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

the pilots ran over

board, Blair set Briony gently into a

the plane," he said, his voice softer than

nodded, but anxiety still flickered in

her in. "Yeah. We'll get out of Nortia first. When we reach

asked, gripping

her

Briony stared at him.

Mr. Seven?

does Mr. Seven

of her, rain dripping from the brim of his cap. His gaze was steady, full of unspoken emotion. "Mr. Delaney realized you'd gone missing. He reached out to Mr.

was it. Mr. Seven knew James-and knew how close she and James were, practically siblings.

pilots shouted, "We've

head snapped up. "Shut the doors! Take

pilot slammed the hatch

gripped the

this was nearly

into the seat beside Briony and

closer,

leading car, he could almost feel someone's gaze

The helicopter's massive blades

as the convoynet clining into the

the chopper lifted

clung to her seat as

low, reassuring voice reached her ear. "Don't be afraid. I'm

Briony's breath caught.

helicopter soared into the night, leaving the storm-wracked

rain