Chapter Eleven
I didn’t know how long things were quiet, but I did have this pain of somebody’s fingers digging into my wrist. I was petrified, completely at a loss what to do and I didn’t want to open my eyes fearing what I was going to see.
“I know it’s going to be difficult, but try and stop moving. I should’ve told you what I had planned, but there’s no point in lamenting over something that can’t be helped.” Bailey’s voice was soft spoken, but I could hear every word as clear as a bell. “He’s getting closer and I can hear his boots. This is less than ideal and I’m going to have to rethink my strategy.”
I opened my eyes stunned to see that we were dangling over the precipice with the raging waters below beckoning us to our demise.
“I don’t know if I got them, but there’s no sign of them here. Do a detailed search downriver and I’ll make sure to double back to the cabin. I know what my job is and I don’t need you to remind me. I will deal with the fallout and he’s going to want proof positive that he’s dead. The woman with him is inconsequential and there’s always going to be some collateral damage.”
This man’s voice sounded disciplined and his cold tone made me shiver with the reality of how easily he could have killed me not thinking twice about it.
I looked up and I couldn’t see him, but that was probably a good thing. If I couldn’t see him then it was unlikely he was able to see us from his vantage point. Loose rocks were dislodged from where he was standing. They barely missed us by a few inches.
Bailey was cutting off my circulation and I was losing feeling in my fingers. It was causing my body to react with my fingers going numb from the wrist up. My eyes followed up along his naked body and the only thing holding us back from plummeting to the unforgiving water was a branch sticking out from the cliff face.
The wind from this height did not care that we were hanging by a thread. I could feel it blowing through my hair. I became aware that I was holding my breath not sure why, but it seemed important not to attract unwanted attention.
“This isn’t what he wanted and he was quite clear about having digital proof before payment is to be received. The current is moving quickly in your direction and it shouldn’t be long until you see their bodies floating by. I would be careful not to blink and you might miss it.” His voice was getting hard to understand and the brief snippets of conversation were garbled by how he was walking away from the scene of the crime.
I didn’t notice before, but there was blood from a wound to Bailey’s shoulder during the fall. He must’ve shielded me with his own body and took the brunt of the damage. He was curling his lip and the branch was slowly pulling out from the soft earth due to our weight pulling it from its roots.
“Chelsea, we need to remind each other that we are Lincoln’s and that means we never give up or surrender. I want you to very carefully shimmy up my body and I will do my best to balance your weight. Go slowly, but not too slowly because I’m not sure how long this branch is going to hold.”
I was in shock, but his voice wrenched me from my own thoughts.
“I’m not a soldier and I don’t play one on TV. I’m going to need a moment, but time doesn’t look like a commodity we have in abundance.”
I swung my arm up from where it was hanging by my side until I was gripping his wrist.
“Try and not to jostle us and believe me I know how difficult that is going to be. The only thing saving us is that we didn’t fall and they’re going to need time to verify we survived the attack.”
I saw some of our clothing hanging from a couple of very thin branches and they were dangerously close to being lost from the wind trying to pull them from where they were snagged.
There was a bit of an overhang and it was the reason why this man couldn’t see us. Somebody up there was looking out for us. I was a big believer in things happening for a reason. I was a bit of a tomboy growing up and climbing had become a guilty pleasure. I hadn’t done it in almost three years and I knew exactly when I stopped.
“I don’t want to hurt you any more than you already are. You have a very nasty gash on your shoulder which I’m going to have to attend to. It’s a good thing you know a woman who has earned her fair share of merit badges.” I knew a few tricks and nature had this funny way of supplying what was needed.
I had my arms wrapped around his waist and I was breathing deeply knowing full well one wrong misstep and I would be nothing more than a memory.
“I’m sorry I got you involved and I knew somebody was going to come after me. I think you already understand that running for me was never an option. I face my enemies and they obviously took the bait of the breadcrumbs I left. I used a means of communication not encrypted on purpose to draw them to me so that I could treat them like fish in a barrel.” I was appalled by his lack of trust and how he had left me in the dark.
I had no time to dwell on the anger seeping into my veins and my time was better spent pulling us from catastrophe. I put my hand on one of his shoulders and then I did the same thing with the other one until my legs were wrapped around him like a boa constrictor.
“Don’t take my silence for acceptance and we are going to talk about this.” I climbed him pretending he was the drainpipe outside of my house when I snuck in after curfew. I had my knees on his shoulders and I was high enough that I could use the rocks in front of me as handholds.
“I honestly thought I could take care of this without you even finding out. I was a bit selfish and I could have easily gone off alone to hunt them. I wanted you by my side and I hope you don’t hate me for putting you in unnecessary danger again.” He wasn’t just telling me what I wanted to hear and there was true remorse for making me a pawn in his game.
“I should have known better than to think you would readily walk away from a fight. Even before the military, you could never stand down and turn the other cheek. It would appear your training is better than swinging wildly hoping to hit something.” I lifted myself up onto the ground and I knelt and kissed the earth with a silent prayer in my heart.
I remembered Bailey was still in trouble and I scrambled to the edge to see his hand suddenly appear. I grabbed him with both hands and I reached down deep for that adrenaline in reserve. It wasn’t easy considering he was two times my size, but I braced myself against a rock and continued undeterred.
“Just a little more.” I don’t know where he had the semblance of mind to grab the clothes hanging from the branches. He was on his hands and knees and I saw this look of determination in his eyes. “They are going to pay dearly for that and I brought some party favors which should tip the scales.”
It was precisely that moment when there was an explosion which rocked us on our feet. I stumbled back flailing my arms and looking at him to help me before it was too late.