Page 89 of The Devoted Game

“We don’t have time for this shit.” He extended his hand. “If he won’t listen, I need you to. Take hold of my hand.”

One by one, the fingers of Vivian’s left hand unknotted from Worth’s trousers. Trembling, she reached toward McBride. She concentrated hard at keeping the fingers of her right hand gripped tightly around the harness.Don’t let go.

Her fingers tangled with McBride’s for an instant, and then he reached past her hand and got a grip on her wrist.

“Wrap your fingers around my arm,” he told her. “I’m going to pull you toward me. Once I’ve got you back on the ledge, I’ll get Worth.”

McBride pulled her toward him. Worth swayed in that direction with her.

“All right now,” McBride said when her face was only inches from his chest. “Get a hold on the waistband of my jeans with your other hand.”

She shook her head. “I can’t let go of him.”

“You have to if—”

“Do what he says, Grace,” Worth ordered.

“But what if—”

The sensation of falling sucked the air out of her lungs.

Her body jerked to a stop ... Worth’s weight tore at her shoulder. The fingers clamped around the harness started to sweat.

The only thing preventing her from falling was McBride’s hold on her wrist.

The only thing preventing Worth from falling was her hold on the harness.

The line had fallen free of the pulley. It dangled from the harness ... plunging straight down.

It took every molecule of determination she possessed to hold on.

“Don’t you let go of me,” McBride commanded. “Look at me, Grace.”

She blinked, fixed her gaze on his.

That was when she knew just how bad the situation was. Fear glittered in his eyes.

“Okay,” he said, his voice ragged. “I want you to grab on to my waistband with your left hand.”

Since he was clutching her left wrist, she didn’t see a problem with that. She only needed to be close enough.

“When you’ve got a good hold on me, I’m going to let go of your wrist and get a grip on Worth’s harness. Then I want you to let go of him and climb your way around me and over to the ledge.”

She nodded. She wasn’t exactly sure she could do it, but she would try like hell.

“Here we go.”

McBride’s arm trembled as he pulled her upward the few inches necessary for her to grab on to his waistband. “Got it?”

She moistened her lips. “Got it.”

“Now, try to find a rung with your feet.”

He held on to her wrist while she did so. She nodded to let him know mission accomplished. She couldn’t speak now. All her energy was focused on holding on to Worth. Her arm felt numb and tingly. The nylon strap had burned into her fingers. Her shoulder felt as if it would slip from its socket.

“Hang on while I reach for Worth.”

McBride reached out, leaning over her as best he could. “Take my hand, Worth.”