Page 70 of Raven's Curse
“Foster and Zain headed his way. They’ll see his ass comes back in one piece. You just worry about staying awake. You’re even bluer than last night, and I didn’t think that was possible.”
“I can’t. What if Hodges hurt him? What if he’s out there, waiting… I need?—”
“To be safe.” Kash inched closer. “Chase is the toughest son of a bitch I’ve ever met. But he’d break if anything happened to you, so… Rest. His brothers’ll have his back. Now, let’s go get Buck before I end up throttling him. The jerk won’t stop broadcasting over the radio, despite us telling him we were already on it. Something about you giving him an order.”
“Call me crazy, but I might have to give the guy a job.”
Kash rolled his eyes as Greer relaxed against the seat, staring out the window, willing the clouds to lift enough she’d catch a glimpse of Chase — some form of proof she hadn’t lost him. But the rain only kicked up harder, everything closing in around them.
Fate.
That’s what it all came down to. She only hoped that this time, it’d end in her favor.
Chapter Nineteen
Free fall.
His stomach up in his throat, breath held as he slipped over the edge — dropped.
Hit a ledge ten feet below them. A narrow rock formation that shook as they slammed onto the slick surface, the sudden stop stealing his breath.
Chase groaned, pain sparking through his chest, then into his skull, scattering his thoughts. He rolled, nearly puked, then pushed onto his hands and knees. Hodges twitched beside him, glancing at him across the wet stone before clambering to his feet — catching him with a knee to his ribs.
Chase tumbled onto his ass, avoiding the next attack by sliding right, hugging that sheer drop before rolling away, putting as much distance between them as the small ledge allowed.
Hodges snarled, teeth flashing white in the lightning. “You can’t save them all, Remington.”
Chase remained alert, ready to react as he mapped out the available space. Four steps. That’s all they had. “It’s over. The only way you’re getting off this hunk of rock alive is with a chopper.”
“Who said I wanted to live?”
“Hodges. Brother, this isn’t you. I don’t know what they did to you, but this isn’t what you trained for. What you dedicated your life to. You’re the hero. Please, let me help you.”
“This is what happens when heroes fail.”
He lunged, catching a piece of Chase’s jacket as he pivoted. They tripped, fell back to the surface, sliding a few feet from the force. Hodges slipped off the other side, legs dangling mid-air, chest notched against the edge. Chase grabbed one arm, securing the other man as he hooked his elbow around a root — anchored them.
Sweat beaded his brow, the rain sloughing off mud and rocks, shimmying that ledge lower.
Hodges laughed, not even bothering to hold on. “You can’t outlast this ledge, Chase. Sooner or later, you’ll either have to let go — save yourself — or we’re both falling.”
He grunted, hands shaking, every muscle cramping. “Not… an… option.”
“Dying’s not so bad. It’s coming back that sucks.” Hodges reached up — clamped one hand around Chase’s forearm, squeezing until Chase’s fingers numbed. “You don’t get to bring back all the pieces.”
“Then, let’s not die.”
Thunder, only deeper. Bouncing off the cliff, shaking the ledge a moment before a chopper roared overhead, banked left, then circled back. A spotlight ate up the rain, the beam settling on them as the helicopter hovered over top, the rotors kicking up the loose rock.
Salt spray misted up the cliff face, swirling with the eddying winds as the doors opened, a familiar silhouette stepping off the skid.
Chase held steady, staring at Hodges as Zain lowered next to them, the gusting winds swinging him across the cliffside. “It’s now or never, brother. You need to show me your other hand, so I know it’s safe for Zain to help you.”
Hodges tilted his head. “Don’t you trust me?”
“Hodges…”
Chase clenched his jaw, then nodded at Zain, twisting so his buddy could loop a harness around his chest — lock him in.
