Reckless Faith

Elle set the mop back into the bucket. Done. The floors were clean. “That was a busy day.”

Molly nodded from where she was still cleaning behind the counter. “No shit. Every time I thought we were gonna have a lull, more people came in.”

“Word must have gotten around town about how good our coffee is.”

Molly laughed. “Your coffee is good. I’m still perfecting mine. I think my strength lies more in my impeccable customer service.”

“You’re right, that is your strength.” It was no secret that Molly was good with customers. It didn’t matter if those customers were locals or tourists, she could talk the ear off anyone about anything.

“All right. Done. I’ve got an appointment I’ve got to get to. Strange that Jace isn’t here yet.”

Elle tugged her phone out of her pocket to check the time. “You’re right, he’s usually here by now.”

“I’ll walk you over to him.”

“It’s okay, I’ll lock up after you leave and wait here for him.” Jace didn’t want her in the café by herself, but she couldn’t ask Molly to stay behind after her finish time, especially if she had an appointment, and a locked door should keep her safe.

Molly shook her head. “Don’t be silly. I don’t mind walking you. Jace said you couldn’t walk alone. Plus, I’m tough as an old boot, so no one will mess with us.”

“Tough as an old boot?”

“Eh. My granddad used to say it. Don’t ask me why I repeat it. Should we go?”

Elle checked her phone again. Still no word from him. And Boyd hadn’t been seen in town, by her, Eastern, or anyone else, since that day here in the café. It should be fine.

She grabbed her keys and bag and stepped outside with Molly.

“That guy hasn’t been back, has he?” Molly asked as Elle locked the door.

She shook her head. “No. Is it overly optimistic of me to hope he was just a random tourist with a criminal record and he’s passed through town now?”

“Nope. There’s no such thing as too optimistic. I think he saw you, got some weird obsession with you, but then Jace scared him off with his big intimidating I’m-former-special-forces vibe.”

“Um, I don’t know if my looks alone incite that kind of behavior in men.”

“You’re joking, right?” At Elle’s frown, Molly’s jaw dropped. “Oh my gosh, you’re not. Do you not see how beautiful you are?”

“Molly…”

“I’m serious. You are gorgeous, Elle. Stunning. How you could think anything else, I have no idea.”

She lifted a shoulder. “Confidence has never been my strong point.”

Molly grabbed her arm and pulled her to a stop. “Then let me confirm something for you. You are beautiful both inside and out. It’s a natural beauty that most people would kill for, me included.”

She snorted. “You? Molly, you are the definition of beautiful.”

“I don’t have your cheekbones. Or your perfect button nose or your stunning gray eyes.”

Elle’s cheeks warmed. “Thank you.”

“Anytime you need a boost, just let me know. I’m all for women supporting women. We need to remind each other how beautiful we are. In fact, I—”

A crackling noise sounded from somewhere in the trees behind Molly. Elle frowned and looked over the other woman’s shoulder, and Molly turned her head.

“It was probably nothing,” Molly eventually said. “But let’s walk a little faster to Jace.” She linked her arm through Elle’s, and they continued toward the skywalk.

“I might try and call him.” Elle tugged out her phone and dialed his number.

He answered on the second ring. “Hey. Sorry, I got held up. A teenager decided to climb a fucking tree while I wasn’t watching and got stuck.”

“That’s okay. Is he all right?”

“Yeah, Kayden and Hendrix are here. They’re getting him down now.”

“Great. I’m just walking to you.”

There was a small pause. “Alone?”

“No, Molly’s with me.”

Another pause. “I’ll leave Kay and Hendrix to deal with this guy and meet you halfway.”

“Oh, no, you don’t have to—”

“I’m coming back, Elle.”

Honestly, she was glad. “Okay.”

She’d just hung up when another crunching noise sounded behind them, this time louder. Elle turned in time to see something swing toward Molly. She didn’t have time to warn her friend before the rock hit Molly in the head and she dropped to the ground.

Elle gasped and fell back a step, her gaze moving from Molly, head bleeding as she lay still on the ground, back to the tattooed guy.

Boyd.

He cocked his head. “Finally got you alone.”

A part of her, such a big part, didn’t want to leave Molly here alone. But then the guy took a step toward her, and suddenly, it was fight or flight.

She ran.

“I fucking love a good hunt!” Boyd yelled.

Her feet pounded the dirt, air soaring in and out of her lungs. Fear was all she felt. It ran through her veins, heating her blood. Fear for herself. For Molly, that she wasn’t okay and needed help. She hated leaving her, but she couldn’t help her and fight the guy off.

When the start of the skywalk came into view, Elle’s gut twisted. She didn’t want to step onto it. No part of her wanted to be anywhere near the thing. But Jace was there. He said he was coming back to her, so he couldn’t be far, and if she just kept running into the woods, Boyd would catch her and Jace wouldn’t know where she was.

With a sick feeling in her belly, she ran onto the skywalk. Her heart jumped into her throat.

Don’t look down, Elle. Do not look down.

The words screamed in her head again and again.

Panic tried to choke her. Cut off her breath in her throat. But then she heard the pounding feet behind her, and suddenly getting away took up all her attention.

She ran, ignoring the fear and the tremble of her limbs, her body and mind prioritizing the bigger threat—Boyd.

She was just nearing the part of the skywalk where Jace led rappelling sessions when she noticed the gate beside the tree was open. Wide open.

Why? Surely Jace wouldn’t have left it unsecured?

The steps behind her grew nearer, the air wheezing through her chest louder. She was just nearing the tree when a hard shove hit her in the back. She gasped and fell forward, her head hitting the skywalk hard. She tried to push up, but a kick landed on her ribs, sending her back down, closer to the edge.

“You made this hard for me, lady, but we got here in the end. And you ran straight where I wanted you.”

One more kick and she fell off the side of the skywalk, right where the opening was.

Jace moved quickly down the skywalk. He didn’t like that Elle and Molly were walking on their own. That asshole Boyd hadn’t shown his face for a while, and maybe that had given Elle a feeling of safety. He didn’t trust it. There was something in his gut, some sick, sinking feeling telling him to get to her. To protect her.

Why the fuck had the damn kid climbed a tree and made him late?

He sped up into a jog, moving his feet faster, needing to get to her. Have eyes on her.

He’d just rounded a bend in the walk when every muscle in his body froze.

Boyd stood over Elle as she lay on the walk—the gate to the rappelling station wide fucking open.

And in one life-altering moment, he kicked her, and her body flew over the edge.

Jace’s world stopped, the air hissing from his chest as his stomach convulsed.

No!

He sprinted forward, feet pounding against the walk. “Get the fuck away from her!”

Boyd’s head whipped up. Jace pulled his gun from his concealed holster.

The guy sped off in the opposite direction.

Jace fired, nailing Boyd in the shoulder, making him stumble. Before he could fire a second time—he glimpsed Elle’s fingers.

They were just visible at the edge of the skywalk.

Alive. She was alive!

The air whooshed into his chest.

Forgetting about Boyd, who’d already disappeared, Jace dropped to his knees, quickly lowering the gun and grabbing her wrist before pulling her back up. The second she was in his arms, he felt like he could breathe again.

She was alive. She hadn’t fallen. She hadn’t died.

He closed his eyes, letting the pain, that for a split second had crushed him, slip out of his body. No, it wasn’t just pain. It was a devastation so physical and intense that he’d felt it in every muscle. Every limb. Every inch of his body.

Elle shook in his arms, her fingers latching on to him so tightly it was as if she was afraid she’d fall again.

“Jace…” That one whispered word, said with so much fear, cut into his flesh like a dagger.

He opened his mouth to respond when pounding footsteps echoed behind him. He looked over his shoulder to see Kayden sprinting toward them.

His brother came to a stop. “I heard a gunshot. What happened?”

“He fucking kicked her over the edge!” Jace snarled, not a scrap of calm in his voice.

“Who?”

“Boyd, the guy who pulled a gun in the café. I shot him in the shoulder as he ran away, but he didn’t stop. I don’t know where he is.”

Anger twisted Kayden’s features. “I’ll go after him.”

“Molly,” Elle gasped, the whispered word barely reaching them. “Need to find Molly. He hit her on the way to the skywalk and knocked her out.”

“On it,” Kayden said quickly. “Jace, call Eastern.” Then his brother took off.

Jace looked down at Elle, finally focusing on her pale skin. The tremble in her limbs. “Are you okay?” The second the words were out, he wanted to kick his own ass. Of course she wasn’t okay. She’d almost died. His skin felt too fucking tight at the thought.

“I’m not sure. I…I can’t stop shaking.”

She was in shock. But then, so was he. He tightened his arms around her. “I’ve got you. You’re safe with me.”

She snuggled closer, digging her head into his chest.

He tugged out his phone and hit Eastern’s name.

“Jace, I’m just in the middle of—”

“Boyd attacked Elle.”

“What?”

Jace tried to get his anger under control, but it was impossible. “He chased her down the skywalk and kicked her off the edge. She almost died.” Fuck, it hurt even more saying it out loud than it had in his head.

“I’m leaving the station now.”

His gaze shifted to the gate beside the tree, already spotting signs that the lock had been tampered with. Boyd had planned this. The asshole had planned to push her off the fucking edge. And Jace wanted to kill him for that.