s fixed on Lucas. He gave a mocking sneer, p

lla, and he took slow, de

ng with sarcasm, "you really live up to yo

neck, his grip cold and unyielding. He lifted he

open this window right now and toss y

the air, his voice

ave a sudden jolt. She fell against him, her heart pounding as his

closeness, a flicker of something like surpri

" he said, pushing her back with a sneer, "s

across the face, hard. Lucas' face turned

up for the remainder of the flight, when the flight

ncy! The captain... he's had a hear

hem seemed to tilt as panic swept through the passengers. Luca's us

day," the attendant repl

la didn't waste a second. She pulled free f

" he shouted after her

, just stay out of my way!"

nything she could find to keep her bala

the pilot slumped over, clutch

out of the seat, then gripped the c

th sweat as she wrestled

e nose back up, steadying their descent, t

eling out to a stable cruising altitude. She relea

tion had been her first love-she'd majored in flight tec

ended that dream. She had shifted to a foreign languages major,

trembling slightly, she realiz

one approaching. She expected the flight attenda

, unreadable look on his face made her pulse

lenged, her eyes sparking with defiance. "Well, I'd suggest

ath, warm against her cheek in the cramped cockpit, his intense gaze lock

in far too close. "Was flying part of journalism school's curricu

racing. "Mr. Lucas, if you would kindly take a step back.

mode, the plane would handle itself. Surely,

ed to be ready for any emergency," she said, refusi

his jaw tight, and Ella had to fight t

only one on board who could keep them airborne.

e, a small victory Ella relished for all of

.. incident. I hope you enjoy your time in Fairfield, because

ch. "Then you might want to ma

ing off. Ella allowed herself a small, t

n relief as the tension finally left her body. Before she even had a chance to gat

tened in a way she'd never heard before. "Anya's r

a physical blow. The last piece

Amy. Ella bit her lip, the pain twisting in her stomach. Life could be cruelly ironic

, snapping her out of her thoug

? Any friction with Mr. Lucas?" Matt

neutral tone.

dinner for you tonight. I'll send you t

d straight to her family's home. She needed some comfort, so

but this time, there was no answer. Her brows knitted together as she tried again, only to be met with silen

practically bolted up the steps, her anxiety spiking. As she reached the do

mes! They're kids, and smart ones at

five, Laura! They're just kids, not some little detective

to the lock and burst into the room, her voice tremblin

to hug her. "We didn't expect you until tomorrow.

ained quickly, pulling away. "But what's

and asked, "Mom, I just heard at the door that

ays doted on Ella, didn't even look at he

hild, Lila was already dead, since Ella kept