I ignore him; all my focus is on getting down to her. When I get within a few feet, I shove myself backwards off the wall and sprint to her side.
She’s breathing, nice and evenly. I carefully feel her arms and legs, then check her head.
She moans.
“Bonnie, don’t move.”
She doesn’t listen and sits up but sways. I catch her to my chest, holding her up and cradling her body.
“What happened?”
“Rojer grabbed your wrist and dragged you off the cliff.”
She blinks. “He dragged me off?”
“Yes. Where do you hurt?”
She blinks, and her eyes aren’t focused. “I hurt everywhere, but I think I hit my head.” She’s wearing a helmet, and I almost weep because I’m so damn grateful.
“Okay, we’re going to take care of you now. You will be fine,” I assure her.
I carefully help her sit by a tree and then, with extreme reluctance, I go to the cliff, glaring at Rojer, who is still shouting.
“Cyn, get your ass down here.”
“What about Rojer?”
“Cut him loose,” I shout, ignoring his screams.
Cyn’s head appears, and he’s grinning manically. “Can I really?”
Rory moves fast, flashing out, and in a fraction of the time, he’s down beside her, gently touching her face. Her eyes are closed, but I’m keeping an eye on her breathing. I think she’s okay, but I can’t relax my guard.
“Get them down,” I say through my teeth to Cyn. I turn to Rory. “You do not leave her. Not for one second.”
I launch myself up the cliff until I’m beside Rojer. “It’s time for you to get down now, but if you try anything, I will cut you loose and leave you to die.”
He must see that I really mean it because he just gives me a tight nod.
I guide him down the wall, hating that I can’t slam his face into it until the cliff is red with his brain matter.
Once he’s on the ground, I force him to strip off the harness and climb back up. One by one, we talk them down. Once they are all down, I turn and find Rojer’s pack.
Without hesitation, I go through it, looking for evidence, something, anything that can help. I find an envelope hidden in a jacket pocket, and when I open it, I hiss.
Dakota looks over my shoulder.
“They’ve got another set of these photos? Sick fucks!”
I pocket the photographs and then turn and throw his bag into the forest. Everyone else’s I gently drop over the cliff.
As one, we lower over the side and descend.
When I turn, they are all looking at us like we’re terrifying, and I guess, in a way, we are. We’ve trained with security and tactical units. I’ve hired mercenaries and martial artists. We’ve got skills that even we don’t remember we have anymore.
Climbing the cliff, though, that was just for fun.
I walk over to her and check her again.
