Page 61 of Bottoms Up
Benji’s plane landed as we pulled up, and minutes later, I could text him we were waiting outside the terminal. I shared my location with him, he shared his back, and I watched him walk to me on my phone’s screen.
I got out when I saw him for real, and our hug lasted forever, which it usually does when we first see each other. Atlas opened the back, Benji slid his bag and backpack in, and I climbed into the backseat with my brother.
“Atlas, this is my brother Benji. Benji, this is Atlas — our driver and security.”
Benji nodded to Atlas in the mirror and told me, “You look good. Happy. What are the plans for the day?”
“We have a few hours until Julian rises. Are you hungry? Lauren gave me some restaurant recommendations.”
“I could eat, absolutely, but I know where I want to take you.”
He took me to a fancy French place. I wasn’t even close to dressed for it, but neither were the two A-list celebrities we spotted across the room.
The menu didn’t have prices, but I could tell from the staff’s attitude, it was one of those places where if you have to ask, you don’t belong.
“I have a helicopter pilot who takes me into the Grand Canyon,” Benji said while we ate. “I’m thinking maybe we can skydive into the canyon tonight with Julian, and then climb our way out. The moon rises around sunset, and it’ll be full.”
“Ooooh. That sounds fun.” I sat back. “But I didn’t bring any of my climbing gear.”
He shrugged. “We’ll buy what we need, and then you’ll have new to ship home. I talked to a local outfitter last week and had him order everything in, to make sure he has anything we might need in the right sizes, just in case. I didn’t purchase anything yet — you can still pick what you want based on what he has in stock.”
“Gavin assigned Atlas to us, and I have a feeling he’ll want him to go, since Marco put Gavin in charge of Julian’s safety.”
Benji lifted a shoulder. “The copter seats six, so that shouldn’t be a problem, even if we have to count Julian as two people. Atlas seems like the kind of guy who knows how to both skydive and climb, but if he doesn’t, we’ll get Gavin to assign someone who does.”
Benji’s phone opens to a tablet, and we spent some time zooming in on the area we’d land, and the route we’d take to the top. We’d hike the lower part, only climbing the top third, which is how we’d manage it in hours instead of days. Well, that and the parachutes. Seven extra pounds strapped to our backs on the way out, but shit, I’d carry twice that for a jump like this.
I felt Julian rise as Benji was paying — a full hour earlier than expected.
You’re up early.
I’m still charged up from the scene with Atlas two nights ago. He has so much raw, feral power.
Benji wants us to parachute into the canyon and climb out tonight, after dark. You up for it?
Can we be sure I’ll be back before sunrise?
The plan is to be back an hour before. If there’s a problem, we’ll have a bag we can put you in, and Atlas and I can watch over you until nightfall.
There are special light-blocking bags you can put a vampire into, in an emergency. Made of Kevlar and other knife-and-claw-proof materials, they still weren’t considered ideal from a safety perspective, but it’d keep the sun from frying him.
I’d love to go on an adventure with you, but I’ll need to look over the plans before I decide for certain. Are you enjoying your time with your brother?
I am, and you’re right. The timing is too tight. If we can’t figure out safer timing for the canyon trip, we’ll find something else to do.
We’d been at Homewood so often while I’d had to be in control of Julian, I’d lost the mindset of how important it is for him to be in a safe place well before sunrise. The bags are for emergencies, for when Plan B and Plan C don’t work out. I’d have to be more careful. His safety was so much more important than a thrill run into the canyon.
When we made it to the SUV, Atlas assured us he has his own gear and would be happy to accompany us. He agreed with Julian about the timing, but had an idea for a different route — a little farther away, all climb, no hike, with steeper walls but not as tall. We could be in and out in three or four hours, with a bigger safety margin to get us back to the hotel before sunrise.
And then he quizzed us about places we’d climbed. He seemed to relax when he heard some of the specific routes, along with details on what parts kicked our asses.
The gist of it, once he understood our skill level, was that if we took off at nine thirty and were dropped into the canyon a little after ten, we’d be out of there by two or three in the morning. This gave us nearly three hours of a cushion, in case something went wrong, so we could be sure to get Julian back to safety before sunrise.
With Julian’s new power signature comes the ability to fly. He had the takeoff part down, and the flying part, but the landings were still a work in progress. He had to run a few steps before he could stop, like an Olympic sprinter crossing the finish line with bad brakes. Still, it meant he didn’t need to be certified, since he’s super-strong and can fly. Also, since he couldsuggestto the pilot that he’d seen all our licenses.
We stopped by the outfitter Benji had told me about, and I kind of went crazy buying equipment for both me and Julian. Or, I tried to. By the time I made it to the register, wallet in hand, my big brother had already paid for everything.
He’d probably already paid the pilot, too, but I’d figure outsomethingto grab the check for.
