Page 96 of Betrayal of a Billionaire
“Julia–” Grant said.
“I’m going. We will be okay. I won’t let anything happen to her.”
“I know that,” he answered. “But I’m worried about you.”
“I’ll be okay. This is the best scenario.”
Luke tightened the harness around her. “Not a great scenario, but…she’s right. She’s the better one to go. The stress on this anchor will be enough.”
She offered him a tight-lipped smile as he acknowledged the best plan they had. When he finished with the harness, he tugged a foldable blade from his pocket and handed it to her, then pulled her closer to him, kissing the top of her forehead. “For God’s sake, Julia be careful.”
She nodded at him before she flicked her gaze to Grant. He looked helpless, worried, and paralyzed with fear. “Julia…”
She pulled him into an embrace. He wrapped his arms around her, squeezing her close to him.
She leaned back, squeezing his shoulder. “I’ll be fine.”
“You’d better be. Please be careful.”
She nodded. “I’ll bring her back safe.”
“And you.”
She gave him another nod before she stepped toward the edge of the cliff and spun backward.
“Get down there, get her, and get back up here as fast as you can, okay?”
Julia blew out a steadying breath as she flicked her gaze over her shoulder at the long descent and the rope blowing wildly below her. “Believe me, I’m not planning on dallying.”
After another deep breath to steady her pounding heart, she lifted a foot and took her first step backward. Her feet slipped against the slick rock, sending her spiraling as she descended to Sierra.
“Julia!” Luke called over the cliff.
“I’m okay,” she said as she steadied herself before she continued her descent.
The wet rope burned her hand as she tried to lower herself to Sierra as quickly as possible.
“Julia!” Sierra cried as she pulled level with her.
Julia held out a hand as she stopped her descent with her rappel device. “Don’t move, Sierra. Try to stay still.”
Sierra’s features twisted as tears slid down her cheeks. “But I thought you were going to take me up.”
“I am. But I need to get a little closer so you can grab onto me. I don’t want you to slip, okay?”
“Please hurry.”
Julia nodded as she worked her way closer, her feet slipping with every sidestep on the slippery rock face.
“Hey, Julia,” Luke called from above her. “The anchor’s slipping.”
“I’m almost to her.”
“Julia, you can’t–”
“No!” Sierra shouted. “Please don’t leave me!”
“I’m not leaving you, Sierra. That’s not happening. I’m almost there.”
