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“It’s a harness,” he said. “Of sorts. You still need to climb down, Lilah, but this rope will hold you, and I will keep this end. You must be brave.”
“Come on, Will. Is this some kind of joke? There must be another way. I can tell my guards …”
“Your guards are the problem,” he snapped, then made an effort to soften his tone. “You need to go now.”
The shock of his statement brought a jolt of adrenalin to her. Shakingly, she pushed one leg over the railing, and then the next, until she stood on the wrong side of the protective barrier. “I cannot believe I am doing this.”
“It will be quick.”
“A quick death.” She muttered, the joke not at all funny.
“Go, Princess.”
Stepping off the edge of the building was the scariest moment of her life. As she forced herself to give her life over to a piece of tethered rope, she sucked in a deep breath. It was agonizingly painful to support her body weight with her arms. The wind was fierce, and she felt her body sail away from the building. Nausea perforated her gut. “Will!”
“Just wait. It will calm down,” he promised, praying he was right.
Her eyes sparkled with stars as she looked down at the enormous distance to the ground. It was a mile away, surely. “I feel sick.”
“Don’t look at the road.”
“Easier said than done.” She ran her hands a little lower and let out a scream.
“Shush,” he warned, throwing a look over his shoulder. “Go faster.”
Lilah felt that she might pass out at any moment. “You’re speaking as though this is easy.”
“It’s imperative,” he corrected.
“My hands are killing me,” she groaned, moving lower still.
“You’re almost there. Just a little further and your feet will be on the balcony.”
“Really?” She let her hand drop by degrees, her heart pounding unbearably as she went a notch further. Then, with blessed relief, the tip of her shoes hit the balustrade with a reassuring clunk. Another rush of wind threatened to pull her from the building and she hooked her feet together around the railing, holding on for dear life.
“Oh, thank heavens. I’m here, Will.”
“Good. Now, keep going. Swing into the balcony.”
“Yes. Yes, I will.” She did as he said, pushing herself with enormous relief into the safety of the balcony downstairs. But she kept her hands gripped on the railing, staring up at him. Will’s shadow loomed above her, as he deftly began the same descent.
He made it look so easy, one strong hand pushing lower and lower, his body dangling with all the appearance of control and predictability.
Lilah was shaking like a leaf when he dropped down beside her. He had no time to comfort her. His hands moved with almost clinical detachment as he unhooked the rope from her waist.
“Okay,” he nodded at her in a sign of approval. “Let’s go.” He stalked inside without checking that she was following. The woman had just thrown herself off the top floor of a hotel at his request. She wasn’t going to balk at walking into a room with him.
“Put this on.” He lifted a parker out of his fishing kit and a pale red snapback cap.
She looked at it with distaste.
“I know, I know. It’s not your style. It’s just until we get to my car.”
She swallowed. Vanity was a stupid concession at a time such as this. Lilah tucked her hair under the cap and then slid her arms into the jacket. It swum on her.
“Keep your head down as we leave here.” He lifted a hunting knife out of his fishing kit. “No matter how scared you are, walk as though you’re doing nothing wrong.”
“I’m not doing anything wrong.”
