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I hung back. Listening. Observing. A few nods of agreement. And then Mason opted to go first with Lucy behind him.
My heart leapt into my throat the second my sister planted her feet onto the ropes on each side of her. Carter was behind her, helping her hook her arms over the tops of the ropes to ensure she didn’t fall before she even began. Mason was an arm’s reach away from her, and he tossed a look over his shoulder as if ensuring she was all set and safe.
Carter and Mason maintained a slow and steady pace, neither of them rushing her and keeping themselves like a protective cocoon, which made me feel a little better.
I released a sigh of relief once the three of them successfully made it across the wobbly-ass bridge. I removed my boots, surprised to see Carter coming back across on his own. He stealthily moved without any hint of fear. He and Jack boxed Gwen in next, becoming her own personal shields.
I gasped when one of Gwen’s feet slipped, but Carter was just behind her, and he freed his hand from one rope to reach for her hip. With his hand securely around her, she was able to find her footing again.
Stephen came up to the edge, standing near me. He was nodding as if impressed by our strategy, and I had to assume the others would abandon whatever plans they’d made and do the same now that they’d had it modeled for them. I had to admit, this really was a team-building exercise. And the fact the guys were willing to go back and forth to keep us safe, well . . .
I just wasn’t used to that kind of self-sacrificing behavior. And it was hard for me to believe this was all an act from both Jack and Carter. My instincts were usually spot on about people. But that didn’t answer my suspicions about why in the world he had a gun and fake passport back in Cape Town. Or why he was here now.
I supposed there was only one way to find out, and that was to ask him. But I wasn’t sure if I was ready for that conversation. One thing at a time. Like crossing the bridge.
I was the last in line to go, and Jack and Oliver were going to be my “escorts.”
“You ready?” Jack extended his hand, and it felt like a peace offering. I hesitantly accepted it and joined him and Oliver at the bridge.
Oliver positioned himself on the ropes, facing me instead of the direction we were supposed to go.
I set one foot on the left rope as Jack held my waist from behind, keeping me steady. With my second foot in place, he helped me loop my arms over the top ropes. My legs trembled at my unsteadiness, and I adjusted my feet, so the ropes were at the center of my soles. I let go of a sigh as my balance improved slightly.
“You’ve got this,” Jack said once Oliver began moving, remaining close in front of me.
“Sure, sure,” I mumbled under my breath, trying not to look down. I knew I’d lose my balance and get dizzy if I did.
We were halfway across when the rain began seemingly out of nowhere. Heavy enough to cut through the canopy.
“Welcome to the rainforest,” Jack said calmly. “Slow and steady. You’re almost there.”
And that’s when I did the dumbest thing ever. I looked down. Followed the path of the rain pelting over my body to my left foot no longer on the rope. And my arms slipped, too.
“Fuck,” Jack hissed from behind.
I felt his hand go to my side to try and grab me, but I lost my hold of the top ropes and dropped like dead weight, far too fast for even the best of the best to catch me.
I managed to grab hold of the bottom rope and loop my arm around it, clinging to it for dear life, but there wasn’t a chance in hell I’d last longer than thirty seconds there.
Jack shifted off the ropes and laid himself flat across the three boards there, hooking his arms around mine. “I can pull you up. Grab hold of me.”
I stared up at his wet face, water rivulets falling onto me. From the corner of my eye, I spied Oliver using only the ropes to maneuver around Jack.
“I can’t. I’ll slip, and we’ll both go down,” I whispered. “Just let me go so you don’t fall, too.”
Jack adamantly shook his head.
My body was shaking, and Lucy was crying out something to me. But I was in a weird foggy state of disbelief as I clung to the rope and Jack clung to me.
One board beneath him cracked and joined the rain falling into the river. If he didn’t let go of me, he’d be next. There was no sense in the two of us plummeting into the river.
“I’m letting go,” I told him.
“Don’t you dare,” he hissed, his eyes widening despite the rain battering his face and lashes. “We’ll pull you up. Oliver’s got my legs pinned. I’m good. I’m going to hoist you up.”
“Then all three of us fall,” I cried, the rain masking the quiver in my lip.
Jack’s jaw strained as he worked against gravity, trying to hoist me up without putting too much pressure on the shitty boards barely holding his weight.
