The Power Within

Chapter Sixteen

I ignored Malcom. Or tried to. Every time I inhaled, I took in his scent. He smelled like a café, like freshly baked doughnuts and strong coffee. I started to breathe through my mouth, just so I wouldn't have to smell him. Only the small glass table separated us, and his tall, muscular frame made the jet seem small. 

After a period of silence, I finally looked at Malcom, to find him staring at me. I had the urge to stick my tongue out, but I only glared at him.

"Can you take our cuffs off now?" My words were dripping with disdain. 

Malcom pressed his lips together. He turned around and tapped the big guy's shoulder. "Key," he muttered to the big man.

The guy shuffled around for a second, then he handed the key up over the back of the seat. Malcom grabbed it. Malcom stood up and took the few steps to stand next to my mom. He uncuffed her hands first, then he went to my dad. After he uncuffed my dad, he came over and uncuffed my hands last.

I held my breath while his hands touched mine. The jolts, or tingles, started at the spot where he was touching my hands, and traveled all the way up my arms. I was not going to react to the tingles. Stupid mate-bond! I would ignore the mate-bond until I could get my parents and I free, and away from this psycho. I rubbed my wrists where the cuffs had bit into my skin when Malcom sat back down in the seat in front of me.

I looked over at my mom and dad. "Are you guys okay?" They both nodded in response. 

I turned back to keep my eyes on the man in front of me. I crossed my arms over my chest. "You said we were going someplace safe..." Malcom gave me a slight nod. "Where is that exactly?" I asked him, narrowing my eyes at him. 

Malcom leaned forward to lay his forearms on the glass table. "I have a safe house near a small town in Germany. I am the only person who knows where it is. We will land at Hamburg, and drive the rest of the way." He said, his eyes never leaving mine. 

I loved and hated how he kept eye contact with me. I loved it because I could tell he was telling the truth. I hated it because of the way looking into his chocolate-brown eyes made me feel. I felt safe and serene when he looked at me like that. 

I gave him a small shrug and looked back out the window. I had around fourteen hours, give or take, until we landed. That meant fourteen hours to plan our escape. I had never been to Germany, but I knew I would do whatever it took to get my parents and I away from this man. 

I kept my face turned towards the window, but I could feel Malcom's eyes on me. His stare was getting on my nerves.

"Are you not going to ask me what you really want to know?" 

His question made me turn my head, so I could look at him. The mate thing? Nope, I am not asking him about that in front of my parents. I am not ever going to ask him about that. I will continue to ignore it until it goes away. I tried to remember if there was anything in that mate-bond book about severing a mate-bond connection. 

"What question is that, Kiley-Ann?" My dad spoke up, interrupting my thoughts.

I looked over at him, and shrugged my shoulders again. "I have no clue what he is talking about. He is probably just trying to get into my head. You know, normal, psychotic bad-guy behavior." 

I whipped back around when Malcom's deep laugh filled the jet. He looked even more handsome when he laughed. I shook my head, frustrated with my reactions to this man. 

"I assure you, there is nothing normal about being a 'psychotic bad-guy'." He used his hands to put air quotes around the words 'psychotic bad-guy'. He was still smiling when he looked at my father while he said, "Kiley may have been wrong with her assessment of normal behavior, Mr. Jaft,  but she was right about the lack of question." 

I stared at Malcom, confused. Why didn't he tell my parents about the mate-bond? I know he feels it. Why isn't he using it to his advantage? What the hell is going on?

"Well, I have a question, Mr. Wittenopp," my dad said, annoyed, "why did your man have our bags?"

"Yeah," I pipped up, "why did you have our stuff?"

Malcom's brown eyes met my silver ones. "Simply for convenience's sake. This way, I don't have to make a stop to get you three clothes and toiletries."

My dad huffed over that answer. I raised my eyebrows. Something about this just doesn't add up. Back in the basement, he stopped Mica from hitting me a second time. And all the s**t he whispered in my ear about not hurting me, and getting me out of this. What was the safe house thing all about? Why wouldn't we be going to his bad-guy headquarters or something like that?  And then he grabbed our bags... that seemed too considerate for a man who wants to take over the world.

Malcom's deep voice stopped my run-away thoughts. "Mr. and Mrs. Jaft, there is a full-size bed behind that door," he used his long finger to point at the door. "We have a long flight ahead of us, you are more than welcome to use the bedroom, if you would like." 

Dad looked at me, asking me with his eyes what I thought about that offer. I shrugged in response. "You guys might as well use it. He is right. The flight is gonna take about 14 hours. You and Mom-ra should get some rest."

Dad sent Malcom a narrowed look. 

Malcom raised his hands up with his palms facing out. "I won't lay a hand on Kiley. You have my word. And the flight is only 12 hours and 19 minutes."

I rolled my eyes at his correction.

Dad and Malcom stared at each other for a long minute. My dad finally nodded and stood up. Mom stood up as well. Dad patted my shoulder and kissed the top of my head. 

Mom repeated his actions. "I love you, dear." She whispered in my ear.

"Love you too, Mom-ra."

The door shut softly behind my parents.