“Brothers,” Thor corrects, and something in his tone makes both V and Ratchet straighten slightly.
“We're here to make sure you get out of here safely, and Thor’s girl is covered.”
“I’m not his…” I start before Thor shoots me a look.
“When a biker looks at you like that, you're his. It’s better not to fight it. Ratch here had to chase his wife to the other side of the country to get her. Thor would probably go even farther.”
“Enough,” Thor growls.
“Speaking of traveling,” V says, pulling out his phone and checking the time, “your flight leaves in two hours. We should get moving if we want to sweep the airport first.”
“Sweep the airport? What the hell does that mean?”
Ratchet hefts his duffle bag from the floor up onto the counter with a metallic clank that makes me flinch. “Means we check for unfriendly faces before you walk into what could be a trap.”
“Jesus Christ,” I breathe. “This is insane.”
“Welcome to our world,” V says, but his tone lacks the earlier teasing. “Better paranoid than dead.”
“Text me when you get the all-clear, and I'll bring Minny myself,” Thor continues. “Better if we stagger our arrivals.”
My stomach drops. “Wait, what? You're not taking me with you?”
Thor turns to me, his expression unyielding, “Ratchet stays here with you.”
“The hell he does.” I step forward, arms crossed, “I'm going to the airport. I need to make sure Minny gets on that plane safely.”
“Not happening. The men after you don’t know where you are right now, Charlotte. They could have people watching the airports, waiting for you to show. If they see you there?—”
“I don't care. She's my best friend. I dragged her into this mess.”
“And I'm doing my best to keep you both alive.” His hand lands on my shoulder, firm yet reassuring. “Think about it—if they spot you at the airport, they’ll know you’re still here. They could track us right back to this place. This is the smartest move. Let me get Minny out of here, and then we’ll figure out our next steps.”
I want to argue, but the logic is sound. If they're watching the airports, my presence would put us all at risk. Still, the thought of being left behind while Minny faces this alone—even with Thor beside her—makes my chest tighten painfully.
“Fine,” I concede, hating how helpless I feel. “But you better get her safely on that plane.”
“She'll be home before her kids get out of school.”
Minny steps forward, pulling me into a fierce hug. “Stay safe, please. I just got you back. I don’t want to lose you again.”
“I'll be fine.” I squeeze her back, fighting the lump in my throat, “Just go home to your family. Forget about all this.”
She pulls back, fixing me with a stern look, “Like hell I will.”
V clears his throat, “Hate to break up the goodbye party, but we need to head out if we’re going. I need at least an hour to do my magic.”
Thor nods, all business again. “Let's move.” He turns to Ratchet, “You know what to do.”
Ratchet grunts in acknowledgment, already unzipping his duffel bag to reveal what looks like enough firepower to start a small war. I swallow hard, the reality of my situation hitting me anew.
“Trust me.”
Before I can respond, he leans down, capturing my lips in a kiss that steals my breath. It's not gentle—it's possessive, demanding, a promise wrapped in heat. His hand cradles the back of my neck, fingers tangling in my hair as he deepens the kiss.
Then he pulls away, leaving me dazed. “I'll be back before you know it.”
He gives Ratchet a meaningful look, then guides Minny toward the door with a gentle hand on her back. V follows, throwing me a wink over his shoulder as they file out. The door closes with a soft click that sounds impossibly final.
