“Listen to me,” he said, low and calm, his arms bands of steel. He brushed her wet, clinging hair from her face so he could look into her eyes. “If I could, I’d be out there on that mountain right now, rescuing them myself.”

She stared into his fierce gaze, saw the worry there, and realized that if it wasn’t safe for him, it sure as hell wasn’t safe for her.

“He’s going to be okay,” Hud told her. “He’s on a rope and so is Mitch. Trust me, they’re not going to let each other fall. But more importantly, they’re safer than we are. Get back in the truck. I’ll go get a radio and bring it to you. You can talk to him yourself and see. Okay?”

“He’s on a rope?”

“Yes.”

She gave the cliff one last stare.

“Lily.”

“Okay, yeah.” She let Gray pull her from Hudson’s arms and guide her back to his truck.

He shut her in the passenger side and beeped the locks as he walked around the hood.

She smiled grimly. He didn’t trust her. She didn’t blame him.

When he got in, he relocked the doors, hitting the child lock while he was at it.

“Oh, for God’s sake,” she said.

He said nothing at all, just cranked the heater, pointing the vents at her.

They sat in silence for the few minutes it took Hudson to get back to them. He slid into the backseat and shook like a dog.

“Goddammit, Hud,” Gray bitched.

Hud smiled at Lily, and she knew he was trying to make her feel better. She held out her hand for the radio.

He hesitated. “Okay, but first I need to tell you something. He’s a little injured—”

“Oh, God.” She sucked in a breath and felt her vision go wonky.

Hudson reached forward and slid his hand to the nape of her neck. “Push back against my hand,” he ordered. “Deep breaths, Lily.”

“We’ve got you,” Gray said quickly at her side.

Most of her brain felt consumed by panic, but Gray’s voice and Hudson’s hand on her neck anchored her. They were turned toward her, concentrating on her, gauging her reactions. Probably they were worried she was a flight risk, and they’d be right on that score, but she saw genuine concern in their eyes.

“It’s going to be okay,” Hudson promised.

“You don’t know that.” She felt the hysteria come at her again. “Things aren’t always okay. Things go south.” People die …

“It’s going to be okay,” Hud repeated firmly. “Because I won’t let it be anything other than okay.”

She turned and looked into his eyes, dark with determination. Then she looked at Gray. Matching.

“He’s out there because of me,” she whispered, letting out her biggest fear. “He thought it was me.” Which made her responsible. Again.