The Fall (ATCOM Book 2), page 1
The Fall
an ATCOM novella
Jennifer Lowery
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The Fall
By Jennifer Lowery
Copyright ©2016 by Jennifer Kamptner
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the copyright owner of this book.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
License Notes
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Cover design by The Killion Group, Inc.
Editing by Piper Denna
Author photograph by Trent Anderson of GreatScotMan Photography https://www.facebook.com/GreatScotManPhotography
The Fall
By Jennifer Lowery
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Table of Contents
Free Book Offer
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Author’s Note
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
About the Author
Connect with Jennifer
Other Books by Jennifer Lowery
This book is dedicated to my Street Team—Jennifer’s Tactical Team—or my JTTs. Without them, writing would be a lonely business. All their help, support and generosity keeps me going. Love ya, JTTs!
Chapter One
Brendan soared along the slope of the mountain, shifting his weight in the paraglider away from the ridge. Riding the updraft created by the formation, he drew in a deep breath. In the air he felt free. Always had. Either in the pilot’s seat or under an inflatable wing made of nylon like the one above him.
The open sky, no boundaries, no destination. Simply a man one with nature where a strong wind could end him. The walk with danger exhilarated him, made him feel alive. Right now he needed that more than ever.
Before guilt had time to set in, he pulled on the lines to direct the glider toward the open sky. The Pacific sparkled beneath him, broken up by the Hawaiian Islands. The midday sun beat down on him, partially shaded by the wing of his glider.
His destination, one of the many waterfalls on the island where he’d set up camp, lay a quarter mile away. No hotels or resorts for him. He much preferred to camp out in a deserted area where no one would bother him.
Glancing across the hill he’d just crested, his gaze tripped on something near one of the waterfalls. Narrowing his gaze, he saw a figure standing on a rocky ledge above the fall of water. On closer inspection he saw it was a teenager. Only one that he could see, but the kid was awfully close to the edge.
Brendan steered in that direction, a knot forming in his stomach. He’d cliff-dived off a few dangerous places himself, but this particular waterfall wasn’t the place to do it. The water fell too close to the slick rocks for a safe jump. The risk of hitting them outweighed the thrill of the sport. Or it should.
He watched the boy take a few steps back, lean forward and take off. When he reached the edge the kid faltered, sliding to a stop, arms wind-milling.
Brendan cursed as momentum forced the boy over the edge in a panicked fall. Arms and legs flailing, the kid hit the wall and freefell into the pool below.
Sonofabitch.
Stupid. Cliff jumping required commitment.
Cutting his ride short, he turned into the wind to slow his speed and began his descent. Wouldn’t be an ideal landing, but he had to get to that kid.
Pulling the brakes as he approached the ground, he trimmed his speed around ten feet. The glider continued to descend toward the cliff where the kid had jumped from so he adjusted his speed for the second half of the flare.
His feet touched the ground and he ran a couple steps before coming to a stop just inches from the ledge. His wing floated to the ground behind him. Wasting no time, Brendan stripped out of his equipment, leaving it lay on the ground.
Spinning around, he took a running jump over the cliff. The freefall didn’t exhilarate him like usual. All he could think about was that kid and he prayed he hadn’t drowned.
Feet first, he plunged into the pool of crystal blue water. Surfacing, he spun in a circle, searching for the kid. He saw him flailing in the water a few feet away. With strong strokes, Brendan swam over to him, put an arm around his chest and began swimming toward shore. The kid fought him at first until he realized Brendan was helping him, then he went limp.
At the edge of the pool he climbed out, dragging the kid with him. Safely on the grassy slope he rolled the kid over. Wide, brown eyes met his. Blood dripped down his hairline.
“Who are you?”
“I’m the one who just saved your life, kid. What the hell were you thinking?”
That snapped him out of his haze. Eyes flashing with defiance, the kid sat up. “I don’t need your help.”
Brendan tore a strip off the bottom of his t-shirt. “Wrap this around your head. Tight. It will help stop the bleeding.”
Wary, the kid accepted the torn strip and did as told. After knotting it he asked, “How did you see me?”
“I was paragliding. Did you really think you could chicken out of that jump once you’d started?”
“I didn’t chicken out.”
Brendan cocked a brow.
The kid dipped his head and muttered something beneath his breath, reminding Brendan of himself at that age. Defiant, rebellious, looking for the next adventure to feel alive.
“Are you hurt anywhere else?”
The teen shook his head and pushed unsteadily to his feet. He tried to hide it, but Brendan recognized the aftereffects of a near-death experience. Hell, he’d had a few himself. Had felt the weak knees, the tremble in your body that didn’t seem to go away, the pit in your stomach.
Brendan rose to his feet, towering over the kid by at least six inches. “What’s your name?”
“Why?”
“So I know what to put on your tombstone if you try anything stupid like that again.”
The kid sent him a scathing look. Brendan grinned. Yeah, this kid could be him twenty years ago. “Relax. I just want to know what to call you besides kid.”
“I’m not a kid.”
Major chip on this kid’s shoulder. “Just give me your name.”
“Are you going to turn me in?”
“No. You didn’t do anything wrong except bow out of your commitment to jump that cliff.”
The kid studied him, wary. “What commitment? I was out here having fun. Nothing more.”
“Yeah, but cliff jumping isn’t something you do for fun. It’s a sport. And when you commit to doing it there is no turning back. Unless you want to end up dead like you almost did today.”
Properly chastised, the kid drew himself up to his full five-foot-ten height. “How do you know so much about it?”
“Let’s just say we have a few things in common. Name?”
Reluctant, he said, “Jason.”
Brendan held out a hand. “Brendan.”
They shook hands.
“You’re really not going to turn me in to the cops?”
“Nope. But, I am going to take you to the hospital to have that head looked at.”
Jason’s eyes widened. “No. Look, my mom’s a nurse.”
Suspecting Jason wouldn’t tell his mom what he’d done today, Brendan said, “I’ll take you home. Did you drive here?”
“Our rental is parked over there. I don’t need a chauffeur.”
“Too bad. You got one. Until we know if you have a concussion or not I’m not letting you get behind the wheel and endanger yourself or others.”
“Seriously?”
“Afraid so.”
“What if I refuse?”
Amused, Brendan crossed his arms over his chest.
The kid’s eyes flashed. “Whatever.” He walked away.
Brendan followed, shaking his head. And that was why he never wanted kids. They were a pain in the ass.
They reached the rental car, a small, economy sized hybrid. Looked more like a toy car than one you would drive.
“Keys?”
Jason sent him an odd look. “It’s a keyless start, man.”
Of course. Damn, he much preferred his four-wheel drive truck back home. Only a few years old, but withou
“What century are you from?” Jason muttered, climbing in the passenger seat.
He was only thirty-six. What the hell? Kid looked at him like he was a hundred. With a scowl, he slid into the driver’s seat, sliding it all the way back to accommodate his height. Jesus, he felt like a giant in this damn toy.
Jason chuckled beside him. Brendan sent him a warning look and the kid held up his hands, remaining silent. Wise choice.
“Where to?” he asked after starting the car.
Jason gave him directions, grudgingly. Only took a few minutes to reach the foothills and one of the older neighborhoods on the island. Older didn’t mean run-down or shabby by any means. The houses here were worth more than he’d want to pay.
“Right there. With the privacy fence and carport,” Jason said, pointing to the left.
Brendan parked beneath the carport and turned off the engine, relieved to be out of that little golf cart.
“I got it from here,” Jason said.
Brendan strode past him. “Not getting off that easy, kid.”
He heard the kid mutter beneath his breath as he pushed past him. The front door opened before they reached it…and a pretty brunette with the most incredible eyes he’d ever seen stepped out. His steps faltered when her gaze met his. Deep brown, intelligent and mesmerizing. Tall, slender, with a hint of curves beneath her white cropped pants and mint-colored blouse. This couldn’t be Jason’s mom. She looked much too young to have a teenager.
Concern pulled her brows down as her gaze bounced to her son. “Jason?” She rushed forward and reached up to touch the bloody strip of shirt wrapped around his head, but he dodged her hand. “What happened?”
“I’m fine. It’s no big deal.”
“You’re bleeding.”
The look she sent the kid made Brendan want to take a step back to avoid being burned. He’d lost his parents at a young age, but he still remembered ‘the look’.
“God, Mom. I said I’m fine. Can I go change, please?”
Although he said please, he didn’t sound respectful. That pissed Brendan off. Puberty, hormones, whatever, he wasn’t going to stand here and let the kid disrespect his mom. He stepped forward, but the kid let out a disgusted sniff and stormed inside, slamming the door behind him.
The brunette turned to him with a pinched smile. “I’m sorry. He likes to push my buttons.”
Not what he expected. Most moms would make excuses for their child’s behavior. Maybe she had the mettle to handle a kid like Jason.
She stuck out a hand. “I’m Mia Lawrence.”
He accepted her soft hand. “Brendan Devayne.”
Her hand slipped out of his. “I assume you’re the one who got my Jason out of trouble.”
“Caught him attempting to cliff jump. Let’s just say it didn’t go as planned.”
She drew in a breath. “Cliff jumping. Sounds dangerous.”
“It is if you aren’t fully committed to the jump.”
Her gaze met his. “You saw it?”
Brendan nodded. “He changed his mind at the last minute and ended up freefalling down the waterfall. That’s how he hit his head.”
“Damn it.” She held up a hand. “Sorry. I should be thanking you.”
“Not necessary. I was in the right place at the right time.”
“Thank goodness for that. God knows what would have happened if you hadn’t been there. Thank you for bringing my son home safe.” She ran a hand through her long, dark hair, smoothing it behind her ear. “Let me at least show my thanks by getting you a towel to dry off with.”
He probably should have refused and high-tailed it out of there, run as fast as he could to his campsite, but something made him say, “That’d be great.”
Chapter Two
Mia mentally berated herself as she led the tall, dark stranger into the house. What was she thinking? She didn’t invite strangers into her home. Well, her aunt’s home. Soon to be someone else’s.
“You’ll have to excuse the boxes.”
“Packing or unpacking?”
“Packing. This is actually my aunt’s house. She passed a couple months ago.”
“Sorry.”
Good Lord, his voice slid over her like rich, dark chocolate. Shaking it off, she led him into the kitchen. “Thank you.” She motioned toward the table. “Have a seat. I’ll get you a towel.”
“I don’t want to ruin your furniture. I’ll stand.”
Mia turned to face him. He towered over her with a presence so strong it filled the room. His dark hair had begun to wave where it touched his collar. She wanted to reach out and run her fingers through it.
“Be right back.”
She went to retrieve a towel, detouring to Jason’s room. As usual, he had the door closed. Knocking lightly, she opened the door and popped her head in. Her son sat on the bed, earbuds in his ears, a sullen look on his face.
He ripped one of them out of his ear and sent her a what-do-you-want-now look.
“As soon as our guest leaves you and I are going to have a talk while I take a look at that wound.”
“Leaves? He’s still here?”
“I offered him a towel.”
Jason stared at her like she’d grown a second head.
“What?”
He shook his head and put the tiny headphone back in his ear. “Nothing.”
Conversation over. She backed out of the room and closed the door, a small, triumphant smile on her lips because her son hadn’t argued with her about the talk. Lately, everything had been a battle with him. Especially since his father had tried to contact him a few months ago. After ten years of no communication, which she was glad for, he suddenly wanted to see his son again.
Jason was sixteen, nearly a man. He could make his own decision if he wanted to see his father or not, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t do everything in her power to keep the bastard away from them both. She’d never hid the truth from Jason about who his father was, but she also didn’t let her anger and resentment sway her opinions. She knew one day Ray would contact his son and she wouldn’t risk Jason hating her for making him hate his father.
Pushing those thoughts away, she continued on to the bathroom, where she grabbed a thick, aqua-colored towel.
Brendan stood right where she’d left him. His green eyes met hers as she handed him the towel.
“Thanks.” He used it to scrub his hair, making the waves more prominent.
Fascinated, she watched him run a hand through the thick curls, slicking them away from his face. He then blotted his very broad chest and muscular arms. When he did the same to his midsection her gaze froze on the washboard abs peeking through his t-shirt where it clung to his skin. Good God, the man was a solid wall of gorgeous.
With an amused glint in his eye he handed her the towel. She draped it over the back of one of the chairs. “So, where can I drive you?”
“Not necessary. I can walk.”
“You saved my son’s life. I am not letting you walk home.”
The corner of his mouth tilted in a sexy half-smile. “I’ll look both ways before I cross the street. Cross my heart.”
Realizing she sounded more like a mom than a single woman, she laughed. “That came out wrong, didn’t it?”
“I appreciate the offer, but I’m not far away.”
She really didn’t want him to leave yet. Not only because he’d saved her son’s life and brought him home safely, but because she wanted to spend a few more minutes with him. Ridiculous, because she didn’t live here and he probably did. She’d only come down to pack up her aunt’s house, put it on the market, and meet with the lawyer to accept her inheritance. Her aunt hadn’t been rich, but she’d managed her money well and had left Mia a nice chunk. Enough to buy her own house and put Jason through college. They had moved around a lot, mostly to keep Ray from finding them, and it had taken a toll on her and her son. They didn’t have a place of their own to call home and she regretted that now. As soon as the check cleared she planned to change that. Settle down.
She glanced at Brendan. What would he think if he knew of her dream to move to the mountains and live a peaceful life in a cozy log cabin with a fireplace and a loft bedroom? She could become a virtual teacher and never have to leave home.
