[MAX]
"Where to now, Velikaya?"
Harper slept in the back of the plane. She was strapped into her seat with a blanket tucked around her like a cocoon with noise-canceling headphones secured over her curls.
I arched a brow at Alexei. "You mean where after we take Harper back?"
He chuckled. "I did not think you intended to drag her elsewhere. Yes. Where after?"
I shrugged. I stared out the windshield at the sky for a moment as I mulled over what response to give him.
Evidently I waited for too long, because he prodded. "Do you need a ride? Or should I expect that you will ride into the sunset after we land?"
I rolled my eyes. "My plan is to go back off-grid, if that's what you mean."
"It is." Alexei chuckled. "More or less." He gave me a sideways look.
I sighed and turned my head toward him. "What, Lexi?"
His smile was small, and it faded before he spoke. "When is the last time you went to the Carmichael's?"
I grimaced despite myself and took a moment to think back. "A year? Or close to it."
"That is longer than normal for you," he observed.
I shrugged. "I was in Asia for a while. You remember that."
He chuckled. "Yes, I did fly you around much of the continent. That is part of why I asked."
I knew my expression had turned suspicious, but I didn't bother trying to alter it. "What's your point?"
He switched to Russian. "I think you should go see them."
I scoffed and redirected my gaze to the sky.
Alexei gave me a moment to sit in silence, to his credit. But unlike normal, he did not let the silence stretch. "You should, Velikaya. You and I both know that it is good for you."
"That's the exact opposite of going off-grid, Lexi. That's not exactly intentionally going on-grid, but it's pretty close."
He scoffed and the sound swiftly turned to a laugh. "We both know that it is not the same. The Carmichaels do nothing to compromise you. Reznor makes it so you are a walking ghost with his technology. Besides," he smiled, "it is good for you."
I rolled my eyes. "Remind me, why are we having this conversation?"
"Because," Alexei shrugged his big shoulders. "Sometimes what you think is good for you, isn't. And sometimes what you think isn't good for you, is." He gave me a pointed but fond look. "Take a few days. If you are still ... antsy after, then you can—" he waved his hands, "—ride off into your sunset."
I shook my head with a laugh. "You have such a way with words." I smirked.
Alexei nodded somberly with humor glittering in his eyes. "I am like Tolstoy."
"You keep thinking that." I chuckled.
"So ... you will go?" He watched me expectantly.
I sighed. "Yeah, all right. I'll go." I cut him a look. "But I have been way too visible for the past week, including that stunt we pulled in Spain. Authorities are probably having a field day. So, I make no promises about how long I'll stay."
He smiled slightly when he said, "I expect nothing less."
