Page 74 of Chasing Sunrise

His foot slipped.

Calmly, he put his weight on his left toes. Inching his right foot upward, he tried to put it back into place. His fingers struggled to keep hold. The arch of his left foot cramped. “Ah.”

He continued to try to find the opening with his foot. Frustration got the better of him. “Fuck!”

Not able to find purchase with his right foot, he balanced on his left. He let go of his hold on the rock with his right hand and groped for a quickdraw to attach it to a peg on his right. He gripped one and hooked it before adjusting the ropes with his cold, worn-out fingers.

When he reached out to return his right hand to the rock, his body jolted the slightest bit. Just enough to dislodge his left foot.

For an instant, he dangled from his left hand.

His right hand searched like a blind man reading braille, trying to find—

He plunged downward.

The motion caused a hitch in his heartbeat, even though he knew the auto belay would engage at any moment.

He yanked to a stop.

The top bolt attached to the rope flew out of the rock.

Kasey’s body plummeted toward the ground.

Frantic shouts came from the headset and the people on the ground.

Gaze focused above him, Kasey watched the rope yank on the next bolt. At first, it slowed his descent, then the bolt sprang from the rock.

He continued to fall.

Faster than before.

His shoulder collided with the mountain. “Ugh.”

His cheek hit next in a blinding punch. Suddenly, the holdup, so long ago, played in his mind. The gun pointed at Mike. How it gleamed as it was aimed at Kasey. The terror of being choked from behind. The deafening gun discharge. The agonizing bullet wound.

He’d cheated death that day.

Would he be so lucky today?

There was nothing he could do. No way to stop himself. His safety equipment had engaged. Now he was at the mercy of the bolts and pegs. Would the next one remain in place with him falling so fast? Would his weight dislodge that one too? And the next? And the next?

He closed his eyes in surrender.

Snapshots of the important people in his life scrolled through his mind. His parents, grandparents, brothers, cousins, Marisol, Dre, Zack, and finally Amanda. Her beautiful blue eyes stared into his.

His father’s words rushed at him,I think once you find something more important, you’ll stop or at least stop doing such high-risk feats.

He’d found that person.

He had only one regret. Not telling Amanda he loved her.

Abruptly, Kasey’s body jerked to a stop.

All movement ceased.

He held his breath, waiting to drop again.

Three drones buzzed around him. He was sure his camera team had gotten everything. Hanging like Tom Cruise when he descended from the ceiling inMission Impossible, Kasey was getting lightheaded. He took the slightest inhale with as little movement as possible.

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