Page 24 of Delta Mission

---

I froze, gasping like a fucking idiot.

“Makenna. Stop messing around.”

“I can’t do it.” Sweat trickled down my back.

“Yes, you can.”

“I can’t!” I screamed.

“That’s it. Get angry.”

“I am fucking angry!” I breathed onto the rope, tasting ancient dust on my dry tongue.

“Good, now get your ass up here.”

Clenching my teeth until my jaw hurt, I forced my right hand to release the rope and reach upward.

“That’s it. You’ve got this.”

Inch by inch, I climbed.

My arms trembled, and my damaged finger screamed at me to stop.

Stars danced over my eyes as I forced my hand to reach higher.

My pinkie finger scraped over the rock. I cried out and snapped my fingers away.

Fear ripped through me as I dangled with just one hand.Oh, God. I’m going to die.

I forced my fingers to clutch the rope.

Gasping in pain, I rested my head against the rope.

I’m done.

“I can’t do this. I just can’t.”

CHAPTER 8

Makenna

Tears pooled in my eyes,but I couldn’t wipe them away as panic swept through me like a tsunami.

“Makenna, listen to me,” Channing called down to me. “You can do this.”

“I can’t!” I screamed. “I’m not strong enough.”

“You can. You’re the strongest woman I know. And not just physically. Mentally. Use it.”

I had two choices. Climb . . . or die.

I shuddered out my stupidity. “Okay. Here I come.”

“Good girl.”

Good girl.I liked that.

Do or die.

---