Jillian will be okay.She must.This was her job.He was sure she’d done this countless times.If he panicked every time he thought about what she did for a living, he’d go crazy.It might take a year, ten, or until she stopped doing stunts, but he was going to learn to suck it up and do what he did best—eliminate chances of anything going wrong.
From his adventures, using top-notch gear and the best equipment money could buy always tilted the odds in his favor.The rest depended on his willpower and the innate need to beat the odds and win.Jillian was a natural fighter, and her confidence said she was good at what she did.That eased his worries somewhat, but he didn’t know what Lander’s budget was or how efficient his equipment was.Now that Lex was in Jillian’s life, he planned to make sure she used the best of everything in her field.Keeping her safe was his priority.
His phone buzzed.Lex pulled it from its clip, saw the number, and frowned.He’d told his office he didn’t want to be disturbed unless it was an emergency.He walked away from the throng of people and brought the phone to his ear.
“Paula?”
“Are you coming into the office soon?”
“This afternoon.What’s going on?”
“Call Mr.Roderick, please.He threatened to call every five minutes until you returned his calls.”
Screw Rod and his tabloids.They had a pact, but he’d broken it.Even in college, Rod would go out of his way to piss everyone off for shits and giggles.He hadn’t changed.He still got bored and found amusement at other people’s expense.If he weren’t a friend, Lex would drag his ass to court.
The problem was a court battle wouldn’t break Rod.Like Cade and Sloan, Roderick Thorne was a dot-com boomer with way too much money and time on his hands.Worse, battling Lex might just amuse Rod.He might even benefit if his tabloids and online sites got the inside scoop on the hearing.
“Lex, are you still there?”
A ripple of anticipation ran through the crew, causing Lex to turn his attention to the scene about to be shot.The people pressed closer, eyes on the window from which Jillian was supposed to be hurtled.“I’ll call him as soon as this scene is done.”
“Scene?Where are you?”
“I’ll see you this afternoon, Paula.”Everything Michaels had told him zipped through Lex’s head, but it didn’t ease his worries.
What if something went wrong?What if the background fire gotout of control?What if the compressed air piston below the air ram failed and the explosives went off while she was still on the platform?What if she got thrown too far and missed the air bag?He hated feeling helpless.It wasn’t in his nature to stand on the sideline and do nothing.Where the hell was she?Any more delays and he’d go up there to investigate.
Seconds crawled by.Hell!He needed a distraction.
Lex punched a number on his phone and brought it to his ear.
“Who is this?How did you get this number?”Rod barked.
“What the hell are you doing publishing my pictures in your paper?”
Rod laughed.“Hey, Fitz.I knew you’d eventually call back.On an unlisted cell no less.How come I don’t have this number?”
“Because you’re an ass.Call your people, Rod, and tell them to call the vendors.I want every last piece of rag you call a magazine off the racks now.”
Rod laughed.“Rag?I make my living giving people what they want.”
“Fix this.I’m not joking.”
“Come on, big guy.Cade didn’t go ballistic last month when—”
“I’m not Cade.How the hell did your people know I was arriving last night?”Then he remembered his conversation with Sloan.“Sloan called you?”
There was silence, then, “Now we’re conspiring against you?You’ve hurt my feelings.”
“Screw your feelings, Rod.Tell your people to remove them, then call and apologize to Jillian.And whoever told your people about my arrival last night had better be ready for me on Saturday.”Lex hung up, expecting to feel better, but the knot in his gut had only tightened.Jillian still hadn’t jumped.
Of course, Rod wasn’t going to recallThe National Observerfrom vendors, but he’d feel guilty for a few weeks before going back to being a jackass.Unlike most weekly tabloids, he chose to publish his bi-weekly, giving gossip-happy readers something to read mid-week.
Lex moved closer to the crowd, noticing it had become quiet.He saw why.Smoke billowed from the windows of the building.Fire leaped and licked the ledges.Each breath hurt as memories from the past flashed in his head.He’d almost lost his brother and sister in two separate fires.
His hands clenched.Stomach heaved.The urge to close his eyes and shut out what was to follow became overwhelming, but he kept them fixed on the building and held his breath.
Just when the waiting became unbearable, Jillian came crashing through the window as an explosion rocked the building.The fire shot after her as she hovered in the air.Then he realized something.She was on fire.
