Kyler's Justice (Assassins of Gravas Book 3) - N.J. Walters Page 0,45

flee. She hooked a knife sheath onto her belt and jammed the blade in there for easy access. “Where’s the Barskan?” Because he wouldn’t have left voluntarily.

There was a cruel edge to Kyler’s smile. “Helldrick is in for one hell of a surprise when he opens his closet door.” He turned and strode toward the window. “I didn’t want the girls to see him.”

Etta was totally confused. Kyler had done everything in his power to protect the girls and her. Why hadn’t he told her what he was doing? Why had he suggested the opposite earlier in the bar?

“You didn’t trust me.” The painful realization was crippling, but she refused to bend, throwing her shoulders back instead.

“We’ll talk later.” Impatient, he waved her toward the window.

“Why not go out the front door?” She hooked her bag over her shoulder and joined him. She might be mad at him, but she wasn’t stupid. And he had the girls.

“Balthazar or Helldrick will have people watching. We’re likely to have company soon.”

He was right. They’d hash out their own problems later. “What do you need me to do?”

“I’ll go first. Follow me out the window when I give you the signal.” Faster than she’d thought a man his size could move, he was gone, sliding down a thin line he’d attached to the window frame.

He melded with the shadows. If she hadn’t known he was there, she would never have seen him. He waved at her. After a brief hesitation, she said a prayer, threw her foot over the ledge, and clutched the rope.

It was thin. Too thin. But it had held his weight so it would hold her. Don’t look down. Fine time to discover she had a problem with heights. Or maybe dangling in midair was the issue. I can do this. Because there was no choice. Dragging her other leg out the window was awkward, nothing approaching the grace he’d shown.

Already her arms and legs were trembling as she tried to ease herself down one inch at a time. At this rate, it would take her forever. Something tugged at the bottom of the rope, making it sway. She closed her eyes and clung for dear life.

Then Kyler was there, his big body surrounding hers. “I’ve got you. Wrap your arms around my neck.”

They were swaying lightly, their position precarious. “I want to. My hands won’t let go.” Suddenly, he was facing her. How had he done that? He pried one of her hands away and placed it around her neck. Her fingers dug into his shoulders so hard he’d likely have bruises. Then he did the same with the other. One strong arm banded around her back. Her chest was plastered against his with the rope between them.

“Now your legs. You can do it, kismara.” His breath was warm against her ear. The heat from his body reassuring. “I’ve got you.”

She had no idea what kismara meant, only that it sounded like an endearment. Drawing in a deep breath, she lifted her legs and locked them around his waist.

Then they were sliding down the rope far faster than she could have imagined. She clung to him, face buried against his neck. So much for being brave. She raised her head in time to see him give the rope a quick jerk. It unhooked from the window frame and fell. He caught the hooking mechanism with one hand while keeping his other around her.

Shit, she needed to stand on her own two feet. “I’ve got this.” Not that he had reason to believe her after that display. Did his lips brush the top of her head or was that her imagination? It was over so fast she couldn’t be sure.

He had the rope coiled and stored in an interior pocket of the cloak and his blaster in hand. “Come on.” He didn’t wait, but gripped her wrist and pulled her behind him.

Her legs were like limp noodles, and she stumbled at first before finding her footing. She tugged her hand, but he didn’t release her. “I’m not going to run away.”

“I never thought you would. I know you want to get to the girls.”

Was that why he’d taken them? To assure she’d go with him? She had so many questions.

The streets were quiet, but there were still people out and about. There always was. How many of them worked for either Helldrick or Balthazar was the question. They kept to the shadows. Her footsteps seemed to echo through the night