My neck straightened. “Wait. You know that you’re related?”
“I just learned last night.”
“Patrick,” Mason called from near the plane’s steps.
I inhaled. “Well, fuck. Okay. Tell him whatever you would tell me. These people, Sparrow, Mason, and Reid—you’ll meet him soon enough—and their wives are my family, the only family I’ve known since you and now Ruby. I want this to work.”
Madeline nodded as clouds floated over her expression. “My story isn’t pretty.”
I lifted her hands again, brushing my lips over her knuckles. “You can’t scare me away.”
“God, I hope you’re right.”
“Patrick,” Mason’s voice boomed.
I peered down at my wife. Her dark hair could be the same as Sparrow’s while at the same time, their eyes couldn’t be more different: hers green and his dark brown. Yet there was more, perhaps the way they carried themselves. If I tried to look for them, there may be resemblances. I didn’t try. To me, Madeline’s relationship to Sparrow wasn’t significant. She wasn’t Sparrow’s half sister. She was my sexy, stunning, and so fucking strong wife.
Allister Sparrow had been a piece of shit.
That wasn’t debatable.
Nevertheless, he created strong children, children who persisted and succeeded in whatever life threw their way.
For a moment, I took Madeline in, inch by inch, as I had when I first saw her at the jewelry store. The green dress she was wearing was the same one she’d worn the day she’d left for Elliott’s ranch. The scoop of the neckline revealed the globes of her breasts. The fitted bodice showcased her slim waist and the skirt flared just enough to accentuate the curve of her sexy ass. The hem came to just above her knees, allowing full access to her fit and attractive calves, made even shapelier with the high-heeled shoes she wore. While her body resonated calm, her beautiful green eyes swirled with a million conflicting emotions.
“I wish we’d brought the plane with a bedroom.”
Madeline grinned. “Do you think Mr. Sparrow would approve delaying this talk for us to make love?”
“I don’t care.”
“You do, Patrick. And that’s why I never stopped loving you. You care. You always have.” She inhaled, her breasts pushing against the material. “Let’s do this. I want my family, the one I was never allowed to have. Everything I never dared to dream is in sight, and I’m not stopping now for Mr. Sparrow or anyone else.”
The warmth of her body came against me as I kissed the top of her head.
As we crossed the tarmac to the plane, pride in my wife flowed through my veins, intensifying with each step. It wasn’t anything Madeline had said, not words. It was the way she’d voiced her determination. There were a limited number of people on this earth who would willingly face Sterling Sparrow, confront him, and stand up to him, yet that was what this woman at my side was willing to do. She wasn’t after his money or his empire but after a life we’d been denied.
Reaching the top of the stairs, Millie greeted us, “Mr. Kelly. Welcome, Ms. Miller.”
“Mrs. Kelly,” Madeline corrected, “but please, my name is Madeline.”
My cheeks rose. “I love hearing you say that.”
“I love saying it.”
We both turned to the two sets of watching eyes.
“It’s about time,” Sparrow said. “Tell Marianne we’re ready.”
The table in the front cabin, where we’d sat on our way to Dallas, contained four chairs. Sparrow and Mason had left us with two beside one another. Since the chairs were attached to the plane, I couldn’t pull one out; instead, I twisted it on its swivel for her.
Once we were seated, I began, “Madeline, I know you met my friends and colleagues at Club Regal, but let me properly introduce you.” I turned to Sparrow first. “This is Sterling Sparrow. Sparrow, my wife, Madeline Kelly.”
Sparrow gave a quick nod, his expression unreadable. “Madeline.”
“Mr. Sparrow.”
I waited for only a moment for him to correct her, for him to offer her a less formal option. When he didn’t, I continued. “And this is my friend and colleague Mason Pierce.”
“Mr. Pierce.”
Mason’s head shook as his hand came across the table to shake hers. “Mason, ma’am. Mr. Pierce died. I only resurrect him when things get formal. I’d suspect we’re about to get the opposite of formal.”
Madeline shook his hand as her gaze flittered toward mine.
“I’ll explain that later,” I said with a grin.
“All right, Mason, please call me Madeline.”
“Marianne,” Millie said, interrupting our introductions, “is ready to take off. Please fasten your seat belts. I’ll be happy to bring you lunch after we reach cruising altitude.”
“Thank you, Millie,” Sparrow said. “Water is fine. Then we’re not to be disturbed.”
Madeline tensed at not only his words but I presume, also his tone.
“Now that that’s done,” Sparrow said. “Give Mason your phone and your purse.”
“Sparrow—”
“No,” Madeline interrupted my defense as she lifted her purse toward Mason. “I don’t mind. Honestly, I am not the only one who has been in contact with my things. All of them, including the clothes I’m wearing, were handled by Marion’s housekeeper.” She looked down. “She cleaned this dress. I don’t know about everything, but I will do anything you deem necessary to get to Ruby.”
“Millie,” Sparrow bellowed. As soon as she entered, he went on, “Tell Marianne we have a slight delay.”
“What?” I asked.
Sparrow tilted his head toward the back cabin. “There’s a change of clothes in the back. Mason will ensure the phone is secure. The rest of what she’s wearing is staying here in Dallas. No one is finding our tower.”
While the plane had been moving toward the runway, it was now stopped.
Unbuckling my seat belt, I offered Madeline my hand. “I’ll go with you.”
It wasn’t until we were both squeezed into a small bathroom that she looked up at me with a grin. “Maybe another strip search?”
I shook my head. “You have no idea how badly I want to do that.”
“I wouldn’t stop you.”
“Rain check,” I said.
Piece by piece, Madeline removed her shoes, dress, bra, and panties. My nerves were stretched to their limit and my patience worn. With her proximity, her breasts brushed against me. Before she could gather the new clothes, my arms surrounded her, pulling her nude body against mine. “For the record, I’m not passing on the search, only postponing.”
“I wish you’d do it now. I’m afraid you won’t want to do it later.”
As she spoke the clouds I’d seen in her eyes the first night in the hotel room returned.
I reached for her chin. “Once you tell me everything, they won’t be able to get you any longer.”
“What? You mean who?”
“As far as who, no one is fucking getting near you. For the what, I’m talking about the clouds that come and go in your beautiful eyes.”