Page 21 of Hero's Prize

“Okay, let’s do this,” the pilot responded.

“Don’t forget—720 out of the helicopter,” Tony said. “Let’s give them a show they’ll never forget.”

Dad rolled his eyes, but Colton just grinned. He wouldn’t miss a chance to do a double front flip even if there were no cameras anywhere around.

“Okay, we’re coming up on the mark,” Derek said. “Get ready.”

Holding the copter steady at this altitude wouldn’t be easy. Riley thumped him on the head again and then got out of the way. Colton slid the rest of the way to the open side area of the helicopter.

Tony had all the camera operators give a final check, but Colton wasn’t listening. He was completely focused on what was in front of him. The jump, then the route he’d take down the mountain, that included some almost sheer cliffs, which would once again allow for acrobatics.

The first cliff was the most dangerous. After that, Colton would just add maneuvers to make it look as thrilling as possible. In fifteen minutes, it would all be over but the celebrating.

The helicopter arrived about twenty feet over the decreed jumping point, and Derek eased it into a hover. “In place. On your mark, Colton.”

Colton didn’t hesitate. “Three, two, one…Go.”

He was falling.

He didn’t have much skin exposed, but he could still hear the wind. He used his core strength to flip himself around then do it again as the earth hurtled nearer—making it look like he was going to crash headfirst right out of the gate. Tony definitely had his 720.

The landing was critical—and probably the most dangerous part of the stunt. When Colton handled it with no problem, he heard the cheering over the comms, but he stayed focused on the snow in front of him.

They’d gone over the route so many times, it was basically tattooed on his brain. Not having to focus on the path allowed him to be able to perform all sorts of cuts and ollies and corked spins.

Allowed him to be free and do what he did best: tackle the challenge in front of him.

“Looking great, Colt,” Tony said. “Got that big cliff coming up.”

Colton didn’t respond, knowing Tony wouldn’t expect him to.

This was the second-most dangerous part of the stunt—and the most thrilling. He curled himself a little lower so he could pick up speed.

The plan was a backside rodeo 540. It would be tight, but just like the leap out of the helicopter, it would provide quite the money shot.

He launched himself over the side of the cliff, grabbing the back of the board and flipping and twisting himself around at the same time. Keeping his focus on the horizon so he was sure to know which end was up, he curled in as he finished his twist, then let his body do what it knew how to do.

As almost always, his body didn’t disappoint him. Colton landed smoothly on the snow where it began to angle out from the mountain.

He’d cleared the cliff.

Once again, cheers roared in his ears.

“All right, you’re home free now,” Tony said. “Just have fun and give everybody a show.”

Colton grinned and cut to the left, using as many opportunities to jump and flip as he could find, loving the feel of the wind in his face.

How could he leave this? This feeling right here was one of the greatest in the world.

He was enjoying his minor stunts, almost on autopilot, when he felt the slope fracture under him like broken glass. It only took a split second for every survival instinct he had to snap into place as he realized what was happening.

Avalanche.

Damn it, they’d placed explosives farther up the mountain a couple weeks ago to trigger their own mini avalanche to keep this from happening during the stunt at the spot where it would be most likely.

It shouldn’t have been necessary this far down the mountain.

Colton’s instinct was to try to outrun it, but he knew thatwouldn’t work for long. Avalanches could move at speeds up to two hundred miles per hour.

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