Ch. 10 (RWM) :No time for acrophobia

Straddling the white line painted on the hangar’s floor, I waited for Kokoh to begin our training session. There were two private jets and a Beechcraft King Air 350ER that stole my attention, parked out on the runway. The largeness of the building made me feel so small in comparison as I continued taking a gander about the premises. Trent and Tiffany were standing in awe just as Sky and I were while staring at the aircraft. The sound of a door echoing shut caught our attention.
“Good morning, everyone. I hope we all had a good night’s sleep. Today’s lesson is about one of the most daring, yet exciting sports most enthusiasts conquer in their lifetime. It takes patience, the willingness to learn, and the finesse of adequate attention to detail. There is no room for error when encountering this sport. In time, practice and training will perfect your techniques. Safety is the number one factor, for if it is not carefully acknowledged, all may very well end fatally. Now, I will teach you proper survival skills if a worst case scenario were to ever occur, leaving you distressed and possibly deserted. Can anyone tell me what sport I am referring to?”
“Skydiving...” Sky answered in almost a whisper.
Kokoh’s eyes shifted towards her. “Yes, excellent!" His hands clapped like thunder. "Sky, would you mind being my assistant for today’s lesson?” He motioned for her to come join him.
She looked a bit nervous but my smile assured her. "Um--okay."
I had no idea Sky was such the thrill seeker, but I loved it.
We had a four-hour training session that covered everything there was to know about skydiving, from terminology to physically learning how to pack a parachute. Might I add, that alone, is not an easy task!
“Now, the chutes you all have just packed will be the ones you use when you go jump.”
Trenton’s face paled over. “Wait, how do we even know if we did it properly, sir? Pardon my vagueness, but I’ve never done this shit before in my life.” His laugh was shaky.
Kokoh snapped his fingers at Driften who then stalked over to a rucksack, hauling it back to where Kokoh stood.
“I was just fucking with you. Pardon my crude sense of humor. Drift has some that were properly packed by those more experienced.” He smiled.
The sigh of everyone’s relief flowed into the air all at once. In the midst of trying on our containers, Drift helped Kokoh hand out everyone’s jumpsuits.
“I suggest you all tie your sneakers tightly.” Drift mentioned.
Anxiousness rose in my stomach, storing a crate of butterflies. The realness was settling in and I didn't think I was ready to do it. I knelt down beside Sky while she was busy fastening her jumpsuit--so sure of herself. I rested my knee onto the toe of her shoes, one at a time, ensuring her laces to be secured. Tucking the bottom of her pant legs inside her high top shoes, I ran both hands gently up the back of her calves, eyes imprisoning worry. Sky smirked without looking back. How she always knew what I felt without even asking was definitely something special. Rubbing my face with reassurance, Sky motioned for me to stand, securing my straps.
“If for whatever reason you get up there and happen to lose consciousness, or become distracted, your automatic activation device will release your reserve chute at 750 feet. It’s built to track your altitude at all times. Please be aware that you are going 13,000 feet up and falling at approximately 120 miles per hour.” Kokoh lightly chuckled to himself, leading us onto the runway. My throat dried with every step, wondering if I was moments away from encountering death.
Kokoh yelled instructions over the roaring jet engines, making my legs enter a stage of numbness.
“Have a safe jump and I’ll see you back on the ground.”
Sky clutched my hand during takeoff, illuminating thrill. I was busy taking deep breaths, trying to relax before I made myself pass out. Climbing through the atmosphere, the world grew smaller and I--was--terrified. The pilot instructed us to prepare for our jump as we flew over our landing site.
“See you at the bottom, brother.” Trenton leaped off with an ariel flip, stopping my fucking heart.
Tiffany and her insane mid-pregnancy decision jumped out second and I took another deep breath as Sky positioned herself on the edge of the cabin door. My hands froze, chills electrocuting my body until spiking nausea. “Sky...” My voice shook.
She could tell I was scared. “Malice, it’s okay. Just fall and let that tainted soul of yours fly.”
I nabbed at her wrist, forcing her to reacquaint my eyes."I love you.”
“…What?” She was still for a moment.
“I said… I love you.”
“I know." A smile played on her lips. "I just wanted to hear it again.” Sky released my hand and immediately, I fall, too.

I yelled and screamed and laughed to myself the whole way down. I felt so alive with adrenaline pumping through my veins. No drug could ever substitute. Releasing the chute, I gripped my steering cables, stretching my feet out below, preparing myself for a bumpy landing. Sky stood by, waiting with her chute tucked under her arm, shielding her eyes from the sun. The ground came a little faster than anticipated and my unhealed sprain ached all over again.
“Malice, are you all right?” Sky ran to my aid.
“My ankle.” I winced.
“Let me help you.”
As Sky threw her arm around my waist for assistance, I paused with a smile overtaking my face. “That’s what it felt like.”
“What did?” Sky looked confused when I pointed up.
“Falling in love with you."
“Jesus, Malice." I'd never seen her smile so hard. "My man with a silver tongue.”
Back inside the hangar, I rested on a metal fold-up chair, keeping pressure off my ankle. Kokoh was quick to notice.
“What happened to you, Malice?”
“Now is your chance to speak with him about the other day.” Sky whispered.
“This isn't the place to discuss it.”
His eyes narrowed. “Let’s get you out of these ridiculous jumpsuits and I will be more than happy to lend an ear.”

I took my time folding up my suit, repeating what I wanted to say, in my head over and over again. Kokoh allowed the others to leave before escorting me and Sky back to his house.
My eyes fixed on the ticking of Kokoh's jaw, preparing three glasses of scotch, absent his mind. Behind the walls of his office, tensions ran high.
“I feel as though what you’re about to inform me, is rather disturbing to the mind.”
“The other day,” I began. “Sky and I went downtown to grab a bite to eat and just merely enjoy a day of silence when I became skeptical of a man seated a few tables away. This man constantly watched us until deciding to leave upon a brash collision. Not only did he wait for us, but he gunned us down on a hot pursuit by foot. It took a barrel pressed to his cheek to gain an explanation." My face was pinched with betrayal.
“What did the man look like?”
“Before or after I fucked his face up?” A smile pulled at the corners of my mouth as I continued.
Kokoh's icy eyes paled over. “Dmitri? He sent Dmitri after you?” He paused for a moment, cables crisscrossed in his thoughts. “Did he say what for?”
It took everything in me not to throw a right hook and choke the life from him--I just wasn't ready to die. Not then, anyway. “Because you tried killing Juniper, and used me as your fucking bait.” I bit out.
“He wanted something." Kokoh steepled before snatching the neck of his scotch bottle. "The son of a bitch is desperate."
“Your son." In one long gulp, my glass was emptied. "He wants to know where he is."
Kokoh’s nose crinkled like a snarling wolf. “That fucking bastard!”
"You asked me if I trusted you--and I told you yes!" Our eyes lock as he says my name. "You just used me. Awesome."
Kokoh slammed his hands down onto the desk, causing Sky to squeak. “Did you honestly think this would be easy, Malice? I thought you were well aware of the hazards. I was wrong for lacking detail, yes, I'll take that to my grave. But I knew you might have declined if I explained beyond apparent reason.”
“Would you really have given me a choice, otherwise?” I cut my eyes to slits, imagining my hands around his throat.
“Malice, I care for you as if you were Colton. You vowed to help me if I helped you. I never said it didn’t have its flaws, too.”
I sort of laughed. “Apologies, but how is it that you’re helping me?”
“Because I can make your little "problem" disappear. I have invested the unimaginative in Colton’s protection. I’ll do the same for you, but there’s a cost.”
“Isn’t there always?”
“What I am about to ask of you is not something I expect an immediate answer. Take time to reflect and remember, your freedom is received only after completion.”

I knew what he wanted me to do--I needed to hear nothing further. He wanted me to fall into that same dark place that drove me to murder once before. I am a murderer am I not? This all should be easy for me--but it wasn't. A burden put to rest, that was not of my own. I was bound by commitment and desperate to run.
Kokoh explicated our discussion about how it needed to be done, sparing no gruesome detail. It wasn’t like coaxing Charlie and his dumbass brutes down to the train station. This was more explicit and complex, forcing me to feel inhuman. I had to consider Juniper’s murder as nothing more than a job well done. 'Business is business'. I had to look at him like I used to look at my own father. How else could I look a man in the eyes and neglect the pain I've caused him? It was the moment I asked myself, for the very first time, 'what the fuck am I doing?'.

We had a long span of training ahead and to have the upper hand, Kokoh offered to bring in Keef and Javan. A casual beer and barbecue held at Kokoh's place simmered down the sparking nerves zapping between us. "Juniper vacations at a house that’s located up in Marquette." I watched Kokoh's hand swipe across the small of Sky's back as he made his way to his seat. "He has a private piece of land that sits mountainside. A remarkable view of the ocean." His eyes fixated on Sky and I didn't like it. "I've been keeping surveillance on the area. He'll be settling in for his annual trip, in about three weeks." Whispers were ceased once Kokoh dismissed himself.
It wasn't like him to be so impersonal. Something was on that restless mind of his and I longed to get to the bottom of it. I excused myself from the sprouting debate, chasing after Kokoh. He was in his kitchen, leaned against the counter with an open wine bottle. I slowly emerged, seeing him grab another glass from the cupboard--never turning around. "How the world may never make sense to me, I drink to forget." I hear him laugh. "Don't think I did not see the flame in your eyes the moment I touched Sky." He turns, offering me a glass.
I nod with gratitude, listening closely. "It's been so long. Ugh." Kokoh fought to finish his sentence. "I've had a lot to drink, Malice. I need sleep."
My eyes pierced his back as he turned to leave. "She'll never--ever be up for discussion." I sat down the untouched glass of Merlot, hoping he understood the severity of my words.

Our ride home was silent, though, my head was crowded with the uproar of madness. Did I make a mistake by saying that to Kokoh? Maybe it was the hunger in his eyes that had me going. It was too familiar, the eyes you give when your face is between her thighs just before tasting her climax. I needed to be alone for awhile until my mind quietened down.
Drift was seated in the living room with Trent and Tiffany, drinking wine and bullshitting.
“Glad to see you two are still alive. Here, this is for you!” Drift held out a Cuban cigar with a congratulatory smile.
“Thanks, but I'm calling it a night. I need to relax and meditate some.”
“Oh," Trent grins. "You need to stroke off some stress?”
I shot up a middle finger, grabbing a kiss from Sky. "Are you okay?" She lowers her tone.
"Yeah," I lied. "All of this training has got me worn down." Sky left my side, heading off to fetch another bottle of wine.

I made my way to the bathroom in mine and Sky's bedroom, starting the water flow. Looking into the mirror, I ran my fingers through my thickening beard before deciding to trim it back down to stubble. Peeling my shirt off, I proudly rubbed my chest, admiring its broadness. My eyes sedate, looking through the mirror, steam rising from the tub. One foot at a time, my body was scolded as I eased my way down and like a child, I hugged my knees. I felt I wasn't in control of my life and that my friend, is an all-time low--even for me. Able to move, I wetted my hair, running hand scoops of water all over my chest and arms. That blue-eyed angel of mine, stood in the doorway--silently observing me.
Holding out her glass of wine for me to take, Sky approached, pulling her shirt over her head. I put the glass of wine to my lips, my stare being acute. Sky ran her hands up and down her body, unfastening her shorts before reaching behind to unsnap her bra. Two perfectly round breasts came into view, exciting me more--tearing at my gut. I follow her hand as it disappears behind white panties, massaging herself while on her knees. My muscles hardened, longing for her to touch me and let me be the hand coursing through that bright hair. “My God, Malice…" She gasps and my breathing intensifies. "This is how I feel every time you touch me.” Her sighs and moans turned me on as Sky climaxed in less than three minutes. Christ.
Standing to her feet, Sky dropped her bottoms, joining me. Lying in between my legs, I stroked her head as she laid against my twitching chest. I trailed wet fingertips up and down her thighs, massaging her hips because I needed to feel control.
“Malice," I groan in response. "can I be completely honest with you?” Moving a hand in between her legs, I felt my shoulders rise. “I am so scared of what’s to come. I am always..." She exhales, feeling my fingers. "By your side, without a doubt. It’s just a struggle..." Sky releases a faint moan. "Fuck," her hands clasp around my arms, spreading open just a little more.
"What's a struggle?" I exhale, running my tongue up the side of her neck.
"To push--" She twitches. "My emotions aside--" She twitches once more. "Pretending like we live a normal life." Sky gasps, taking a hand to mine to increase my speed. "Oh, fuck--I'm gonna cum, Malice!"
I sat up, sinking my teeth into her shoulder and a feisty hand gripped the back of my head, rippling the water with convulsive movements.
"I will always have you, Sky," I whispered. "As long as you're with me--nothing will ever happen."