Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

Night had fallen, and the black Hummer tore down the highway.

The weather was no ally tonight. Nortia was a tropical country, and just as they neared the airport, thunder split the sky and a violent storm broke loose.

Visibility shrank to nearly nothing. The wipers thrashed desperately across the windshield, rain battering the glass with relentless force.

Blair eased up on the gas. The world outside dissolved into streaks of water and shadows.

Briony's heart pounded. Every muscle in her body was taut, strung tight with

nerves.

Blair kept murmuring reassurances, his hand resting on hers.

They pulled into the airport grounds.

A heavy-duty helicopter sat on the tarmac, rotors spinning, ready and waiting for them.

Blair parked and turned to her. "Wait here a minute. I'll go grab a raincoat. I'll be right back."

"Okay," Briony replied, voice thin.

Blair jumped out and dashed into the downpour.

Two pilots waited by the chopper, their silhouettes blurred by the rain.

Blair returned, soaked but determined, raincoat in hand. He yanked open the passenger door.

A fierce gust sent sheets of rain swirling into the Hummer.

Briony shivered, startled by the sudden chill.

The next moment, Blair slipped the raincoat around her, cocooning her trembling frame in its warmth.

coat, then swept her up in his arms, striding quickly toward

pilots ran over to meet

on board, Blair set Briony gently

said, his voice softer than

but anxiety still flickered in her eyes. "Are we

"Yeah. We'll get out of Nortia first. When we reach Astara, someone will be there to

Briony asked, gripping

her seatbelt.

Briony stared at him.

Mr. Seven?

does Mr. Seven know

brim of his cap. His gaze was steady, full of unspoken emotion. "Mr. Delaney realized you'd gone missing. He reached

James-and knew how close she and James were, practically siblings. If James asked, Mr. Seven would definitely lend a

of the pilots shouted, "We've

"Shut

pilot slammed

captain gripped the controls. The

weather like this was

slid into the seat beside Briony and buckled

sped closer, barreling toward

could almost feel someone's gaze locked onto his, a

The helicopter's massive blades

as the convoynet clining into the

the

seat as turbulence tossed

reached her ear.

Briony's breath caught.

night, leaving

below, rain lashed the