The Scotch Series: The Complete Series (Scotch #1-3) - Penelope Sky Page 0,77

plane cruised at a fixed speed. The constant hum of the air outside the plane filled the cabin, as well as the sound of the motors on either side of the plane.

If it stayed like this until we reached Italy, I could keep my cool. After everything I’d been through, it was a little ridiculous that I was afraid of flying. If we crashed right now, I wouldn’t be a prisoner anymore.

That was the bright side of it.

With a sudden jolt, the plane dipped drastically. We dropped dozens of feet downward, my stomach suddenly feeling weightless.

“Oh god.” I gripped the armrests and stifled the scream that naturally wanted to come out of my mouth. Adrenaline spiked in my blood, and I felt both sick and terrified at the exact same time.

Crewe looked at me, unaffected by the sudden jerk of the plane.

I tried to cover up my terror by looking out the window, not wanting him to know just how uncomfortable I was. He wouldn’t give me any pity, especially for something he would deem stupid.

To my surprise, he grabbed my hand on the armrest and held it. “Turbulence is only caused by the mixing of hot and cold air. So when the plane shakes, that doesn’t mean we’re about to crash. It’s normal, Lovely.” He placed his phone in his pocket and directed his stare on me. “Alright?”

“I know…”

He grabbed my chin and tilted my face toward him. He just shaved that morning, so his face was smooth and hairless. It showed off his rugged mouth better than usual. “Eyes on me.”

I did as he asked, mainly because I didn’t know what else to do.

“I love Scotland. It’s always been my home. But there are a few places in the world that feel like home too. Italy is one of them. I love the Tuscan heat, the ripe tomatoes, the wine even though I hardly drink any, and the ancient beauty of it all. You know the Colosseum is two thousand years old?”

Crewe was a man of few words, so sharing this story with me was out of character. “Are you trying to distract me?”

“Yeah,” he answered. “Is it working?”

It was a kind gesture, especially from a man who possessed very little kindness. “Yeah.”

“The first time I went to Rome was when I was eighteen. I took off with some of my friends to blow off some steam. We partied a lot, met beautiful women, and drank more wine than our stomachs could handle. Ever since then, I’ve always loved to visit. But I admit my visits are a lot more low-key now.”

I wondered what he looked like when he was eighteen. That was almost half the age he was now. “Sounds like fun. Finley must have been worried.”

“I drove him crazy when I was growing up. He definitely prefers me as an adult.”

The plane kept shaking, and Ariel sipped her wine like she didn’t even notice.

Crewe carried on the conversation. “We’re staying at one of my villas in Tuscany. It’s quiet and remote. You’ll like it.”

“It’ll be a big change from Scotland.”

“It’ll take some time to get used to the heat.” He kept his fingers around me, his courage seeping into my veins from the contact of our skin. Seeing him so relaxed made me feel better, made me think we weren’t in any imminent danger. There was no way a powerful man like Crewe would allow a plane crash to claim his life. “You can enjoy the sunshine and the pool while I take care of business.”

“How long will we be there?”

“A week at the most. Business with the Barsetti brothers is pretty easy. I usually stick around for a few extra days because it’s a long flight.”

The plane began to shake less and less. Eventually, it felt smooth. The jet glided through the sky, the sound of the air outside the plane the only indicator we were tens of thousands of feet in the air.

My hand loosened around his, and my body finally relaxed. Despite my background in science, the concept of flying across the world had always troubled me. I was always afraid something in the engine would go wrong, or the pilot would make an honest mistake that would send us all to our deaths. I rested my head against the leather cushion and let out a deep breath.

Crewe watched me. “Feeling better?”

“I’m just glad the plane stopped shaking.”

He pulled his hand away, making me feel lonely without his touch. I didn’t need him