Page 54 of Before and After

Her face went even paler.

My mind went cool and focused. Just like it had on a mission. I hauled her back across the room. This room had a balcony, and I carefully pulled the curtains half closed and opened the sliding door.

“Out,” I ordered.

“We can’t hide on the balcony. They’ll see us. And we can’t jump. We’re on the third floor, Broody.”

“Trust me.”

She stepped outside, just as I heard the front door to the room open.

Calmly, I closed the glass slider and hauled Allie back against the side wall where we were hidden by the partially closed curtains. I pressed her against the wall, shielding her with my body.

“That was a wild fucking tumble, bro,” a voice said from inside.

“Yeah, my knee’s throbbing like a bitch.”

“Ice it, then take a bath.”

“Then we’ll find a pretty young thing to give you a blowjob,” someone else added.

There was laughter.

Allie’s expression was one of disgust.

I pressed my lips to her ear. “Stay quiet.”

She nodded, her hair brushing my cheek, her small, firm breasts pressed to my chest.

“We need beers,” a voice said. “I’ll get them from the mini-fridge.”

“Who wants to sit on the balcony?”

I tensed, and Allie gripped my shirt.

“Nah, I need to keep my leg up. The bed’s comfier.”

I relaxed, but only a little. At any time, one of them could step out here and see us. We needed to get off this balcony.

I edged us over to the railing and looked down. “We’re going to climb over.”

She shook her head. “You’re joking,” she whispered.

“No.”

Her hands twisted in my shirt. “Caden?—”

“I won’t let you fall. I’d prefer not to get busted by these assholes.”

She blew out a breath. “Okay. If I break my neck, I’m blaming you.”

“I’ll go first.”

Staying out of view of the room’s inhabitants, I climbed over the railing, holding it tightly and letting my body drop over and dangle. I looked down, then let go.

My feet hit the railing of the balcony below and I caught it with my hands. I steadied myself, then stood on the balcony. Thankfully, this guest room was empty.

“Okay, Allie. Climb over and dangle down.”