Exposing the Bad Boy
Page 17
Narrowing my eyes, I shoved out of the wingsuit, enjoying the air on my bare arms again. Reporters were swarming; I knew we'd be on the news tonight.
Pointing at Corbin, I said loudly, “That man endangered our lives. He threatened to kill me, Pike Moss, and Manny Southern. He held us at gunpoint until we jumped from a helicopter in dangerous weather.” Clenching my jaw, I took a breath. “Maximal Energy Incorporated is a reckless company. If it isn't obvious... I quit. I refuse to support them any longer. We'll be taking action against them.”
Someone from the crowd approached Corbin, whispering in his ear. He shoved them away, calling out to me with a waver in his voice. “So that's how it's going to be. You want to sue us? Fine! We're going to ruin you, the both of you! You screwed up this whole event, your contract is void! You're getting nothing!”
The other man tried to speak to Corbin again, visibly shaken. I assumed he worked for Maximal—perhaps their public relations department.
Corbin spun on him, spit flying. “I know what I'm saying! I don't care what the reporters hear! Those two have no proof of anything, we'll get them on slander, on destruction, on everything!”
“You're wrong,” I said, cool as fresh snow. “I do have proof. When this is over, the world will know what kind of scum you are, Corbin Mathews.”
He whipped around to look at me. There was a rabid taint in his eyes.
Pike clasped my shoulder; I saw that he'd removed his gear, too. “Ellie, let's go. This is over.”
Touching his fingers, I began to nod. From the corner of my eye, I sensed movement. Spinning, I came face to face with the sweaty grimace of my former boss. Corbin's lips were pulled back, hands held high like claws.
I don't know what he was planning to do. I never found out.
Black ink and tan flesh exploded in front of me. I was close enough to see the way Corbin's cheek rippled, transforming from the impact of Pike's knuckles. Around us, the air flashed with the bulbs of cameras. Everyone was shouting, creating a whirl of noise that never ended.
Groaning, Corbin collapsed in the dirt, blood running down his chin. No one moved, shocked into inaction.
Turning to the crowd, Pike rolled his shoulders. They thought he was poised to speak, some grand announcement, because they hunched closer with their microphones raised.
Smiling briskly, he gave the crowd the cold shoulder. The satisfaction in his stare was private; for me alone. Curling his hand around mine, he led us up the rocky path.
In our wake, the reporters shouted, demanding a comment—an interview—anything.
As for us, we never once looked back.
Climbing towards the blue sky above, hand in hand and in perfect unison, Pike and I were ready for one simple thing. Something that was waiting eagerly for us.
Our future.
- Epilogue -
Pike
Maximal had no chance.
Once Ellie revealed that, while she'd destroyed her helmet, she'd kept the tape safe, they were quick to settle outside of court. The recording showed Corbin committing every tragedy we'd claimed. Unlike me, she'd hit her record button when she'd first picked the helmet up.
Seeing Corbin on screen, gun cocked and ready, had my blood boiling all over again.
The company paid out of pocket to the tune of one million dollars for our trauma. Corbin fought to get only five years in prison; a light sentence, all things considered.
Manny shook our hands the day Corbin was locked up. He'd recovered from his concussion, partaking in giving his own account of the incident. I was just relieved he was alright. When he was asked later, on the news, if he would ever glide through the canyon on his own after everything, Manny had simply laughed and made no comment.
I had no doubt he'd fly the course some day, but on his own terms.
Amazingly, a mere day after Corbin was sentenced, Maximal dared to offer Ellie his job. Once upon a time, I think she would have leaped at such an opportunity.
I don't think they expected her to flip them off.
I loved her even more, after seeing that.
As for my penance, I did exactly what I said I would. I never saw the looks on their faces when they received the check—I didn't have the heart to face them personally—but I was hopeful that my money was useful to Niko's family.
Last I heard, they'd opened a charity in his name.
“You know,” Ellie said, pushing hair from her eyes as the wind tossed it around. “There's something crazy in doing this after everything we've been through.”
Chuckling, I pulled my straps around my shoulders. It had been a week since the trial, and Ellie and I were... well. There was still one more thing I wanted to do before the chance escaped me.
When I'd told Ellie, bless her heart, she'd booked our tickets right away.
Watching her now, I slid my red helmet onto my head. “You only just realized that I'm crazy?”
“I knew you were,” she said, cocking her hip. “I didn't know I was.”
Arching her back in the sun, the green hills of New Zealand acted like a painting in the background. The dark contrast highlighted her edges, her curves and the funny way she liked to bend one knee just slightly, even when she was holding still.
Ellie was picturesque. A living piece of poetry. I loved her more than I thought I could have loved anyone, or anything. Our near death experience had opened my eyes to what was in my grasp.
I would never lose this magic.
Sweeping her into my arms abruptly, I enjoyed her surprised gasp. “Pike?”
Cradling her to my chest, I swayed there on the edge of the cliff. We were alone here, surrounded by the landscape and rich vibrancy. This place represented so much to me. So many unclaimed dreams...
“Do you think he'd be proud of me?” I whispered.
Against my sternum, Ellie went stiff. I worried my question was too much. What kind of pressure was I putting on her to answer that?
Her arms came around, circling my ribs, working to crush me and save me at the same time. “Now who's the idiot,” she asked, and I heard her smile, even if I couldn't see it. Slipping back, she looked up at me with genuine compassion. Even here, in this world of green, her eyes rivaled the rich environment. “Your father was always proud of you. He loved you so much... why else would he have embraced your addiction to the sky?”
The deep loss that lived in me shrank a little more.
“Are you scared?” I asked, looking down at the valley of rocks and blue sapphire water below. It was strange that something so gorgeous could be so deadly.
Ellie's fingers wove with mine. They held me tight, fitting so perfectly between us.
“No.” She looked at me straight on, free of uncertainty. “Not anymore. Not with you.”
The wind swirled around us, a silent presence that witnessed our love. There was a time that I thought of myself as broken. A man too flawed to care about anything but the rush... the lightning fast fall towards danger.
Ellie had turned me into something so much more. She'd healed my old scars, allowed me to see that if she could love me for who I was—through everything—then my father surely had, as well. That it wasn't my fault my obsession had led him to his grave.
In this world, sometimes it's possible to find someone who completes you, exposes you so that you can finally see yourself in a way you never could.
We kissed once more, tasting the electricity that coiled between us.
“I love you, Ellie Cutter.”
The freckles on her cheeks danced with her smile. “I love you, too, Pike.”
Our hands squeezed... our hearts pulsed with a final, deep inhale of air...
And together we jumped.
THE END
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A USA Today Bestselling Author, Nora Flite loves to write new adult romance (especia
lly the dramatic, gritty kind!) Inspired by the complicated events and wild experiences of her own life, she wants to share those stories with her audience.
Born in the tiniest state, coming from what was essentially dirt, she's learned to embrace and appreciate every opportunity the world gives her.
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-Nora Flite
Also from Nora Flite:
Last of the Bad Boys
Only Pretend
For the Thrill
For the Fight
For the Bond
Hard Body Rock
Slow Body Rock
Flawed Body Rock
True Body Rock
Watch Me Fall
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