Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 144571 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 723(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 482(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144571 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 723(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 482(@300wpm)
“Yes.” He stood and walked to her, bringing his hands up and then stopping. “Can I touch you?”
She’d never noticed it before. Zach was a touchy-feely guy, but he was always cautious with her. She appreciated it. There were times when it was too much to be touched without knowing it was going to happen. Not with Coop. She was used to him, but everyone else. Even her family sometimes. “Yeah.”
He put his hands on her shoulders. “Kala, thank you. I know this might cost you. I won’t let you down.”
“How do you know? To ask if I want to be touched? I try to look normal.” Maybe she wasn’t as good at it as she thought she was. She’d gotten used to burying the flinch she sometimes got when she was younger. “It’s not anything against you.”
Zach’s eyes shone with tears as he gently pulled her in for a hug. “I know. It’s how you’re wired. I know because Coop told me. I know because he spends so fucking much of his time trying to make the world easier for you. I love you. I never used to say those fucking words until I got on this damn team. Didn’t even think I knew how to love. I blame your parents. And his. Please don’t give up on him.”
She was not fucking going to cry. “I think it’s best if I do. I don’t belong. Not really.”
“You do, sister. You don’t understand it right now, but you are the center of the freaking universe for so many people. I know sometimes it seems dark, but I’m here for you. Whether or not you give my brother a real shot.”
“No you won’t. You’re going to be running around the world chasing down a bombmaker,” she said, trying not to sniffle.
He chuckled. “Always so literal. I meant it in a metaphorical fashion. Also, I promise I’ll get a phone and call you. I’ll find a way to keep you updated.”
“If it helps, I think running around the globe trying to chase down a dangerous person sounds like fun.” She kind of wished she could go with him.
But she had to ease out of her situation. If she didn’t, her parents would be hurt.
And confused. A confused Ian and Charlotte Taggart could prove difficult to deal with. She had to make the transition work.
Or her dad would be pissed she’d had Zach and let him go and maybe she wouldn’t have to worry about it.
He squeezed her gently and then stepped back. “I assure you none of this is fun. I need you to tell Devi if she doesn’t start taking her security seriously, I’ll be forced to do something about it.”
“I already talked to her.” How would he know? “Do you have eyes on her?”
“I love her. Of course I do, and she’s behaving in a reckless fashion. I have to hope Huisman doesn’t know about her, but it might not matter since her last name is Taggart,” Zach said gravely. “He wants to hurt all of you. You have to be careful.”
“She’s got a bodyguard,” Kala explained, stepping back. Damn but she’d missed Zach. She hadn’t realized how much because she’d been so involved with Cooper. She’d been lost in how good it felt to be close to him and hadn’t considered all the other people around her.
“She’s pissed and reckless, and I don’t think whoever you put on her can handle her,” Zach admitted. “Just tell her to take the threat seriously or she’ll have to deal with me.”
Kala kind of wanted to watch that throw down.
“I’m ready,” Joyce said. She stood near Cooper’s sleeping body, looking down on him. “I don’t want to leave him like this.”
“We have to,” Zach said with a frown as he hefted his pack. “Hopefully someday he’ll forgive us.”
Zach and Joyce walked into the thick woods and Kala pulled out the sat phone, making the call she needed to make.
Then she sat down and held Cooper’s hand.
For the last time.
Chapter Fourteen
Cooper came awake slowly, coming to his senses and trying to find his way through the fog.
Why was he in a fog?
He reached out. Kala should be close. She rarely got out of bed unless he was awake. She waited for him to draw her close and make love to her before they rolled out of bed and started the day.
It was kind of his best life.
Fuck, he had a brother. Another brother.
He forced his eyes open. His body felt weighed down. Drugged. He’d been drugged. Zach had shown up and Kala had gotten the truth out of Joyce and he’d been… Fuck, he’d been a dick about it. But damn it, she could have handled it differently.
“Well, good morning sleeping beauty,” a familiar voice said.
His father. “Where am I?”
“You’re at Big Tag’s cabin. I flew out as soon as Kala called. She thought you would probably wake up before I could get here, but the flight time from Dallas is only two hours. Cooper, I didn’t know.”