Page 102 of Betrayal of a Billionaire

Grant’s chest tightened as a mix of hope and dread coursed through him. “I’ll come with you.”

Alicia shot him a stone-faced glance before she flicked her gaze to Ethan, reaching for his hand. He grabbed hers and slid an arm around her shoulder. “We’ll find her, Ally.”

Kyle stepped closer to Grant. “Tell me this isn’t as bad as it sounds.”

Grant clenched his jaw as the image of Julia and Sierra falling away from him tumbled through his mind. He raised his eyes to Kyle’s pinched features. “It was a pretty far fall, and the anchor broke before they made it.”

The expression on Kyle’s face told him everything he needed to know about how bad their injuries could be. It renewed the tension in him as they headed back out into the drizzle, now searching for their potentially hurt family. “Dad, they could be…”

“I know,” Grant answered. “We have to find them. Julia…took way too big of a risk.” He needed to step up and find them both. He needed to bring her back.

He slid into the car with Kyle and Alicia, not allowing her to stop him. He had to prove to himself, and to Julia, that he could be worthy of their relationship and the courage she had shown for him. He’d find her. He had to.

CHAPTER 22

JULIA

The ground blazed toward them at a dizzying speed as the rope buzzed through the open brake. As they plummeted, Julia’s mind raced with fears for their safety, the dread of what lay below, and a fierce determination to protect Sierra. Their speed increased, and Julia desperately tried to slow them as they reached the treetops, burning her hand as she tried to grab the rope.

They still hit the top branches harder than she would have liked, but seconds later any tension on the rope let loose. The anchor had failed, she realized, as she smacked into a branch.

Pine needles scratched her face as she fell, clinging to Sierra to stop her from falling.

After another smack into another branch, she stopped short, the rope she was tethered to becoming caught. The stop jolted her, shaking Sierra from her grip. The woman fell further until Julia grabbed her wrist, halting her fall.

She groaned as she swung in the air, her shoulder pulling with the effort to hang onto Sierra.

“Julia!” Sierra cried.

“I got you,” Julia said with gritted teeth. “See if you can find something to grab onto, okay?”

“Like a branch?” Sierra asked.

“Yep. We want to try to climb down.”

Sierra’s panicked groan told her she couldn’t find anything. “I don’t know.”

“It’s okay. We’re just going to have to drop down from where we are. I’m going to let go of you, okay.”

Sierra tightened her grip on Julia. “No!”

“Sierra, you’re not that far up, okay? Try to fall on your backside.”

“Are you saying I’m fat?”

“No, why would you think–”

“You said fall on my butt. Like it has so much padding, I can’t get hurt.”

“That’s not what I meant, Sierra. But I’d like to try to avoid a broken ankle or wrist. You may get the wind knocked out of you, but pull your legs up to your chest, okay?”

“Julia, no, don’t drop me!”

“Sierra, I have to. I’m stuck here. I’ve got to cut myself loose.”

They dangled a few more moments as the rain continued to fall and the rope creaked under their weight. The branch above her cracked, and they fell closer to the ground.

“Julia!” Sierra shouted, panic lacing her voice. “I’m not ready.”