Page 83 of Fighting With Light

“Long story short, we found out that someone in Portugal talked to Tommy Cameron, and Tommy Cameron sent…crap, what was his name?” I snap my fingers, trying to recall. Names have never been my strong suit. “Oh, Emelio Bernardo, does that ring a bell?”

“Sorry, no.”

“Well, I just remembered he mentioned Portugal and maybe…”

“My father talked to Ferreira, who called the hit on your brother,” she says.

“I mean…it’s possible,” I mutter. She shifts on her feet. “It wouldn’t surprise me,” she whispers, looking down at her feet. “I’m sorry, Liam.”

I huff a laugh and grab the back of her neck. “There is nothing for you to be sorry for.”

She smiles at me, but doesn’t seem to agree. “Are we going to climb this rock or not?” she asks. “Yep, did you plot your route?”

She nods, still looking at the route.

“Do you want to go over it with me?” I ask.

“Nope, I’m ready,” she says.

“Okay then, let’s get you harnessed up. But first, I have to go attach this rope.” She looks up between me and the rock face we are about to climb. I stoop down and pull my harness on, tightening it, then grab my large bag of chalk, buckling it around my waist. I dip my hands in it to cover my skin and clap off the excess. Then I grab both lengths of rope and hook them over my shoulder.

“Wait. What are you doing?” Aelia asks.

I smile and wink at her, stepping up to the rock. I love a good climb. It’s been a while since I’ve been here, so I don’t totally remember what I did.

“Wait! No! Liam, you can’t climb without a rope!” she says, out of breath.

I chuckle, grab her chin and kiss her quickly, leaving chalk marks on her skin before taking my first hold.

“Why can’t you just…I don’t know, go around and walk up the mountain?” she yells. Smiling to myself, I take the next hold the rope is in the way, but I can deal.

“Because that takes too long!” I yell and go back to climbing. I realize I’m being stupid and could hurt or kill myself because I’m soloing a climb sans the rope. Butdamn,does it feel good. That shot of adrenaline helps me to focus on one hold after the other. I brought two ropes with me so I can loop one at the top and then tie a backup for Aelia if the first one fails.

Some grabs are a bit tricky, but it’s a pretty simple route for me. I haven’t been climbing in so long I’ve missed it. I’m lucky I have Aelia who is down for the adventure. She has become an adventure herself, and I find myself wishing that it never ends.

About twenty-five minutes later, I hit the top where a steel loop was drilled into the ground by large bolts. It’s meant for this exact thing. Looping the ropethrough the ring, I pull on it as hard as I can, and it doesn’t budge. I toss one length of the rope over the edge and get myself knotted to the other. Then I make sure the safety rope is in place through another ring, and properly knotted by checking it twice.

Stepping to the edge, I look down at Aelia, who is looking up at me. “Coming down!” I shout. Placing my feet in the right position, I turn around, holding on to the other length, and rappel down the side.

I drop to my feet, and Aelia throws herself into my arms. “Please never do that again. I thought I was going to have a heart attack.”

Chuckling, I kiss the top of her head. “That’s part of the fun, though,” I mutter.

She pushes me away and glares at me before punching me in the arm. I wince and rub the spot. The woman knows how to throw a punch. “I’m serious, Liam! That was insane! For no reason at all other than showing off to…I don’t know,impress me?” she yells.

I grin and hold out my arms. “Did it work?”

She groans frustrated and rolls her eyes. “You are so stupid and insane…but yeah, that was cool,” she says her last few words quietly, not making eye contact.

Reaching for her wrist, I tug her back into me and she lays her head on my chest.

“If you don’t have to risk your life like that again, please don’t,” she mutters.

Something weird happens in my chest. It’s like her words struck a fire and everything feels warm, as if my heart is being fused back together. My arms tighten around her, and I kiss the top of her head. “Okay, princess. I won’t.”

She rubs her cheek against me. “Good,” she says and takes a step back, subtly swiping her cheek. “Okay, get me hooked up. I want to go.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I unhook myself and go back to our pack to pull out her harness and another bag of chalk. Holding out the harness for her to step into, she takes my shoulders for balance and slips her feet through the holes. I pull it up to her hips and start tightening the belt around her waist. I check the place where she will be hooked to me by tugging on the loop hard and she falls into me. “Sorry, just checking.” I smile.