Page 38 of Trusting Skulls (Rebel Skull MC #8)
Chapter Thirty-Six
Lexie
M y heart beats out of my chest as Ash walks us toward the cliff.
“This is the perfect spot,” he assures me. “The rope isn’t long enough, but you’ll only fall a couple of feet. Try to land on your good foot. Make sure you stay as close to the rocks and away from the edge as you can.”
“Oh god,” I say as I lower myself to the ground, my feet dangling over the side.
“My dad always said if you aren’t living on the edge, you’re taking up too much space,” he jokes.
“I’d laugh if I wasn’t busy trying not to piss myself.”
“It’s okay if you do. It will make it look more realistic.”
How can he be so laid back when a man is literally chasing us with a gun?
He ties the rope around my waist, and then he kisses me. “This is going to work.”
“How will I know when he’s close?”
Ash turns my face toward him, forcing me to look into his eyes. “You’re not going to let him take anything else from you. You can do this. It’s either kill or be killed. Just quiet your mind and listen. You’ll hear him coming.”
He continues to stare at me until I wrap my mind around what he’s just said. “I’m ready,” I whisper.
“That’s my girl.” He kisses me one last time and then begins to lower me to the slab of rock jutting out about ten feet below us.
“Okay, that’s as far as it goes!” Ash yells from above.
He counts to three as I take a deep breath, and then I release the knot. I don’t have to worry about landing on my ankle because my ass takes the brunt of the fall. I cry out, but that’s okay. It’s all part of the plan.
“You good?” he asks.
I nod up to him, and then he disappears. A few seconds later, he tosses his shoe over the edge. It bounces off the rock in front of me, landing a few feet below.
That’s my cue.
I roll to my stomach, struggling not to throw up with how small my little ledge is. It’s fine. I’m fine.
“Ash!” I scream at the valley below. “No! Ash! No!”
The mere thought of losing him makes the tears come easily. I continue to scream until my voice goes hoarse.
After that, I clear my mind, my fear evaporating with each beat of my heart, and I listen. Every sound becomes heightened.
Time passes slowly, but eventually I hear something.
My mouth is dry, but I manage a raspy and weak, “Help.”
The sound of footsteps is closer now, hurried.
“Help! Oh god, please help me!”
Rocks slide over the edge, raining down on me as I cover my eyes. Graham’s face appears above me a few seconds later.
“Lexie!” he yells down.
“Oh god, Graham, Ash fell. He fell.” I begin to cry again and push myself up to a sitting position.
I’m sure I look quite the dirty fucking mess.
Graham takes in the scene around me, spotting Ash’s shoe. A slow smile spreads across his face as he sets his gun down beside him. “I’ll get you, sweetie. Just calm down.”
“But he’s down there somewhere. What if he’s dead?”
“Oh, he’s dead.” Graham shrugs out of his pack and then lays down on the ground. “Give me your hand.”
I stand up slowly. “I think I broke my ankle. I don’t think I’ll be able to reach you.”
“Let’s just give it a try. If I can’t get you, I’ll go back and get some rope.”
As soon as I’m upright, I plaster myself to the side of the mountain just like Ash told me to do.
Seconds later, a scuffle erupts above me. I close my eyes and pray.
Please God, please. If you let Ash live, I’ll do anything. Anything!