Chapter 33
KIERAN
Present day…
I react on pure instinct. As soon as I see Conor touch the post of the bridge, my body moves without my brain even processing.
I slam both feet against the deck beneath me, my arm tightening around Eden’s waist. With my free hand, I lunge for the thick cable railing and wrap my gloved hand around it.
Thankfully, my muscle memory had me pulling the gloves on when I was rushing toward the bridge.
I’ve done it so many times, I didn’t even think about it, and I can only hope this works as I sink my weight back.
The bridge buckles beneath me as cables snap, and I grip Eden even tighter.
Her arms and legs are locked around me, clinging without me having to bark out an instruction.
And then we’re falling.
We always knew this was a possibility when we decided to build the bridge.
Despite how stable the structure itself is, the potential for sabotage was always there.
But we had decided that building this bridge—along with some in the city—was a better solution than being inside a vehicle if we didn’t have to be.
That didn’t mean I was leaving anything to chance.
When the bridge was constructed, I also had specialized boots and gloves made.
Lochlan, Rohan, and Jude each have a pair, too.
It’s been a rule of ours to always wear them when leaving our homes, whether in the city or just across the peaks. One that no one else has known about.
I had the bridge built with various redundancies so a storm couldn’t bring it down.
But my boots and gloves are fitted with metal plates that seamlessly fit into the metal grooves of the bridge when enough force is applied.
It’s partly magnetic and partly an interlocking mechanism that I don’t fully understand.
All I know is that I was told I should be able to walk upside down with them on.
This is my first time I’ve had to test that claim outside a trail run.
Eden doesn’t make a sound as we drop, the supports on this side at least slowing us as we swing into the mountainside. I stay crouched, clinging to Eden and the bridge with all my strength.
The impact reverberates up my body, but I don’t move. It takes a few more sways before the bridge steadies, and I breathe out slowly as I open my eyes.
I’m staring down at the city, perpendicular to the mountain. The sight brings an odd sense of relief as I straighten my legs, knowing that now I’ll need to climb back up. I’m sure those in the city saw the bridge snap, including Jude, but I can’t wait for him to get over here.
“Are we dead?” Eden breathes in my ear.
I chuckle. “He’ll have to try harder to kill us, mo chuisle .” My feet feel stable, and I know I need to twist around. “I need you to hold on real tight, Eden. If you feel like you’re sliding, tell me.”
She nods against my neck, head buried there as her limbs squeeze me. Her grip is painful, but I don’t want her to loosen it.
Gripping the cables on either side of us, I slide my foot back and up, the mechanism releasing me. Adrenaline pounds through me as I click it in place before moving the next. Bit by bit, I turn us around until I’m staring up at the mountain peak.
“Oh, shit.”
One of my arms is instantly around Eden, even though gravity has her pressing into my chest now. “What?”
“I opened my eyes.”
I let out a chuckle. “You always were one for gorgeous sights. This good enough for you?”
Her soft growl shouldn’t make my dick hard right now, but I’m fucked. The threat of death looming over me today has only made me even hornier. Coupled with my wife clinging to me like this, I can’t wait to get her home.
“If I said no, would you slide down a bit further?”
I pick up one foot. “You testing me?”
“No,” she squeaks, knowing damn well I’m not one to back down.
I chuckle. “That’s what I thought.”
Walking back up is much easier than turning around. I keep one foot and both hands locked into place at all times, and while it’s slow going, I’m relieved that the mechanisms are holding up as designed.
Eden shifts in my arms as we get close to the edge, and the softest groan slips from her. I pause, feeling her lips at my neck. “Eden?”
“Hmm?” Another brush along the skin there.
“What are you doing?”
“It’s hot how you’re carrying me up the side of a mountain. Between this and the promise of ripping Conor apart, I need an orgasm from my husband.”
That pulls a rough laugh out of me. I take a few more steps, relieved to find two of the guards waiting at the ledge. “You’ll need to wait a bit longer,” I murmur in her ear. “I need you to climb up onto the ground. You can stand on me.”
“I’d rather ride you,” she grumbles as she unlatches from around me. I just shake my head, loving how crazy my girl is. Just like me.
Eden is strong and agile enough that it’s relatively simple enough for her to grab one of the guard’s hands and haul herself over the edge.
It’s a little more complex for me. Two of them grab onto me, and I have to unlock my boots from the deck.
It takes a brief moment of trust, but I’m prepared to grab the metal cable if needed.
No one drops me, though, and soon, Eden and I are both standing on solid ground. The adrenaline is pounding through me now, and all I want is to fuck my wife. And with the way Eden is looking at me, I know exactly what is on her mind, too.
The crunch of tires stops me from telling everyone to fuck off so I can be alone with her, and I turn to see a car pushing through the overgrown path down the hill. The road hasn’t been used in a while, and only a few people know it’s there.
I’m surprised when the car rolls to a stop, and it isn’t Jude that steps out of the car. Instead, Till’s stern eyes find me, sweeping over the scene in front of him. “Are you hurt?”
I shake my head, pulling Eden toward the car. “No. Where’s Jude?”
“He took Lochlan with him to find Conor.” My eyes widen, and Till’s lips twitch. “He promised not to kill him. Yet.”
Taking Lochlan was an interesting choice—one that means things are going to get bloody. I guess the last of Jude’s patience has been tested as well.
“Miles?” I ask.
“Ash and Gale were sent to find him. They’ll both be waiting for you in the cells.”
“Can we go there now?” Eden looks hopeful as we get into the backseat.
“Rohan and Mika are waiting for you at the house,” Till answers, and I think there’s even a soft tone to his voice. “And Nolan wants to see you both.”
She deflates, and I pull her into my side, kissing the top of her head. “I won’t make you wait long. And I’ll make it up to you in the meantime.”
That makes Eden smile, and she tips her head back to kiss me.
* * *
“Once you find out what clinic produced that toxin, let me know.” Nolan packs everything away in his bag before straightening. “For now, I don’t think there’s been any lasting damage.”
I nod, thankful he’s not giving me any treatment. Eden only agreed to be evaluated first if I wore a filtered mask that pumped oxygen into my lungs. It’s the same ones that we use when we go further down the mountain than the city proper. They are designed to combat the toxic air that I inhaled.
“We’ll let you know,” Rohan answers for me. He’s been hovering since we got back, arms crossed and dark eyes narrowed. It’s like he thinks if he stares at me hard enough, he’ll see through my chest himself.
Nolan leaves the four of us in my sitting room. Before I can tell Rohan and Mika—who has been fretting over the two of us—to leave, Lochlan turns the corner with Jude behind him.
Eden whips around to give me big, pleading eyes when we both see Lochlan. Blood is splattered across his chest and neck, some crusting in his blonde curls. He looks like he got to have a lot more fun than Eden and I did. “I want to go to the cells.”
I tug her closer to me. “Nolan said we should rest.”
Normally, I wouldn’t care, but it has been a long day. And I want Conor well rested for when I unleash my wife on him.
Her lip pokes out, and I lean down to nip at it.
“Could you two wait?” Rohan barks, and I chuckle as I straighten, keeping Eden pinned to me.
“You are in my house.”
“Fucking excuse me for giving a shite about you.”
“What Ro means to say,” Lochlan cuts in, nudging him, “is that we are glad you’re okay.”
“Looks like we aren’t the only ones that ran into some fun.” Eden eyes him, and Lochlan beams. “What did you do?”
“Conor was…resistant.” Lochlan shares an amused look with Jude. “I made him understand coming with me wasn’t optional.”
“And Jude let you in his car like that?”
Jude snorts. “No. He rode back with Gale.”
“Ash still down there?”
He nods. “Till went, too. I’m keeping only trusted guards to watch those two until we decide what we’re doing with them.”
If I’m distrustful, Jude is much worse. He’ll be thoroughly vetting every member of the guard after this breach of security.
Lochlan leans into Rohan, who shoves him away. “Why didn’t you go home and shower ?” He wrinkles his nose.
“I like to show off the damage I’ve done. You know that, Ro.” He doesn’t even look ashamed of it.
“I’m going home.” Rohan glances over at me. “Try not to die before tomorrow. We have plans.” With that, he leaves.
Lochlan rolls his eyes. “He’s so dramatic.” He scratches at his neck, wincing as blood flakes off. “I guess I’ll go, too. The blood is starting to itch.”
He winks at Eden as he leaves, making me glare at him. His chuckle echoes off the walls as he heads in the direction of his house.
My gaze flicks back to Jude, who has Mika wrapped up in his arms. Unfortunately, her house is close to the detonation site, so she came running out to see the structure falling. She’d been more shaken up than Eden and I, though she channeled that into helping Nolan tend to us.
“Did you find Parker?” I ask him. We aren’t the kind to be overly emotional. He can see I’m upright, so he won’t press for information. Mika will likely fill him in later.