Page 74 of Knox

“Fuck…” I lean my head back against the bench and sigh.

That is definitely not good…

— ¤ —

Five hours later, we’re flying through American airspace.

My shoulder is bandaged, I’ve changed into a clean shirt, and Mr. Brown remains unconscious on the floor.

After transmitting all the intel we gathered back to HQ, there’s nothing left to do but sit back and wait for our landing in New York.

“Ah… Knoxy?” Alexios’s voice calls me over the comms.

And he only calls me Knoxy when he wants something, or when something is wrong.

“Yes?”

“What’s your status?”

“The stupid package is unconscious but stable.”

“No, not that… your time status.”

I check my watch. “We’re less than an hour away from landing in New York. Why?”

“Cillian is… well, being Cillian.”

“Where the fuck is he now?”

“The Os.”

“Jesus, fuck!” I sigh, full of frustration and annoyance. “Alexios… get me a separate car.”

CHAPTER 10

CILLIAN

I am on my third glass of wine, leaning back against the booth while Ellis argues with Julian and Alistair about how to make perfect beer using science.

And sure, his theory is a little crazy, but I wouldn’t mind giving it a try. Maybe it’d even become my new favorite drink.

“Hahaha! That’s nuts.” Julian chokes on his drink.

Hell… even Alistair is laughing.

But I can’t bring myself to match their mood.

Not when my mind is consumed by a strange void and the unrecognizable anxiety Knox left me with.

I’ve spent days analyzing every single second of what happened at the party, and I still don’t understand why he ran.

I don’t understand how, after I treated him like shit for weeks, he stayed and pushed back.

But the moment I kiss him, he runs away?

Ugh.

My heart aches with rejection, and worst of all… uncertainty.