Page 14 of Steal My Breath Away

I startled when Ace came up behind me. I hadn’t even heard his footsteps.

“Just wait until you see the waterfalls and the view from the top of Blackrock. Dad said we’re going to do that hike today.”

“Did you tell your parents you were coming up here?” His tone was more inquisitive than admonishing, and I appreciated that he wasn’t judging me.

“I thought I’d be able to get back before they woke up. We’ve done this walk lots of times. It’s not like I could get lost.” I looked over at him, hands stuffed in the pockets of his jeans, T-shirt uncharacteristically untucked, hair mussed like he’d just rolled out of bed. “How did you know about the trail?”

“I followed you.” He shrugged. “I figured you’d be up early and find something interesting to do.”

“It gets crowded up here during the day,” I said. “But if you get here early enough you can have it all to yourself.”

We watched the colors change from pinks and golds until the sun was fully up. It was one of the few times I didn’t mind the silence, because Ace was talking without using any words.

“We should get back,” he said finally. “Your parents will be worried.”

“Not if you’re with me.” I knew he hadn’t followed me because he was looking for something to do. He’d come to keep an eye on me, and it didn’t bother me the way it did with Matt. My brother would have shouted at me and dragged me back to camp. But Ace had stayed to enjoy the view. “Thanks for coming.”

“Thanks for showing this to me.”

I heard a rustle in the bush, followed by the crack of sticks anda huff so loud I knew it wasn’t human. Two eyes blinked in the shadows and then a black bear walked out of the bushes and onto the path leading back to camp.

Ace’s arm slammed across my chest, and I sucked in a sharp breath. I didn’t feel so grown-up anymore. I wasn’t supposed to leave the campsite alone. There was no way off the lookout except through the thick forest or down the path, and if the bear charged at us, the only escape was over the cliff.

“I’ll run over there and try to get him to chase me.” Ace pointed to the side of the lookout. “You get to the path and go back to the campsite.”

“You can’t run from a bear,” I said. “We have to make noise and wave our arms to scare him away.” Mom and Dad had drilled us on how to handle a bear, although we were never supposed to go hiking without bells and bear spray.

“Go away,” Ace shouted at the bear.

“No. Like this.” I dropped the flowers I’d picked for Mom, jumped up and down, and waved my arms. “HEY BEAR!! GO AWAY BEAR!! GET OUT OF HERE!! BEAR!!”

Unimpressed by my efforts, the bear just stared.

“You try,” I said to Ace. “You’re bigger and louder than me.”

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH BEAR!!!!!!” Ace yelled, waving his arms. I clapped my hands and joined in. Still the bear didn’t move.

“Do you have anything to throw?” Ace asked.

“I have some stones in my pocket. I picked them from the creek for Matt.” I handed him a few stones. “Don’t hurt him. We’re just trying to scare him.”

We shouted some more and threw our stones until Ace hit the bear’s nose. The bear growled and shook his head. For a moment I thought he was going to charge us, but he turned and lumbered away into the forest.

“Let’s go.” Ace grabbed my hand and half ran, half dragged me down the path until we reached the meadow, and I realized I’d left my flowers behind.

“Wait.” I pulled to a stop. “I need flowers.”

“We need to get back to the campsite.” Ace put his hand in his pocket. “I only have one stone left.”

“He didn’t follow us. We’re safe now.”

Ace offered me the stone. “At least you’ve got one left to give to Matt.”

“I think you should keep it.” I folded his hand around it. “That’s a lucky stone. You never know when you might need it.”

CHAPTER 8Haley

Stellar Security’s Chicago branch was on the twelfth floor of a tall high-rise in the Loop. Everything about the office screamed professionalism and efficiency, from the sleek black uniforms of the staff to the display cases filled with high-tech surveillance equipment lining the walls. Decorated in varying shades of gray and steel, it was a stark contrast to the bustling city streets below.

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