“How do you know that?”
“I studied more than computers in school. Engineering was my minor.”
“Aren’t you just full of surprises?”
“Right back at you, babe.” We share a smile.
“Laurent’s full of surprises, too,” she grumbles. “He’s lucky I didn’t get my hands on that gun.”
My fingers find exactly what I’m looking for, but I hesitate before pushing it. I need to make sure she’ll stay with me, not run off and attempt to foolishly face off with our sneaky adversary. “Would you have shot him?”
She thinks about my question for half a second. “No, but I would’ve shoved that gun right up his arse and given it a nice French twist.”
A laugh bursts from me. God, she’s a pistol, and I love it. “We’re going to get the diamond back. Together.” I lock eyes with her. “You with me?”
“I’m with you.” Zero hesitation.
I hold out my hand, and she takes it. Then I push the hidden button and the door creaks open.
“Ryder McKay, I’m so glad I kidnapped you,” she declares.
I squeeze her hand. “Me, too.”
We step back into the tunnel, and I tug her toward the stairs that will most likely lead us up to the main keep. IfLaurent scaled the wall like he claimed, his best point of entry and egress will be there.
Taking the steps two at a time, we haul ass up, exiting a door to the courtyard. I spot Laurent climbing up a rope anchored to the top of the stone wall. He’s about halfway to the top. I’m thinking we should sneak out through the main entrance and meet him right as he drops down to the ground on the other side, but apparently Delaney has other ideas.
She lets go of my hand and takes a flying leap at the rope.
Shit.
Above her, Laurent sways precariously. Pausing, he glances down, rolls his eyes and picks up his pace. Good thing, because Delaney is like a fucking circus acrobat. She scales that rope faster than an elite athlete, and all I can do is stare in complete awe.
Until panic flares in my gut. Because she’s going to catch up. If he kicks her, she could fall. Racing over, I prepare myself to catch her.
They’re almost to the top, but not quite. That’s still almost thirty feet in the air, and when Delaney puts on a burst of speed and launches herself at Laurent, I break out into a cold sweat.
Fuck!She let go of the goddamn rope!
I’m expecting her to latch onto him—maybe his leg—but she grabs the messenger bag instead, stalling Laurent in his tracks. With her full weight pulling the bag down, he still manages to climb a little higher, but then hestops. My heart is thundering against my ribs as they start fighting over the damn bag. I want to yell, but I don’t want to alert the guard. Plus, startling Delaney could cause her to lose focus and fall anyway.
Dangling above me, struggling with a man probably one hundred pounds heavier than her, my little English rose turns into a hellcat. How I can be proud and terrified at the same time, I have no idea. All I want is for her to put those lovely feet back on the ground.
We can always steal the diamond back. But if she falls, I can’t put her back together.
Then my greatest fear actually happens. A loud tear fills the quiet air as the messenger bag’s strap rips.No, no, no!
Laurent makes a mad grab for Delaney as she falls—or maybe he’s just trying to grab the bag back—and I hold my arms out, ready to catch her, driven by sheer panic. I will fucking catch her, because there’s no way I’m letting her hit the hard ground.
It all happens so fast. One second, she lets out a startled cry and is falling through the air. The next moment, she’s in my arms. The hit knocks the breath out of me, and we fall to the ground, rolling across the dirt. My shoulder takes the brunt of the impact, but I don’t care. She’s alive.
I’m on my back, arms wrapped around her, and I can feel her chest heaving against mine. Opening my eyes, I stare into her wide blue-green gaze. “You’re crazy,” I rasp. “You know that?”
“Maybe. But I got it.” She lifts the bag, her fist clutching the torn strap like a lifeline, voice full of triumph.
“Christ, Delaney. You almost gave me a fucking heart attack.”
“Sorry.”
