Avenged (Altered #2)(10)
She glanced up. “We’re going to climb the tree in the dark?”
“So much doubt.” He wished she could give him some credit, at least for a minute. “I’ve already attached handholds to this tree and three others. We’re going to do this same maneuver, three more times, until we get down the hill. We’ll stay at a camp in the valley there until we can be extracted.”
“We’re going to zip-line three more times, after we climb three different, very tall trees?”
“Yes.” He glanced down at her stark face in the moonlight. He reached for her, gripping her shoulders. He squeezed softly, and his eyes held hers. “Listen. You can do this. You’re strong, and I’m going to help. But you have to be in this with me. Are you here with me? Because I can’t get you out by myself.”
Her eyes flickered back and forth between his, as if she was searching for something. This was probably the most terrifying thing about Kitty. She could see into a person’s soul. For real.
He forced himself to remain reassuring, to put his confidence in the forefront of his mind.
It must have worked, because she nodded. “I’m here, right?”
He squeezed again, exhaling. “Yes, you are.”
In the distance, he could hear the sound of motors. Damn it. Were they already out looking for them? He did his best to cover up the equipment he’d used to anchor the zip-line cable. Pushing it aside for the moment, he turned to the tree. “You first, lady.”
He pointed out the handholds, and she nodded, scurrying up with more agility than he’d expected.
“I grew up in the mountains, Nick.” Her snarky whisper rent the air. “I’ve climbed trees.”
He chuckled to himself. That’s what he got for assuming.
He followed her, removing each of the handholds as he went. Kitty sat perched in the tree next to a zip-line mechanism exactly like the one he’d used at the complex. He dropped the handholds in a bag he’d anchored to the tree and hooked her on. “You’re first this time.”
A flash of fear washed over her face, but she quelled it immediately. She nodded and set her jaw. Without another word, she pushed off the tree, gliding down the mountain in front of him.
God, her courage…
Dampening that train of thought, he latched on and followed after her. The faster they put distance between themselves and Goldstone, the better.
He stopped his momentum before he ran into Kitty at the next stop point.
They made quick work of unlatching, cutting the cable, and burying the anchor. Kitty didn’t even comment before scurrying up the side of the tree like Spiderman. He followed, using the same procedure with the handholds, collecting them then dropping them in another bag in the treetop.
Up the hill, he could see small lights circling the cement-block building they’d left.
He’d gotten her out. He’d done it.
“I helped, you know.”
He laughed. With some distance between them and the building, he felt lighter, as if his chest might explode with the joy of it all. “Yes, you did.”
He reached over, before he thought anything else, and attached her to the zip-line. She rolled her eyes at him and was off again.
They repeated the process once more. Finally, at the base of the mountain, he cut them out of their harnesses and hid the remains of them in a hollowed tree trunk nearby.
He led her through the trees until they reached the stream that cut through the valley. It carved its way between the mountain they’d come from and the one in front of them, etching into the landscape. Kitty went to the water’s edge, washing her hands and her face. He crouched down a few yards away, giving her a few moments to collect herself.
He splashed some water on his own face and neck and then scrubbed up to his elbows. The stress of the entire situation had left him feeling grimy, and the water’s coldness sharpened his senses.
He stood, gathered the remains of their things, and joined Kitty. She remained in a squat, staring into the water.
“I’ve hidden an ATV over there,” he said, motioning to some underbrush nearby. “We’ll take it to a cave, four miles downstream. We’ll stay there until dawn, when the extraction team is scheduled to get us.”
She nodded, still studying the gurgling stream. After a long moment, she said, “Thank you. For coming for me.” She glanced up, and her thin face was sober, without the defensiveness he’d come to expect. In the moonlight, her skin shone translucent. He blinked, unable to move, held captive in her gaze. “It was…being there…” She shook her head. “Just, thank you.”
He swallowed, finding it difficult to speak. She’d been through hell, he knew, but he had the strangest urge to reach for her, to hold her and to comfort her. He stayed still. Finally, he managed, “You’re welcome.”
She nodded again, standing and heading for the brush.
He reached down, flexing his fingers in the water and gritted his teeth. Man, what was he doing? He’d hoped that if he rescued her, that he would be able to forgive himself. Well, he’d accomplished that goal. The rest of this attraction was only confusing everything. It was unproductive.
Standing, he shook out his arms and ran his hand over his hair, smoothing it back. It took a few deep breaths, but he pulled himself together.
As he caught up to her, he realized he’d left her in her socks. Shame swept through him. How had he forgotten? What kind of asshole let her climb all those trees in her socks?