Page 52 of Her Brother's Billionaire Best Friend

And then, I saw him.

Kyle had fallen onto a stony outcrop. Below us, a sheer drop went down to the bottom of the valley. If Kyle had fallen down there, then—

I didn’t want to think about it.

I broke through the treeline down below the path. The other kid was standing on the edge of the precipice, reaching down with a branch. He was almost falling over himself.

“STOP THAT!” I called, and pulled him back with one motion of my hand. The kid fell behind me onto the grass, and scrambled out of the way.

I peered down over the edge, terrified of what I might see. But then I caught a glimpse of Kyle, his reddish hair, green eyes staring up at me.

“Lucien?” he said weakly. Kyle was lying on a patch of earth. He looked remarkably unhurt, except for his ankle, which was twisted. It could be broken.

I knew I should call mountain rescue, but I couldn’t leave him there. In one movement, I leaped down, bending my legs to break the impact. I broke into a roll, and then I was there, beside him.

“Easy buddy,” I said. “We’re gonna get you out of here. Got it?”

“I feel weird,” he said. “My leg’s hurt.”

“I know,” I said, wincing as I looked at the leg. The ankle was badly damaged, but he’d be fine as long as I got him out of here.

“What are your friend’s names?” I said.

“Joel and…and Mike.”

“Joel!” I called. In a heartbeat, the blonde kid was peering over the ledge.

“I’m gonna lift him up,” I said. “I need you to grab onto him.”

“Is it gonna hurt?” said Kyle.

“It might do,” I told him. “But I need you to be brave for me. Okay?”

I bent and lifted Kyle. In my arms, he felt light, and I could feel his heart beating in his chest. Slowly, I raised him up.

“Lift out your hand, kid,” I said. “Come on now. Just a bit.”

Kyle did, and Joel took his hand.

“You too, Mike!” I said. “Grab on.”

The boys took Kyle’s weight, so that now he was dangling from the ledge, holding onto both their hands. The boys weren’t strong enough to lift him. But it gave me the time I needed to scramble up onto the ledge and take Kyle. As I grabbed his arms, careful not to hurt him, the boys let go, and I pulled him up, cradling him.

“You two,” I said, glowering at the kids. “With me. Now.”

We began to march up the hill. Kyle was shivering—he was in shock from the fall, but aside from his ankle he seemed okay.

“Joel,” I said, reaching down into my pocket and taking Kyle’s weight in one hand. I was tired from the run, but the thought of him down there hurt had given me a strength even I didn’t know I had. “Here’s my cell. Go to the contacts.”

“Contacts,” said the boy. He was shaking and there were tears in his eyes.

“Text Laura,” I said, “and tell her to come to Riker’s Point.”

The boy nodded, his hands shaking as he typed the message in.

“Good,” I said. “Now, find Ronnie,” I said. “And put him on speakerphone.”

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