Chapter 14

Early Afternoon

Mason County Regional Airport

Near Harborton, Washington

Ben blacked out for an instant as something struck him in the back and head and tumbled him off the captive.

As he struggled into consciousness he realized he was wrestling reflexively with an unknown assailant. A female assailant. He could feel very long, cable-strong legs wrapped around his. Somehow he had managed to trap a slender but incredibly powerful left arm under his, pulling a small soft breast tight against his upper body. He was struggling to capture the other arm before she could get a solid swipe at him when suddenly he found himself locked into her gaze. He could peripherally sense a face of surreal beauty but it was her pale, steel-gray eyes that enraptured him. They were full of pain and the cold depth of an arctic winter but there was also a complicated soul within.

A microsecond of inattention was all it took and her right arm sprung free. As time slowed for him Ben knew it was over. It had been a very good run though, much more than he expected, much more than he deserved. His last prayer was for his girls that they would continue on and know that he would always love them. He thanked the gods that in this life he had known what it was like to love and be loved in return. That was more than many ever knew and it was enough.

In his heightened state, the blade descended slowly. Ben’s eyes never left his killer’s though. He saw her eyes fly wide, as if in recognition and the blade halted right at his neck leaving a faint red line and a single drop of blood. Her nostrils flared sharply once, then twice, and suddenly she was gone. All that remained was a single white feather falling onto his chest.

Ben let out a deep breath he hadn’t realized he was holding and was attempting to get up when once again he was pinned by a feminine weight and nearly battered senseless by a string of ringing slaps. This time though the breasts were large, soft, and substantial and the eyes were sapphire and full of tears.

“Ben you goddam idiot! Don’t. You. Ever. Do. That. Again.” Sarah yelled, each of her words punctuated with another sharp slap.

“So sorry my Love,” Ben said in a cracking voice as he drew her down for a kiss. Her generous pale pink lips collided with his and as they entwined, Ben could feel that she was attempting to draw his very essence into herself as tightly as possible.

He didn’t even try to puzzle out what he was apologizing for, he had come to understand that with women, his women in particular- it didn’t matter.

He pulled her into a tight hug and she flowed into him, tucking her head into his shoulder. He knew they had to get up, but he also knew Sarah needed this right now, just for a moment. So did he.

“I love you, Ben. You can’t ever leave me. Promise!” asked Sarah, now crying uncontrollably.

“I love you, Sarah. I promise I will always find a way to be with you. No matter what.” said Ben quietly.

“Ah ... lil help over here?” they heard Dimitry whisper from where he was trying to sit up.

“Shit- be right there buddy,” said Ben as they scrambled to their feet. “Sarah, can you check on the kids?”

“On it honey. Hey, looks like we don’t have to worry about a custody fight,” said Sarah as she wiped her eyes and nodded toward where Yakov’s chartered plane flew away behind them.”

Somehow in all of the commotion, they had missed the plane rolling away with only Yakov aboard.

“That should simplify things somewhat. Not enough though. I wager we are deep in the shit right now with the state, the county, and the feds. The only ones not pissed are probably the Boy Scouts and I wouldn’t bet on that,” replied Ben as he approached Dimitry.

Ben kneeled next to Dimitry, broke out his small trauma kit, and proceeded to swab Dimitry’s wound with a Betadine patch and sprinkle some Quick Clot on it. It looked to Ben that the blow had possibly broken some ribs but Kelly, and her new mentor Belle, should be able to fix him up pretty quickly.