Conspiracy Game

hope to keep him from hitting the ground below the outcropping.

The edges of the jagged rock face ripped and peeled back his skin as Jack slammed his fist hard into the tapered crack. Blood seeped down his arm, and his shoulder nearly snapped as it took the brunt of his full weight. He took a breath to still his rapidly beating heart, and slowly let it out, easing the pain away from his mind while he searched with the toes of his boots for the two-inch ledge he knew was there. It was a relief to find the tiny jutting rock to help take the weight of his body. Insuring his fist would hold tight in the crevice, he glanced down below him, free arm outstretched back toward his family.

Ready Ken? Briony?

Briony swallowed. Ready for what? They hadn’t told her what they expected yet, but Ken tugged at her arm, drawing her away from the safety of the steep wall. She moistened her suddenly dry lips. Tell me what to do.

Climb up onto Ken’s shoulders and crouch to get extra spring. He’ll help launch you. You have to hit my wrist, baby, just like your work. I’ll catch you.

One-handed. In the dark. Briony blew out her breath, rubbed one hand soothingly over her rounded tummy, and stepped onto Ken’s bent thigh to get to his shoulders. Once in place, it was easy enough to keep her equilibrium. He was strong, his shoulders broad, and she was used to working with balance. She remained in a crouch, judging the distance, waiting for Jack’s signal.

Go.

Briony burst into the sky, launched by her own powerful leg muscles as well as the extra push from Ken. She flew straight up, arm outstretched, gaze locked on her target. Her palm slapped Jack’s wrist, fingers curling tight as he caught her in a viselike grip. Feel for the ledge with your toes. It’s only a couple of inches wide. Reach with your free hand and feel for the crack above your head. With his enhanced strength, he pulled her up beside him.

Briony stretched her toes and ran her foot along the wall as far down as she could, feeling along the rock face until she felt the tiny outcropping. She had to maintain her balance as she slid the fingers of her free hand up toward the crevice to find the edge. I’ve got it, Jack. You can let go.

Jack didn’t want to let her go. They were thirty-five feet in the air, clinging to the side of a sheer cliff with rocks below. He wanted to shield her body with his, wrap her up in his strength, but it was impossible and Ken was waiting.

A blast sounded closer, and this time the crown of a tree exploded in the distance, shattering the night, the trunk cracking with loud groans before splitting with a grinding sound and falling to the ground.

Jack ignored the orange and red flames and leaned down toward his brother. Go.

Ken didn’t hesitate, leaping with a smooth, practiced motion and gripping Jack’s wrist hard. Instead of finding the ledge and planting his feet for safety, Jack began to swing him back and forth like a giant pendulum.

Briony watched in horror as Jack threw Ken up and over at least ten feet from where she clung to the cliff face. She couldn’t tear her gaze away as Ken reached out with both hands, clawing at what appeared to be a smooth surface. His fingertips dug in and held. He hung there for a moment catching his breath, brow pressed against rock as he began to move his feet cautiously, looking for the widening crack where he could place his feet.

Your turn, Briony.

Jack’s voice was a caress, but a shiver of protest skittered down her spine. I think I’m going to be sick.

Wrong time, baby. He held out his hand to her. I’ll let you know when you need to release. Ken will be waiting. You’ve done this kind of thing a million times.

She glanced back at the tree burning in the distance far below them and squared her shoulders. Jack reached back for her and she told herself she had no choice. They had to get up the cliff if they wanted to survive. She leapt and caught his wrist, kicking out with her legs to help Jack swing her, just as Ken had done. Once in the air, instincts took over and she helped create the arc needed for the flight.

Go. The command came and she released, flying toward Ken and the huge expanse of rock. She did a graceful dive, arms outstretched, waiting for the familiar smack of flesh on flesh, the satisfying sting as they came together. Ken caught her wrist in a solid grip and held her for a moment while she caught her breath.

That was great, Briony. The toehold is just to the left of your foot. Keep feeling for it. You’re almost there. Ken guided her to the safety of the small crevices.

The moment she was secure, she looked back down at Jack, her heart beating too fast. How are you going to make it without help? It’s too far on your own.

Ease over to the side to make room between you. I’m coming up.

She reminded herself he’d done it before, but her mouth was dry and she felt close to panic as he slowly removed his fist from the crack and turned completely outward to face them. Even with the tiny ledge, he maintained his balance, but she could barely breathe with fear for him. She felt concentration in his mind, and in Ken’s mind, and then Jack launched himself into the air, crouching precariously and using enhanced calf and thigh muscles to propel him into the air and over toward his brother.

Instinctively, Briony reached for him, using one arm to anchor her body while she stretched the other toward him. Ken was closer and bent back, the fingers of one hand digging into the ledge as the fingers of the other closed like a vise around Jack’s wrist. Briony caught Jack’s shirt, and they drew him up beside them so that all three pressed tightly against the cliff breathing heavily.

You ready to do it again? Jack asked.

Briony tilted her head to look up at the cliff face. It seemed miles away, an impossible task. They were enhanced, but their arms and legs ached with strain, and one tiny misstep would kill them all. Jack nuzzled her neck, leaned in close, and smiled at her, but the darkness hid any light that might have reached his eyes. Makes you feel alive, doesn’t it?

Jack. I love you. I do. But you’re just a little bit crazy. And that was the thing. He actually was enjoying himself. You have ice water in your veins.

We have to make the top before dawn. We’ll need a lead time before they come after us. I’ll call in reinforcements at the next leg up, Ken said. But they won’t be here for a few hours, and we’re going to need a place to hole up and wait.

Jack nodded and studied the wall rising above him. The crevice runs through the rock about fifteen feet above our heads. It’s too wide farther to the left to use for anything but a finger-or toehold, but it makes a good boost to the next level.

Briony could barely concentrate on what he said-the need to wrap her arms around him and keep him safe was nearly overwhelming. She watched him spring up and over again, this time about a ten-foot jump, one easier than the last. She let herself breathe again when Jack hung above them waiting for her to join him.

The climb took hours, with a repeat over and over of their strange flying act. By the time they reached the top, all of them were exhausted, but exhilarated that they’d made it. They lay for a long time on the edge of the cliff, straining to breathe while they listened-and scented the wind for the enemy they knew would be waiting in the dark for them.

CHAPTER 20

Jack touched Briony’s shoulder and swept his hand up her arm to settle his fingers around the nape of her neck. Ken and he not only practiced such ascents, but had used them on occasion to escape enemies, but he’d never been so tense in a situation as he had in this one. Jack Norton didn’t get clammy skin, sweaty palms, or a churning stomach in combat. He was infamous for the ice in his veins and his complete discipline over his emotions when he worked, but now-everything had changed. Briony. He massaged her neck and leaned against her, absorbing the warm satin of her skin.

What is it?

She turned her head to look at him, her dark chocolate eyes filled with such an intensity of love his stomach