and Nikolas nodded. “How do you feel?”

  “Sore. I need to pee,” I announced as I tried to get up, but a man with a white coat and clipboard stopped me.

  “You have a catheter in,” he told me and I shook my head.

  “Get it out. He goes into dark holes, nothing goes into his,” I tried to make him understand that tubes do not go in my dick, but everyone just chuckled.

  “The coast guard found him floating on a piece of luggage holding a picture in his hand. He has been unconscious for most of the night as we pushed fluids into him. We will start him on food today so the hallucinations should stop,” the doctor carried on as if I wasn’t going to yank this tube out.

  “The hallucinations?” London looked worried, and my fight to free myself from their stuff stopped. I didn’t move, I just watched her. She was gorgeous, even with the bags under her eyes and her hair up in a messy bun she was the most beautiful person I had ever seen.

  “He woke up telling me his daughter saved him by carrying him to the stars. Then this morning when he woke up he said he wasn’t lost anymore. That he wanted to go home, but didn’t know where that was,” the man in the coat and thick glasses kept talking.

  I saw London’s eyes glisten as he handed her my picture of her. It was faded and ruined by the water, but as the doctor continued Sister Katherine made the sign of the cross and a tear fell down London’s cheek. Then the doctor left and I was surrounded by all of these people that were in London’s family.

  “We need to see about getting you home,” Brooklyn immediately went into her lawyer mode and started demanding things through her phone. Mark walked over and patted my shoulder with a “glad to have you back.”

  “God led us to you,” Sister Katherine came over and placed a kiss on my forehead. “He told London where you were.”

  “What do you remember?” Nikolas wanted to know as London stared at me from the foot of the bed. It was like she was in shock.

  “The plane crashed. People were swimming out as fast as they could,” my throat hurt, but I tried to tell them. “I tried to save Nate, but he wanted to die. He wouldn’t let me help him,” then I remembered the phone call. “Avery.”

  “What?” London asked as a stray raven hair fell forward and it stole my focus. It took my breath away. The last time that one hair fell forward was when she was on top of me, riding me, telling me she would never want anyone the way she wanted me. I had to clear my throat and try to talk again.

  “Avery said this was about you,” I repeated. “You have to stay away from him,” I tried to warn her, but that look on her face matched her fathers whenever someone spoke ill of his daughters. In fact her face matched his right now.

  “I’m glad you’re okay,” London sounded very formal. She wouldn’t even come near me and who could blame her. I did dump her and crashed a plane.

  “Survivors?” I asked and she nodded.

  “Everyone got out except Nate. You were close enough to shore that most made it to land. The rest the Coast guard picked up. The plane got pulled down in the current and no one could find it so when people without identification started telling stories of being in a plane crash no one believed them.”

  “We had a funeral for you,” Sister Katherine told me and I looked back at London. “The airline had one for everyone, but then London found you. She found all of you.”

  “I was told once that she was the best at finding people. She has amazing skills to find what she is looking for,” I left the double meaning out there in the air hoping she would understand. She looked like she was thinking as Brooklyn started explaining.

  “With resources we all pulled from somewhere the Coast Guard reported the plane, and found you in the water a couple miles from shore. Everyone that has been located is going home on a yacht that our dad borrowed so they don’t have to get back on another plane. All those people will finally make it to Dublin, but London told us all that you’re coming home with us.”

  “I’m coming home with you?” I asked and London climbed over the bed and across me like a panther wanting her prey. She was curled up on my chest before I could even think what to say. I felt tears through my hospital gown as I swept her up in my aching arms. “I’m coming home to you,” I reassured her. “Always.”

  Chapter Forty One

  London

  Logan was taking his first shift since the crash and I was petrified. I didn’t want to let him out of my sight. It had been a long four weeks of recovery for him, but he claimed it was like falling off a horse. He couldn’t let the place he loved so much be one he feared.

  I however was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. So much so that when the cab pulled up in front of my dads house I knew I was about to do something no one would like.

  I paid for my taxi and got out. I straightened my clothes and I walked to the door. I left myself inside and found my way to dads office.

  “Moya malaya,” he greeted me warmly calling me his sweet girl. “This is a surprise.”

  “Is it?” I asked and he stood up and offered me a chair.

  “No, it is not,” he replied with his accent a little thicker than normal. His voice took on his natural dialect when he was out of his element. “Logan is flying today?”

  “He is,” I confirmed. “I need a gun. One I can get through security at work,” I explained.

  “You are going to what? Murder a man inside the CIA?” My dad asked in disbelief.

  “I know from the case reports that you have a wooden gun that I can get through security whereas my gun cannot,” I tapped my foot impatiently.

  “You come from a criminal, but you are no such thing.”

  “Dad, I need the gun,” I pleaded. “I have to do this. No one will be safe unles
s I fight back. No stuffed bunnies this time - this time we retaliate.”

  “When they arrest you? You won’t be in New York your sister cannot save you,” he was dumping all these questions on me like I would’ve the answer, but I didn’t. I just knew that I had to protect my family. I had to protect the baby now growing inside me. The one I didn’t dare tell anyone about because then they would have stopped me from what I was about to do.

  “Avery will be in the New York office this afternoon,” I explained, but my dad merely shook his head.

  “I will not give you such a gun, but if you would like I will bring him here. I will deliver Avery to you,” my dad offered, but it wasn’t enough. I stormed out and walked back into town. I needed the time to think. I needed a plan.

  “Brook-,” I called on my sister. “When you knew you had to save dad and you shot a man to rescue him did you plan to kill anyone?”

  “Woah,” she immediately replied. “I don’t think I knew I would kill someone. There was always some part of me that wanted to resolve it without violence.”

  “I’m going to work today,” I told her and silence came through the line. She didn’t know what to say anymore than I knew what to tell her. “When Logan’s wheels are in the air I am driving to the office. Avery should be in the New York office by then. Brook, I’m going to kill him.”

  “London, I’m a prosecutor, you can’t tell me these things,” she replied with a sigh. “We’re a family London, let us help you. Don’t go against him alone.”

  “This isn’t a family thing - its personal.”

  “You can’t get anymore personal than your family,” Brooklyn tried to reason with me and I hung up on her.

  “Hey gorgeous,” Logan was on my phone before I found a cab to take me to the office. “I hear my future wife is wanting to murder people.”

  “Damn it Dad,” I mumbled under my breath. “You haven’t proposed,” I countered wanting to change the subject.

  “And I won’t if the only time I can see you is on Tuesdays for a congical visit. That’s not the way to start a marriage,” he continued as I heard the airport departures in the background. “We should start a life with a proposal, an acceptance, and then lots of sex as we plan this whole charade for our family.”

  It wasn’t lost on me that he was now referring to everyone as our family. It took him a while to see that not only were they mine, but they had accepted him into us as well.

  “Taxi,” I screamed as Logan laughed at my inability to get a cab. Unless it was at the door waiting for me; they hated me.

  “Go home Londi,” Logan wasn’t telling me what to do, but it wasn’t a question either. “Please be there waiting to play with handcuffs instead of in them when I get back. Do this for me, please.”

  “What is with the traffic today?” I asked when my annoyance had reached a new limit. They were coming in spurts and no one was paying any attention to me trying to hail a cab.

  “There is a pot hole over on fifth that they are trying to fix. They had to put up barriers and the police are letting people through in five car increments. It’s bad,” Logan confirmed. “I have to get on my plane now. Time to ride the horse again. I will be back in a few hours. Don’t get into trouble without me, and don’t forget we’re supposed to be having dinner with your sister.”

  “Be safe. I love you,” I told him and he returned the sentiment.

  Took a while, but I finally got a cab and we rode by the pot hole on fifth that was more like a baby Grand Canyon than a small hole in the road. It took a really long time to get through the traffic, but I made it to the office just after lunch and went inside.

  I showed them my badge and went through security. I took the elevator up to my office and walked inside and closed the door. It had been a really long time since I had been in here and now knew what Brooklyn meant when she said empty offices were more like time capsules or shrines.

  Then I waited. I knew it was a matter of time before Avery would come in here and start in on finding those people. I had to finish this to finally be free. It all started with Logan’s dad, but it ended here with Avery. I was tired of men thinking that they could boss me around or hurt me and then go on as if I was nothing in their life. Just a blip on the radar when they had to flex a little muscle and move on.

  “Agent Montgomery,” Avery spoke as he opened my door. “So nice to see you back in the office. I hope you are ready to get to work. We have two hundred and eleven more people to find.”

  “Actually, you don’t,” I replied as I pulled a thumb drive out of the pocket of my blazer. “I found three hundred and fourteen people that had been bought and sold. You were right I am a really great tracker, and I am an even better lie detector.”

  “You found everyone?” He asked and I nodded.

  “To include your first wife who was the first person you sold,” I sneered. “When you told me you were Michael you lied to me. You want to be Michael. You wanted to be him so you pretended to be this faceless man - one who by the way would like to have words with you - and used the man you heard rumors about to get away with destroying your partner Harry and your first wife.”

  “You found Hannah?” He asked with a scowl forming on his face.

  “I did, she’s an angel. Her and I spent the last few weeks getting to know each other while Logan was recuperating, and to tell you the truth the only problem I found with her is you.”

  “How?”

  “Remember when you said I suck as a field agent, I might, but I have resources you could only dream of. You know who excels at investigating - my brother in law and my sister. You know who is amazing at interrogation - my dad. You know who can track them all down - me,” I narrowed my eyes at him.

  “Hannah’s information is on the thumb drive?” He asked and I nodded. “Is this the only copy?” I shook my head.

  “By the way, the FBI knows that Michael Avery Pierce whose name used to be Avery Francis Leop two years ago was the one who crashed the plane. They should be coming to talk to you anytime now,” I smirked and walked out of my office.

  I couldn’t kill him. My family had been right about that I don’t think I had it in me, but destroying him had been all I thought about for the last month when I decided this was the best route to take. To get all those people home to their own families and take him down in the process.

  I pushed the button on the elevator and watched the doors close on an angry Avery. When I got to the bottom floor I saw the FBI marching inside the CIA. I listened as they demanded to know where he was. I stepped outside and let the sun hit my face and enjoyed every second.

  I walked down to the parking garage where the car my dad had given me still sat. I climbed up to the third floor and pulled the cover off a sixty-seven Mustang that Kate had helped him restore. I got in and started it up. I put the top down and pulled out of the parking garage. I went to turn left when a racing SUV nearly took my front end off and I saw Avery inside of it.

  “This is Agent Montgomery,” I spoke into my phone as I called it in. “Suspect Avery Leop is on the move and I am following. Be advised agent is in plain clothes and a yellow Ford Mustang.”

  I reported our location as Avery headed out towards my dads. I hit the gas and cut him off from turning to leave the city. He hit reverse and flowed into the opposing lane as I tried to follow to be met with horns and brake lights. I put the car in first gear and started again. This time it was a race, but I didn’t know where he was going. Looked like he was headed to JFK.

  Logan - was the only name that popped into my mind. I looked at the clock and knew he hadn’t taken off yet. I hung up on emergency services and called his phone. He didn’t answer and I went into a panic. I pushed some buttons to stay on the redial until he answered but after three more calls I knew it was between Avery and I.

  We neared fifth and I fishtailed into his car and forced him around the curve. He went up on the ramp and landed in the hole they were pouring dirt into. Satisfied I drove fo
rward and went to park it, but then I saw him running between the buildings as he held his arm to his chest and blood flowed down the side of his face.

  I followed him as far as I could in the car, but when I saw him heading toward the court house I swallowed hard. Brooklyn - he couldn’t get to Logan or my dad so he was going for my sister. I climbed out of the car as I fumbled my phone when I tried to dial her. I dropped it and it shattered on the road. I ran for the doorway to the building. Up the large concrete stairs, and into the dark oak doors. I took the stairs and went up to her floor and fell as I came out of the fire escape.

  “Call the FBI,” I shouted at someone as Brooklyn stepped out of her office at my screaming.

  “London?” She asked and I ran for her and wrapped my arms around her. “I saw him,” I tried to tell her as I slowed my breathing down. “He came here. He was coming for you,” I explained and she opened the door to her office where Mark and his partner Jaxson were sitting beside Eddie and Logan.

  “What the hell?”

  “Don’t tell me you beat me here?” Avery’s voice carried through the building and I saw each man in her office go on the defensive. I shook my head and told them not to. Then I stepped back out into the hallway.

  “Couldn’t get to your boyfriend in time so I figured your sister would be a good way to send a message to you and your dad,” his sinister smile made me ill.

  “There is a price on your head from my dad, from the FBI, from Homeland Security, and even the CIA would like to have a few words with you,” I acted as though I wasn’t scared. I was terrified because everything I loved was inside the office to my left.

  “I heard you like exchanges, so how about you send your sister out here and I let you live?” He asked and I shook my head. He took out a gun and took a secretary as a hostage. I heard Brooklyn on the phone telling someone where he was. I imagine it was security, but they needed a team of people not some paid guard.

  “How about you let her go, and I promise to give you a three second head start?” I countered.