Page 97 of Her Devils

I know both Lenley and Gina aren’t totally comfortable with going back to those days, and they’d prefer to stick to the relatively safer skydiving.

But Patrick’s most famous jumps and flights were what got me into this sport to begin with. I’ll never forget the day I saw a YouTube video of Lenley’s dad jumping off an aircraft and flying for entire minutes with his new wingsuit. It was like watching magic happen in front of my very eyes.

Patrick was literally freeflying, and I knew I wanted to be like him when I watched him re-enter the aircraft he had jumped out of. That stunt is famous to this day, and my teammates and I have been studying it carefully, dreaming to replicate it one day and to beat Patrick’s record by flying longer and re-entering the aircraft at a lower altitude. We’ve been working on a new wingsuit that would help us achieve that, but lack of funds and facilities have made it impossible to make our project a reality.

The merger will give us the means we need to do that—if Peyton and Penn don’t murder each other first, of course.

“Champagne, anyone?”

I accept two glasses from Marceau, offering one to Lenley who just finished logging into the two phones she’s going to be in charge of.

“Are you okay, baby?” I murmur, wrapping one arm around her shoulder and pulling her closer to my body.

I was dying to sit next to her on the private jet, but Ken and Gina were watching all of us to make sure the flight went smoothly, without any fights after the news that totally rocked our worlds.

“I’m okay.” She smiles. “The last few days have been crazy, and I missed you.”

I look around the limo before touching my lips to Lenley’s.

I’m glad that Gina and Ken are in the other car with JeanLuc’s skydiving team members and the two reps from Wild Horse.

Eventually, I’m planning on talking to Ken and getting him to understand that I’m not messing around with his stepdaughter. I’m in love with Lenley, and I’d never do anything to hurt her.

It’s ironic how he doesn’t trust us, but his plan to have us quit our wild parties and meaningless hookups has worked beyond his wildest dreams.

“Hey, get a room, you two.” Jameson chuckles from the seat opposite ours, scooting away from a clingy Anna Penn.

“We definitely all get rooms tonight,” JeanLuc intervenes.

“Why? Aren’t we going back to your house?” Kiara asks.

Apparently Wild Horse reserved the ballroom and rooms for all the BASE jumpers and their entourages in one of the most luxurious hotels in central Paris. “They are planning to kick off this event in style. All we need to do is make sure we are in good shape for tomorrow’s invitational.”

I nod.

I like JeanLuc. He has the perfect balance between enjoying life and being professional.

I empty my glass of champagne and take a refill. I’ll be okay to start the party early, as long as I cut myself off before midnight.

There’s a team from Wild Horse and a group of important-looking people waiting for us as we pull up in view of the Eiffel Tower.

JeanLuc introduces us to the mayor and his wife and to some of the other athletes who are going to jump tomorrow.

There are a couple of guides who begin telling us about the history of the tower and the importance of the four elevators—one is currently under restoration—and how vital their maintenance is to take the countless numbers of tourists to visit the tower’s many amenities, including the restaurants, gift shops, and champagne bar on the first and second floors.

Lenley’s hand is in mine as we stand behind everyone else, our backs to the glass of the elevator’s cabin.

She’s holding my fingers in a death grip, her chest visibly rising and falling as we ascend toward the top of the tower where we’re going to look around to scout out tomorrow’s jump conditions.

“Baby?” I murmur, looking at the way her eyes are squeezed shut. “Are you all right?”

She lets out a faint moan, tightening her grip on my hand to the point that it hurts.

“Princess.” Jameson is standing on the other side of her. “I know you don’t like heights, but I promise Chan and I are here, and you’re safe. We’ll never let anything bad happen to you. Right, Chan?”

Oh, fuck. I always forget that Lenley has been terrified of heights since Patrick’s accident.

“Of course, baby,” I assure her. “You have nothing to fear.”

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