The wind ruffled Ava’s hair around her face and Captain Horny’s smile grew to unbelievable proportions. Mavis held out her hand and said something I didn’t catch, but it brought the dickhead’s attention back to her. I’d seen Mavis using her full charm before and it wasn’t something most men were able to escape, but the captain’s eyes kept darting toward Ava.

My Ava.

He took Mavis’s hand and brought it to his lips to kiss and I used the time to move closer to Ava. I shouldn’t have moved closer because it made his next words all the more clear.

“Sexy little Ava.” He grabbed her hand and lifted it to his lips for a lingering kiss. “I didn’t think I’d ever have the pleasure of seeing you again when I found out you had left the States, but today is my lucky day.”

“I didn’t realize you worked for this charter company.” Ava smiled at him and I tried to not be annoyed. She was merely playing a role.

“Come now, Ava.” His voice lowered and I had to strain to hear it without looking interested. “How many times have I begged you to run away with me? And now, here you are.”

“But I’m not running away with you, Captain.” She tossed her hair over one shoulder, almost hitting me in the face. “I’m here on business.”

“Business and pleasure often mix.” He winked at her.

Winked. At. Her.

“You two know each other?” Mavis stepped closer with a seductive smile. “Ava, darling, you didn’t tell me you knew the captain.”

“I didn’t realize I did.” Ava cleared her throat and pulled her hand away from the pilot’s. “Captain, this is my employer, Miss Thomasino. I work for her now.”

“Moving up in the world, then.” The captain replaced his hat and motioned for our group to move onto the plane. He held Mavis’s hand as she stepped onto the stairs and did the same for Ava. With a short nod to me and Kenny, he followed Ava so closely he needed to place his hand on her waist to keep from tripping on her. When they reached the top step, his hand dipped low enough to cup her ass. Ava stiffened when he touched her before willing herself to relax. A soft giggle floated back from her when he leaned down to whisper in her ear.

The other men in the airport had just received a reprieve. I would unleash all my hatred on the pilot.

Captain Horny must die.

A slight tug on my sleeve had me jerking around to wrap my hand around a thin wrist. I looked into Kenny’s annoyed face.

“Dude, you’re growling.” The teenager’s voice was low as he pulled free.

I clenched my jaw and stared into his eyes, trying to reign in my temper. The boy was right. I needed to get it together. If that bloody cocksucker was going to hone in on Ava, it wasn’t her fault. The fact that she hadn’t told him off was just her sticking to her part. We needed the fucking idiot.

“I don’t like him.” My teeth clenched shut after the words escaped. Emotions were a double-edged sword.

“Yeah. I get that.” Kenny straightened the suit jacket he was wearing. “There is a schedule to keep, though.”

He was trying to remind me that we needed to stick to the plan, as if I’d forgotten. I hadn’t forgotten our agenda; I was just debating if I still wanted to follow it.

Leaning forward, I lowered my voice. “If you play your cards right, I’ll let you use him as a practice dummy.”

“We need him to fly the plane.” Kenny grinned. I wasn’t sure if he believed me or not. “And other stuff, you know?”

“After, then.” I narrowed my eyes.

“Sounds good to me.” His smile grew even more. “Would be nice to not be the punching bag for once.”

A bruise still showed along his left cheek and his nose was a bit swollen. I slapped him on the shoulder and steered him in front of me. He hadn’t bitched once during the last couple of sessions, even if his face had warranted a good curse. He’d thrown himself into the work with vigor.

“You’re a good kid, Kenny.” I walked up the stairs slowly. “But you really need to learn to duck.”

“I duck just fine. I need to learn to be faster, is what I need to learn.” Kenny shook his head as he dipped into the plane. He hesitated for half a second before clearing the doorway. I knew by the way his eyes darted briefly in my direction that I wasn’t going to like whatever he had seen.

Ava was sitting in a chair across from Mavis and the pilot was crouched down next to her blocking the aisle, his hand on her knee as he asked her if she had been to Paris before. Not sure what to do, Kenny turned and grabbed the seat at the front, which left me with nothing to do but push past the prick hitting on Ava.

“Pardon me.” I let the bag I was carrying swing into the back of his head. “These bloody planes are so small inside.”

The pilot looked up at me with a careful smile. “Not used to flying in a private jet?”

“Not this small.” I threw my bag into a seat. “The last one had a gold toilet seat and a stripper pole.”

“That sounds like some plane.” Captain Horny stood up and looked around the plane. “What do you say, Ava? Think your old employer would throw in a stripper pole and gold toilet seat for a loyal customer?”

Ava dragged her eyes away from me with a grimace. I wasn’t sure what I’d said that had upset her. It wasn’t like I’d alleged anyone had been using the stripper pole.