Page 87 of The Devoted Game

She would have to be the one to climb around to the ladder. No question about it.

“Or we could try to find a rope or something long enough for the person on the ladder to loop around him. Then one end could be tossed to the person over here or hung on to during the climb back around to this side,” he suggested.

“The building is empty except for a few pieces of ancient equipment.” She stated the obvious, mostly to let him know she understood there was no other way to do this. “There’s nothing to use except the stuff we brought with us.”

“So, which side do you want?”

“Like I have an option.” Since when had McBride turned into such a gentleman? Maybe he was afraid she was going to fall, and he wanted to be nice for a change.

She kicked off her pumps and peeled off her burgundy jacket. As an afterthought she shouldered out of her holster and passed her weapon to him.

“Listen to me, Grace.”

“I know, I know,” she mumbled. “You’ve been waiting all this time to have me strip in front of you.”

He grabbed her chin and forced her to look him in the eye. That usual wicked gleam was missing, replaced by an intensity that made her heart stumble. “Hang on tight with your fingers and your toes. And whatever you do, don’t look down.”

“Okay.” She wet her dry lips. “No problem.”

With one last bracing indrawn breath, she reached for the closest extrusion inside the shaft, settled one foot on the narrow concrete ledge that went all the way around to the ladder on both sides, and prepared to push off.

Keep your attention on Worth. You’re his only chance.

“Wait, Grace.”

She froze.

“Your legs are shaking.”

Well, duh. She was scared shitless.

“Take a breath,” he ordered. “Try to relax your muscles.”

Easy for him to say.

“Do it, Grace!”

“Okay, okay.” Vivian closed her eyes and focused on relaxing her muscles, calming her nerves.Concentrate.One muscle at a time ...relax.

“Good,” McBride praised. “Just take it slow and easy. We’re not out of time yet.”

But the truth hit her: If they ran out of time, she and Worth would both be killed.

No more wasting time.Get moving!

Slow but steady, she inched away from the safety of the door ... of McBride.

The dust settled in her nostrils and she sneezed. The cables she grabbed on to felt greasy. But she kept moving. Along the side wall, then across the back.

When she got within reach of the vertical row of rungs, she scrubbed her palm on her skirt and then grabbed hold of one. She swung her left foot onto a lower rung, then the right. Thank God. She made it. Hanging on to the rungs was a whole lot easier.

“Hook your left arm around a rung so you’ll have a better hold,” McBride suggested. “Then push Worth this way with your right hand.”

Easier said than done. She had to turn her body facing the opening where McBride stood. No wonder he wanted her to hook her left arm around the rung. Though she had wiped her hand, her fingers still felt slippery.

With some precarious maneuvering, she got into position.

Worth was still out cold. “Sorry about this, SAC,” she muttered as she grabbed the harness and drew his limp body toward her, preparing to push.