From the photos Rocco had sent over the last few days, it was clear they hadn’t been near Liora Cliff.
To avoid any mishaps, I wrapped myself tightly and stepped out into the cold.
What I hadn’t counted on was how treacherous the mountain roads were at night, nor how much I had overestimated my sense of direction.
Instead of reaching the base of Liora Cliff, I found myself teetering on the edge.
Gazing down into the pitch-black void, I tried to steady my racing thoughts, but then a beam of light sliced through the darkness. Avery stood there, holding a flashlight, her eyes glinting with amusement as they met mine.
“Ah, it really is you, Valerie.”
I froze. I had dressed like a bundle, with only my eyes exposed. How had she recognized me?
Avery’s smirk deepened as if she could hear my thoughts. “Don’t underestimate a woman’s intuition. Who else would be foolish enough to come all the way out here looking for Brother Rocco?”
I opened my mouth to argue, but before I could speak, another flashlight beam appeared, cutting through the night.
Rocco’s voice echoed through the dark, “Avery, who are you talking to?”
A frown tugged at my lips. It was almost midnight. If Rocco showed up, slipping away would become a lot trickier.
What I hadn’t expected was for Avery to suddenly grab me, pulling me desperately toward the edge of the cliff while shouting in panic, “Brother Rocco, help! I don’t know this person; they’re trying to hurt me!”
I was tall and often dressed in a gender-neutral style. With my hat, mask, scarf, and dark down jacket, I probably resembled a man.
Trying to stay unnoticed, I pushed Avery away, frantically signaling that I meant no harm.
As I turned to leave, Avery clutched her stomach, collapsed onto the ground, and began wailing, “Brother Rocco, my stomach hurts so badly. Our baby is in pain!”
Rocco’s face darkened, and in an instant, he rushed over. Without warning, he kicked me in the stomach and slammed a camera into my head.
Warm blood trickled down my forehead.
The blow sent me stumbling backward, and before I could regain my balance, I found myself falling over the edge.
I managed to grab hold of a tree branch, my clothes torn to tatters.
Rocco stood at the cliff’s edge, holding Avery in his arms, his flashlight beam piercing through the darkness and glaring straight into my face.
Rocco’s face hardened into a mask of icy fury.