Chapter Nine

IRENA

IT didn't take long before the plane was ready and rolling down the runway. As the plane took off, Irena clutched the handrails to her death. She deliberately put her life in the hands of Sage Kennedy . What is she thinking?

She had to do some breathing exercises she learned at the yoga studio—trips requested by Bridget—to calm her nerves. It didn't help that her argument with Sage kept coming to her mind. Man, he really gets goosebumps with his cocky ideas and sexy arms.

She shook her head. It wasn't something she should be thinking about. He was a stuffy, rude billionaire. But the image of your muscular arm under the white shirt kept coming back to me.

She rubbed her eyes, blaming herself. She's not going to be the swoon, swoon girl that guys like Sage attract. She is better than that.

She leans back in her chair, tilts her head back. It makes the interior of the plane more spacious than flying in an overbooked carriage. Traveling with a rich man has its advantages. The leather seats were soft and magically adjusted to her body temperature.

Beside her was a small bench. And behind is a small kitchen. Too many luxuries for a man. She mocked. She doubted he even knew what it was like to live like ninety-nine percent.

When they reached cruising altitude, all seemed quiet. That is not good. At times like these her mind began to spin, and she couldn't wait to make Sage Kennedy the object of her thoughts. She looked around, desperately looking for a distraction. Finally, she remembered the unfinished novel in her purse and got to work. Soon she is transported to a magical world where rich men are not stubborn fools.

It wasn't until the plane shook, knocking her aside, that she pulled herself out of the story.

Folding the edge of the page, she glanced around. She was so absorbed in her book that she didn't notice the darkness creeping around her. Rain hit the window as she looked out. The clouds are dense and gray.

She unbuckled her seat belt and stood, clinging to the side wall as she approached the cockpit. The plane tilted from side to side, forcing her to grab whatever she could find.

Sage turned his back on her. He had the headset stuck to his ear and was talking into the stethoscope. Irena 's ears buzzed from the sudden change in pressure. She had to swallow several times to hear what he was saying.

"...sudden storm. What's the weather like outside?"

"Yes—target—from—the majority—or—"

Sage waited for the voice to stop before bringing the receiver closer to his lips.

"You broke. Please repeat."

There was more noise, followed by a broken voice.

Fear settled in Irena 's chest.

"Sage? What's going on?"

As if forgetting he wasn't alone, he jumped up, glaring at her.

"You need to sit down and buckle up," he said, reporting her attention.

"But-"

"No time to explain," he said, focusing on the panel in front of him.

"There was a big storm, and I..."

He stopped looking out. Out the window, Irena followed his gaze. A bright light streaked across the sky, illuminating what looked like a dark cloud in front of them. Clouds move and move across the sky. They look like. . . birds. And they're headed straight for them.

"Drake! Now!" Sage screamed as he gripped the yoke and the plane jerked in response.

Irena ran to her chair. It was hard to keep his body straight given the level of recoil of the plane back and forth. When she got to her seat, she fastened her seat belt. Looking out the window, she tried to calm her racing heart.

But the sight of the birds surrounding the plane made his heartbeat faster. Suddenly, smoke rose from the engine through the left wing, then the right wing.

The plane shakes. She bent down and put her head in her hands. It seems prudent to pray. Why is she here? What did she get herself into? His little apartment and his banal stories don't seem so bad right now.

Her stomach seemed to want to leave her body when a shrill crash sounded, and the plane began to fall. An oxygen mask fell from the ceiling. Irena grabbed it and pushed it to her face. Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm her body. Nerves run through his muscles and are located in his abdomen.

"May Day!" Help!" Sage 's frantic voice rang in his ear.

That's it. This is how she would die. Until she almost touched her knee. Just a few more seconds and it will all be over. In a few seconds, she'll be dead.

A scream pierced the air. It took him a moment to realize the sound was coming from his lips. Then all thoughts vanished from his mind as the sound of his horror was replaced by the sound of cracking metal.

Instinctively, she sat up. Debris from the inside of the plane flew towards her, hitting her forehead and sending her body flying to the left.

She groaned as her vision blurred and her body went limp. She tries to fight him, but in the end, she slips into the darkness that surrounds her.