The Fall (ATCOM Book 2)
The
Fall
By
Jennifer Lowery
Copyright ©2016 by Jennifer Kamptner
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This is a work of
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the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any
resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely
coincidental.
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Cover design by The Killion Group, Inc.
Editing by Piper Denna
Author photograph by Trent Anderson of GreatScotMan Photography
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The
Fall
By
Jennifer Lowery
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Chapter One
Brendan soared along the slope of the mountain,
shifting his weight in the paraglider away from the ridge. Riding the updraft
created by the formation, he drew in a deep breath. In the air he felt free.
Always had. Either in the pilot’s seat or under an inflatable wing made of
nylon like the one above him.
The open sky, no boundaries, no destination. Simply
a man one with nature where a strong wind could end him. The walk with danger
exhilarated him, made him feel alive. Right now he needed that more than ever.
Before guilt had time to set in, he pulled on the
lines to direct the glider toward the open sky. The Pacific sparkled beneath
him, broken up by the Hawaiian Islands. The midday sun beat down on him,
partially shaded by the wing of his glider.
His destination, one of the many waterfalls on the
island where he’d set up camp, lay a quarter mile away. No hotels or resorts
for him. He much preferred to camp out in a deserted area where no one would
bother him.
Glancing across the hill he’d just crested, his
gaze tripped on something near one of the waterfalls. Narrowing his gaze, he
saw a figure standing on a rocky ledge above the fall of water. On closer
inspection he saw it was a teenager. Only one that he could see, but the kid
was awfully close to the edge.
Brendan steered in that direction, a knot forming
in his stomach. He’d cliff-dived off a few dangerous places himself, but this
particular waterfall wasn’t the place to do it. The water fell too close to the
slick rocks for a safe jump. The risk of hitting them outweighed the thrill of
the sport. Or it should.
He watched the boy take a few steps back, lean
forward and take off. When he reached the edge the kid faltered, sliding to a
stop, arms wind-milling.
Brendan cursed as momentum forced the boy over the
edge in a panicked fall. Arms and legs flailing, the kid hit the wall and freefell
into the pool below.
Sonofabitch.
Stupid. Cliff jumping required commitment.
Cutting his ride short, he turned into the wind to
slow his speed and began his descent. Wouldn’t be an ideal landing, but he had
to get to that kid.
Pulling the brakes as he approached the ground, he
trimmed his speed around ten feet. The glider continued to descend toward the
cliff where the kid had jumped from so he adjusted his speed for the second
half of the flare.
His feet touched the ground and he ran a couple
steps before coming to a stop just inches from the ledge. His wing floated to
the ground behind him. Wasting no time, Brendan stripped out of his equipment,
leaving it lay on the ground.
Spinning around, he took a running jump over the
cliff. The freefall didn’t exhilarate him like usual. All he could think about
was that kid and he prayed he hadn’t drowned.
Feet first, he plunged into the pool of crystal
blue water. Surfacing, he spun in a circle, searching for the kid. He saw him
flailing in the water a few feet away. With strong strokes, Brendan swam over
to him, put an arm around his chest and began swimming toward shore. The kid fought
him at first until he realized Brendan was helping him, then he went limp.
At the edge of the pool he climbed out, dragging
the kid with him. Safely on the grassy slope he rolled the kid over. Wide, brown
eyes met his. Blood dripped down his hairline.
“Who are you?”
“I’m the one who just saved your life, kid. What
the hell were you thinking?”
That snapped him out of his haze. Eyes flashing
with defiance, the kid sat up. “I don’t need your help.”
Brendan tore a strip off the bottom of his t-shirt.
“Wrap this around your head. Tight. It will help stop the bleeding.”
Wary, the kid accepted the torn strip and did as
told. After knotting it he asked, “How did you see me?”
“I was paragliding. Did you really think you could
chicken out of that jump once you’d started?”
“I didn’t chicken out.”
Brendan cocked a brow.
The kid dipped his head and muttered something
beneath his breath, reminding Brendan of himself at that age. Defiant,
rebellious, looking for the next adventure to feel alive.
“Are you hurt anywhere else?”
The teen shook his head and pushed unsteadily to
his feet. He tried to hide it, but Brendan recognized the aftereffects of a
near-death experience. Hell, he’d had a few himself. Had felt the weak knees,
the tremble in your body that didn’t seem to go away, the pit in your stomach.
Brendan rose to his feet, towering over the kid by
at least six inches. “What’s your name?”
“Why?”
“So I know what to put on your tombstone if you try
anything stupid like that again.”
The kid sent him a scathing look. Brendan grinned.
Yeah, this kid could be him twenty years ago. “Relax. I just want to know what
to call you besides kid.”
“I’m not a kid.”
Major chip on this kid’s shoulder. “Just give me
your name.”
“Are you going to turn me in?”
“No. You didn’t do anything wrong except bow out of
your commitment to jump that cliff.”
The kid studied him, wary. “What commitment? I was
out here having fun. Nothing more.”
“Yeah, but cliff jumping isn’t something you do for
fun. It’s a sport. And when you commit to doing it there is no turning back.
Unless you want to end up dead like you almost did today.”
Properly chastised, the kid drew himself up to his
full five-foot-ten height. “How do you know so much about it?”
“Let’s just say we have a few things in common.
Name?”
Reluctant, he said, “Jason.”
Brendan held out a hand. “Brendan.”
They shook hands.
“You’re really not going to turn me in to the
cops?”
“Nope. But, I am going to take you to the hospital
to have that head looked at.”
Jason’s eyes widened. “No. Look, my mom’s a nurse.”
Suspecting Jason wouldn’t tell his mom what he’d
done today, Brendan said, “I’ll take you home. Did you drive here?”
“Our rental is parked over there. I don’t need a
chauffeur.”
“Too bad. You got one. Until we know if you have a
concussion or not I’m not letting you get behind the wheel and endanger
yourself or others.”
“Seriously?”
“Afraid so.”
“What if I refuse?”
Amused, Brendan crossed his arms over his chest.
The kid’s eyes flashed. “Whatever.” He walked away.
Brendan followed, shaking his head. And that was
why he never wanted kids. They were a pain in the ass.
They reached the rental car, a small, economy sized
hybrid. Looked more like a toy car than one you would drive.
“Keys?”
Jason sent him an odd look. “It’s a keyless start,
man.”
Of course. Damn, he much preferred his four-wheel
drive truck back home. Only a few years old, but without all the fancy bells
and whistles the new cars had. And it still required a key to start. Pushing a
button just felt wrong.
“What century are you from?” Jason muttered,
climbing in the passenger seat.
He was only thirty-six. What the hell? Kid looked
at him like he was a hundred. With a scowl, he slid into the driver’s seat,
sliding it all the way back to accommodate his height. Jesus, he felt like a
giant in this damn toy.
Jason chuckled beside him. Brendan sent him a
warning look and the kid held up his hands, remaining silent. Wise choice.
“Where to?” he asked after starting the car.
Jason gave him directions, grudgingly. Only took a
few minutes to reach the foothills and one of the older neighborhoods on the
island. Older didn’t mean run-down or shabby by any means. The houses here were
worth more than he’d want to pay.
“Right there. With the privacy fence and carport,”
Jason said, pointing to the left.
Brendan parked beneath the carport and turned off
the engine, relieved to be out of that little golf cart.
“I got it from here,” Jason said.
Brendan strode past him. “Not getting off that
easy, kid.”
He heard the kid mutter beneath his breath as he pushed
past him. The front door opened before they reached it…and a pretty brunette
with the most incredible eyes he’d ever seen stepped out. His steps faltered
when her gaze met his. Deep brown, intelligent and mesmerizing. Tall, slender,
with a hint of curves beneath her white cropped pants and mint-colored blouse.
This couldn’t be Jason’s mom. She looked much too young to have a teenager.
Concern pulled her brows down as her gaze bounced
to her son. “Jason?” She rushed forward and reached up to touch the bloody
strip of shirt wrapped around his head, but he dodged her hand. “What
happened?”
“I’m fine. It’s no big deal.”
“You’re bleeding.”
The look she sent the kid made Brendan want to take
a step back to avoid being burned. He’d lost his parents at a young age, but he
still remembered ‘the look’.
“God, Mom. I said I’m fine. Can I go change,
please?”
Although he said please, he didn’t sound
respectful. That pissed Brendan off. Puberty, hormones, whatever, he wasn’t
going to stand here and let the kid disrespect his mom. He stepped forward, but
the kid let out a disgusted sniff and stormed inside, slamming the door behind
him.
The brunette turned to him with a pinched smile.
“I’m sorry. He likes to push my buttons.”
Not what he expected. Most moms would make excuses
for their child’s behavior. Maybe she had the mettle to handle a kid like
Jason.
She stuck out a hand. “I’m Mia Lawrence.”
He accepted her soft hand. “Brendan Devayne.”
Her hand slipped out of his. “I assume you’re the
one who got my Jason out of trouble.”
“Caught him attempting to cliff jump. Let’s just
say it didn’t go as planned.”
She drew in a breath. “Cliff jumping. Sounds
dangerous.”
“It is if you aren’t fully committed to the jump.”
Her gaze met his. “You saw it?”
Brendan nodded. “He changed his mind at the last
minute and ended up freefalling down the waterfall. That’s how he hit his
head.”
“Damn it.” She held up a hand. “Sorry. I should be
thanking you.”
“Not necessary. I was in the right place at the
right time.”
“Thank goodness for that. God knows what would have
happened if you hadn’t been there. Thank you for bringing my son home safe.”
She ran a hand through her long, dark hair, smoothing it behind her ear. “Let
me at least show my thanks by getting you a towel to dry off with.”
He probably should have refused and high-tailed it
out of there, run as fast as he could to his campsite, but something made him
say, “That’d be great.”
