Into deception

Panic

📚

As my climb to the jet begins to reach its stop, I can't ignore the invading scent engulfing my lungs.

No. Please no.

"Hey, Mia."

Nope. I was right.

Himiko, who is somehow sitting quite comfortably for someone who is very blatantly unwanted by everyone breathing, turns her little head with a sweet smile plastered across her face. She has a glass of champagne in her hand like she belongs here.

Max turns in his seat, looking up at me with nothing short of desperation. Safe to say he's probably thinking of ways to kill himself by now.

Bane brushes against me as he comes to a stop just behind me. He instantly sighs, pressing somewhat closer, and I have to fight the heat that creeps all over me.

"Hey, honey. I'm back."

"Trust me, no one missed that fact," Max groans.

"Come, sit next to me." Himiko pats the seat beside her, waiting for Bane to join her.

I waste no time moving aside so he can hurry along to his psycho girlfriend. Yet just as quickly as I move away, he's even faster, grabbing my arm and pulling me back.

His hold is nothing short of a warning.

I knew this before, but this is just another reminder. Our skin alone speaks in a language only understood when we're together, and somehow, we have always been that—together in moments that were never meant to last forever.

He looks at me.

I look at him.

And I feel parts of myself waking up that died because of him.

The pain alone makes me snatch my wrist away. I move to the other side, letting him pass.

He does.

Slowly, but nevertheless, he does.

I don't move until he's seated, trying to gather everything I had just lost by being trapped beside him and the memories that came with it.

"Did you get everything?"

"I didn't need much—"

Bane walks past us, but not before handing me my knife back. The one I threw at him.

He places it gently on my lap, making sure the sharp edge is turned as far away from my skin as possible.

Max looks at him.

I keep my eyes glued to anything but his face.

"How and why does he have your knife?" he whispers once Bane walks away.

"I might've tried to kill him again."

I click my seatbelt into place just as we begin moving.

Max muffles a laugh, which, in all honesty, perks my interest.

"You two aren't talking?" I ask.