Chapter 61

-Sebastian-

"Where are you?" I asked Bucky.

"In... In a motel. In Maine." I can hear the fear and worry in his voice.

"OK. Turn on your locations. I'll track you down." I tried to sound as sincere as possible.

I hung up the phone and called for Asher.

"Ash!" I yelled.

I heard him shuffle in the hallway, and then I heard the door creak.

His head peeked through the open door, "Boss?" he said. "You rang?"

"Yeah. Get the jet ready. We're going to Maine." I instructed.

"Maine, boss?" his forehead crinkled and eyes narrowed. "What's going on?"

I gave him my phone and instructed him, "Track the location of the number that last called my phone. We're picking Buck up." I said in a monotone voice.

"Bucky? Our Bucky?" he suddenly entered the room and took a few steps towards me. "This has become interesting. What did you do, Seb?"

"I didn't do anything, Ash," I said, annoyed. He can never know of my involvement with this whole situation. "And even if I did, I wouldn't tell you much less get you involved."

Asher's eyes watched me, trying to read me like a book. He knows me too well. But what I did was terrible, even to his standards. He took the number from me and left.

I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the ground. This whole situation is starting to escalate more than I have intended. I sat there in silence, my mind racing with thoughts of Jianna. I haven't planned how to pacify Bucky so Jianna would be safe. I have made a mess and don't know how to clean it up.

I stood up and walked over to the window. It's started raining now. It seemed that the weather could smell my guilt. It can see my misdeed, and now it's punishing me.

Asher returned with a piece of paper and caught me deep in thought. "Boss?" I heard him, but my brain didn't process what he said. He came closer, "Sebastian?"

That snapped me out of my thoughts. I turned around, "Yeah?"

"You good?" Asher asked; he looked at me, puzzled.

I nodded. "I'm good. Did you trace the number?" I changed the subject, hoping he wouldn't catch on.

He kept looking at me with suspicion. He paused before giving me the piece of paper in his hand. "Yep. And I already took the liberty and called Robert to prepare the jet. If we leave now, we should be able to get to Maine in about an hour."

I could always count on Asher. "Thanks, Ash." I went into my closet, grabbed a parka, and started heading to the door. Asher began to follow behind.

I stopped and turned around. I knew that Asher would be more suspicious after what I was about to do.

"Hey, Ash. Ummm... I'm going to have to do this myself." I said hesitantly.

His eyes widened, and he opened his mouth like he was about to say something but stopped. He nodded his head. He knew better than to argue with me. "Call me if you need anything," he said emotionlessly. He's mad. He turned around and returned to the opposite wing of the house where his room was.

I took a deep breath and headed out the door.

The private airfield that I had my jet in was just about twenty minute drive from the house but it took me less than fifteen minutes.

I parked the car haphazardly, but I didn't care. I walked towards the hangar and saw Robert on the phone. I waved at him, and he gave me a limp wave back.

"...What do you mean the flight plan can't be approved?" Robert yelled into the phone. "It's an hour fucking flight. Maine and back."

I stood there listening to the conversation. "This can't be good." I thought.

Robert hung up the phone and extended his arm for me to shake. I took it and asked, "So what's the word, Rob? That call didn't sound great."

He shook his head, "They wouldn't approve the flight plan I submitted as soon as Ash called me because of "some weather" up in Maine." he paused before continuing, "No one was going in or out."

"Rob. I need to get to Maine tonight." I insisted.

"I'm sorry, man. I don't know what to tell you." he shrugged.

I was starting to get really nervous.

"How about helos? Are they not approving those too?" I was getting desperate.

"Seb, no one is flying. I'm sorry." I knew that Robert was apologetic, but his sorry would not take me to Maine.

I tried calling Deluca, but he wasn't answering.

Time. I need more time.