Page 48 of Colombian Chemistry

He placed a hand on each side of my face and stared deep into my eyes. “Have I steered you wrong yet?”

I shook my head.

“You can do this. I know you’re scared, but I know you’ve got this. I promise I won’t let anything happen to you. Do you trust me?”

I nodded.

“Good. Now let’s go. You got this.”

He kissed my forehead again, and the feeling of his lips on my skin nearly melted me from the inside out. It filled me up with the courage to do what I had to do. He filled me with that courage.

Marcus tried the window, but it was sealed shut. Men started banging on the door, and I raced over to his side. He grabbed a lamp and sent it flying through the window, then took the blanket from the bed and laid it over the jagged edge.

“Go on. I’ll lower you down.”

I stepped over the blanket and made the mistake of looking out over the city below. My stomach flipped, and I thought I’d throw up. But I glanced back at Marcus and let the confidence in his eyes replenish mine.

I lay on my stomach while he grabbed me by the wrists. Inch by inch, he lowered me down until he had to let go. I dropped the few feet and landed with a smile.

He grinned down at me. “See! You’ve got this.”

He swung out of the window and landed beside me. Wasting no time, he leaped to the edge of the balcony and gestured for me to join him.

“You’ve just got to jump from here down to there.”

I looked at the five-foot gap separating us from the other roof, then down to the ground below.

“What if I miss? I could break a lot of bones if I fall!”

“You won’t miss. Just stand on this railing and jump. You’ve got it, Irene.”

Once again, I let his confidence inspire me, and I held his hand as he lifted me onto the railing. I rocked back and forth on the narrow ledge, my bare feet gripping the wood.

More crashing from above us sent a jolt of fear up my spine. As scared as I was, we’d just run out of time. With a shriek, I launched over the gap and landed onto the roof of the first-story porch below. I rolled to a stop and lay flat on my back while I smiled.

Marcus landed next to me on his feet and smiled as he reached out his hand. “You’re a badass, Irene. Don’t ever forget that.”

“I am a badass,” I said as he tugged me to my feet. “I’m like GI Jane over here or something!”

Marcus laughed then peered over the edge to the van about fifteen feet below. “I’ll dangle you over the edge. Then just drop and roll. You’ll be fine.”

“It’s pretty far, Marcus. Are you sure?”

A loud crash from above announced my room had been breached.

“Hurry up. Over the edge. I’ve got you.”

I slid onto my stomach and dangled my feet over the edge. Marcus held my wrists and then lowered me down as far as he could. With a quick smile, he let go.

This drop was higher than the others, and I grunted loudly when I landed on my already bruised ass. I looked up at Marcus, and then movement on the balcony above caught my eye. Several men with guns raced outside, now pointing them at Marcus.

“Look out!” I shouted.

Bullets flew at him, but he leaped off the roof and landed beside me with a grunt. I saw the pain in his face as he rolled up to kneeling.

“You okay?” I asked.

More gunshots rang.