Page 89 of The Coldest: Stay Dangerous Part 2

Reno and NiNi join in, NiNi lifting us off the ground.

“Since I’m leaving…” I start, swinging my gaze up to NiNi. “Can I know what NiNi stands for?”

He smirks, then bends down to whisper, “Ni-none of your business.”

I push him away as he bellows a hearty laugh, before walking toward Rico.

“It’s Nehemiah,” Reno mumbles, hugging me once more before going to help Nan and a sleeping Mars into the plane.

My eyes stretch as Miele cackles, wiping her face.

“You guys are your old sounding names.”

“Nan was so mad Ju went behind her back on the birth certificate. Mars was supposed to be Jasper,” she snickers.

“Oh, my God!”

“You be good and I’ll fly you out for your birthday. No sneaking off to San Pedro.”

My eyebrows pull as I watch Rico hug Miele tight. Her bottom lip wobbles again, but she holds it together and nods. “I’ll hold you to that.”

“You’re coming?”

Rico meets my gaze, smirking. “You thought I wasn’t?” He holds his hand out, and without thinking, I take it, following him all the way to our seats.

Miele runs all the way to where I can see her from my window, and waves until NiNi has to pull her away.

“I’ll miss her so much,” I say more to myself. But Rico still squeezes my hand.

“I know the feeling will be mutual.”

I lay my head on his shoulder when the plane begins to move.

My eyes grow heavy, but still, I push out a thank you before they close all the way. Excitement and exhaustion beat out any nervousness, even when the landing is bumpy, waking the plane up.

There’s an SUV waiting on the tarmac. Rico tells me to stay put, while he helps Nan off, then comes back for Mars. I keep licking my lips. This is it. I run over the mental list over and over in my head. My new phone works; it’s just after midnight, local time. I probably won’t sleep tonight, but tomorrow, I need to make my rounds–

“Snow. Let’s go.”

Robotically, I unbuckle myself and stand, shaking out my legs. Rico steps back to let me out of the row, but before I can take another step, he grabs my arm, whirls me around, and crashes his lips to mine.

Once again I feel it. The tie around my soul being tugged, like he’s testing its strength.

My fingers sink into his curls anchoring him to me.

“One year,” he mumbles, kissing me again.

“Huh?” I debate hitching my leg up and letting him fuck me right here.

“I’ll give you one year, Snow. And then I’m coming for what’s mine.”

He punctuates his declaration with one more kiss, before taking a full step back, leaving me bewildered.

My fingertips graze my tingling lips as I turn slowly and walk off the plane.

Another SUV has joined the first one. Somehow, I know it’s meant for me. Rico’s there to open the backseat, and I climb in, noting my bags are all there.

“One year,” he promises, before closing me in.