Chapter 127. JOSHUA

Chapter 127. JOSHUA
“Where have you been, boss?”
“None of your business.”
Erick stood in the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest.
“Of course, it’s my business. You haven’t forgotten we’re returning to Chicago today, have you? You have an important meeting this afternoon. That’s non-negotiable.”
“I know, asshole. And I haven’t forgotten we’re returning to Chicago today. Get out of my way.”
I pushed his shoulder away from the door and headed straight for my room.
“I’ve packed all your things. We have to leave for the runway in half an hour. The roads will be extremely congested due to the diversions. You need to get ready quickly, boss.”
“Shut your damn mouth, or I’ll stuff it with my shoes. I know what I have to do, asshole.”
“One more thing, boss. You look like a zombie with your bloodshot eyes.”
I slammed my bedroom door shut to block out Erick’s annoying, damn chatter. He had no idea what kind of night I’d just had.
I had a fun-fucking-tastic night.
Not going to complain about it at all, because it was great.
I thought I was going to die from Fiona's bullet in the head or heart. I gave myself to her because I was tired of fate's games pulling me around like a damn kite.
If I were in trouble because the underworld was messing with me, I'd just grab my gun and kill the people who'd messed with me. But I felt utterly weak and helpless when the source of my troubles was Fiona. I couldn't grab my gun to kill her. The only way to end this mess was for her to kill me, and I'd be free from this damn, annoying feeling forever.
I stared at my reflection in the mirror.
Erick was right. I looked like a zombie, my eyes bloodshot and my face pale.
It was a miracle I'd made it back to NYC intact without incident. I was fucking tired. But this was what I call exhaustion in satisfaction.
I'd barely slept all night. I wouldn't have slept if I'd had the best night of my life after four years without a woman by my side. Every moment was precious to me. I'd recorded everything in my memory so I could relive it when I returned to Chicago.
Remembering that made my chest suddenly ache. It wasn't because I had a heart problem. It was working normally and perfectly healthy. My heart was beating fast when I was with Fiona. It hurt to remember that such an amazing night had to end so quickly.
I was a coward afraid to face reality.
I left her this morning before she woke up simply because I was afraid of her rejection. I wanted her to come with me to Chicago with Melissa. I wanted us to start a new chapter in our lives with something better than the one we started four years ago. But after we'd made love all night, I still didn't have faith that Fiona would come with me to Chicago willingly. I was afraid of facing painful rejection. Especially if Fiona said it to me directly.
I was the asshole who forced her to marry me at gunpoint four years ago. This time, I gave her complete freedom to choose her own future. She deserved to be happy. And that happiness might not be with me.
I took off my day-old shirt and tossed it into the hamper. My skin was covered in Fiona's love marks. My neck, chest, back, even my nipples had purplish red kissmarks. My cock swelled again every time I remembered her wildness last night. She overwhelmed me with all the new things she did to me. She wasn't the shy girl she'd been four years ago. She was bold and confident. She made me have the most powerful orgasm of my life.
"I like your boners."
"That sounds naughty and sexy."
"You're sexy as hell."
Her lips kissed the swollen, heavy tip of my shaft. Before I exploded on her face, I pulled her up and positioned her properly beneath me. She groaned in protest, not having had enough of teasing me.
"No, I'm too old for that kind of thing."
"So, you're admitting your age now, huh?" Fiona giggled at me.
"I'm forty-something. I feel so old. There's no point in denying it anymore."
“It’s okay,” Fiona patted my chest. “Your stamina in bed is still the same as it was four years ago. You’re not as old as you think.”
“I didn’t want to disappoint you.”
“I doubt you’ll disappoint me with this.”
She pressed her palm against my nearly exploding shaft, and I was completely overwhelmed by her mischief.
I opened my eyes wide, forcing my mind to stop replaying the events of just a few hours ago. Her moans and giggles filled my mind, even though I begged them to stop replaying everything about her.
I had left her a message.
I hoped she'd find it and read it.
I hoped she'd make the right decision.
I hoped it wouldn't be our last time together.
I checked my watch for the hundredth time. It was three minutes to ten. George had already started the plane's engines. This iron bird would be taking off any minute.
Only a fool would cling to false hope when reality was already in front of them.
She didn't show up.
She probably didn't read my message.
She probably overslept and missed it.
She probably...
She didn't choose me.
She didn't want to go to Chicago with me.
"Are you waiting for someone? You've been checking your watch since we left the house."
“Just checking to see when we’re taking off.”
“We’re about to take off. Everything’s in position. You can’t wait to get back to work, huh?” Erick sneered.
He'd been busy with his movie. He said he was tired from work and wanted to relax on the flight back to Chicago.
I was grateful he had a movie to distract him instead of distracting me with his inane chatter.
The plane began taxiing. My hopes were dashed. She really wasn't coming.
I leaned my tense back against the expensive leather seat, trying to enjoy the flight back to Chicago like Erick. My head turned toward the window. I saw a black dot in the distance. A tree, perhaps.
The black dot was speeding toward us. It was a car. The driver must have been insane to be speeding that fast toward a plane about to take off.
As the plane waited for the signal from the central tower to take off, I saw the driver stick his hand out the window and fire multiple shots into the air.
I couldn't hear the gunshots, but I could see the motion of his hand as he pulled the trigger.
"Dammit!"
I unbuckled my seatbelt and jumped out of my seat.
Erick was surprised to see me suddenly running into the cockpit and yelling at George to stop the plane.
“Stop the plane. Turn it back to the hangar.”
“What’s wrong with you, Josh? You suddenly freak out right when the plane is about to take off.”
“Stop the plane, George. Now.”
Erick unbuckled his seatbelt as soon as the plane came to a complete stop.
I ran to the door and told the flight attendant to open it.
“What’s wrong?” Erick grabbed my shoulder.
“Fiona’s here. She’s coming with me to Chicago.”
I felt like I was floating down the stairs. I ran to Fiona, who had just jumped out of the car. She was smiling at me. I didn’t realize I was running toward her, but I was definitely running toward her, and I embraced her in my arms.
“Sorry, we’re late.”
“No. You two are never late. You arrived just in time.”
Fiona cupped my face and kissed me passionately.
“I’m relieved to hear that.”
She smiled against my lips.