Chapter 33

THIRTY-THREE

Cooper

As soon as I get back to Virginia, I head for my apartment. I need clothes and to check things out anyway, so I’m anxious to knock something off my list. However, when I get there the place has been ransacked. The door is locked, so I don’t know how they got in and out without anyone knowing, but everything has been overturned, drawers and closets emptied, mattress and cushions upended.

What the hell are they looking for?

Even if I knew where Fatima and the others are, I wouldn’t keep it written down somewhere in my apartment. They found and took my personal weapon—a .38 Special I love—but beyond that they simply made a mess.

And I don’t have time for this.

My landlord is going to charge me for it, but I don’t give a shit about money.

Right now, I need to pack a bag and get to my mom’s.

“Coop? You here?” I turn at the sound of Louie’s voice.

“Hey.”

“Whoa, Nellie. What happened here?” He stands in my living room looking annoyed.

“Wish I knew. I can guess, though.”

“What the hell are they looking for?”

“The same information they tortured me over?” I suggest.

He makes a face.

“What?” I ask.

“The information is out there. Not here, but somewhere, and you’re their first line of contact. The military is playing dumb about all of this. They’re not going to protect you.”

“So I’m up a creek without a paddle.”

“You don’t even have the canoe, my friend.”

I run a tired hand through my hair.

“Actually, I do. But before I can start rowing, I have to protect my mom. My sister. Her kids.”

He nods, as if he understands. “Sandor’s plan?”

I nod.

“Is Natalia safe?”

“Yes.”

“Then we have to go get your mom some place safe.”

“We?”

“You don’t think I’m going to let you go through this alone, do you?”

“I don’t want to put you in the line of fire,” I say simply, heading for my bedroom. “I can’t risk it. Besides, like I said, Sandor has a plan.”

“You’re a stubborn fuck,” he says, following me. “But I’m interested in hearing about the plan.”

“If we’re going to talk, you need to help me pack,” I say, throwing boxers, socks, T-shirts, and sweats into a duffel bag.

“What else?” he asks. “You want me to pack up your closet?”

“I need to travel light right now.”

“I can keep some shit at my place until you figure this out.”

“Great. Thank you.” I pause to look around at the mess.

“I have a friend who owns a cleaning service,” Louie says, following my gaze. “I’ll have her come clean this up. She owes me a favor.”

I want to protest, but it feels like it will take too much energy. “Thanks. That would be a big help.”

We finish packing as I tell him Sandor’s idea, and he nods. “I can help with that.”

“Joe called a couple of guys who used to work for him at Westfield & Carruthers, so if everything goes according to plan, this will all be over in a day or two and I can get back to my girl.”

“I’m guessing she wasn’t happy you left, huh?”

I hesitate. “I, uh, well, I kind of blew out of there without telling her.”

“Dude.” He stares at me. “What were you thinking? Sandor’s plan is going to work—you didn’t even tell her about it?”

I feel a wave of guilt. “I couldn’t. King’s orders. But I’ll make it up to her. Assuming I get out of this alive.”

“If I was her, I’d kick you to the curb. How do you pull this shit with a woman like Natalia?”

“Like I said, King Erik didn’t want her involved. At all. She protects Casey and Levi—putting her anywhere near this was a danger to his family. Not to mention, the last thing they need is for a Royal Protector to be kidnapped and tortured. She knows too much they could use against the king. I had no choice but to leave her in the dark. I don’t know what they’re telling her now, but she doesn’t know where I am so the hope is that she can’t follow me.”

“Yeah, but…” He shakes his head. “Well, who am I to give advice on women? I haven’t had a serious relationship in a long time.”

“Believe me, I didn’t want to do it this way, but it’s safer for her, and that’s all that matters. Sandor swore he’d make sure she stayed safe.”

“Nat’s not just going to be upset, she’s going to be hurt .”

“I know.” I rub my hands down my face and stare into space for a second. “But it wasn’t my call.”

He scratches his head. “Yeah, I get that.”

“Look, I have to focus on getting my mom to safety and then drawing this fucker out so we can end this. After that, I’ll figure out how to get Natalia to forgive me.”

“I talked to Ace, and he’s reaching out to some Middle Eastern contacts he has. Maybe he can get a line on who these guys are.”

“Oh, I’m sure it’s Yusef,” I mutter. “He promised I wouldn’t forget his name or face. And it’s his wife he’s looking for.”

“Well, I’m going to go make a few calls and see whose cage I can rattle. I’ll meet up with you later tonight, and we’ll figure out the rest of the plan.”

“Sounds good. Where are you staying?”

He gives me his information, and I throw everything I’m keeping into the back of my truck. I plan to travel light going forward, but I’ll leave the things I don’t want to get lost or damaged with my mom.

With any luck, we’ll take care of this sooner rather than later, and I can get home.

Home.

When did Limaj become home?

The minute I went there to be with Natalia.

I hadn’t realized it until now, but despite my misgivings, I was never going to give her up. No matter what I decide to do professionally, it’s going to happen in Limaj.

Because I love her.

I’m sorry, baby . I’m going to fix this.

* * *

I stop to get some cash out of an ATM.

I’m not sure where I’m going to be or how long I’ll be gone, but it’s probably better not to leave a paper trail. Then I hit a drug store to stock up on some essentials since I don’t plan to stay at my mom’s very long.

Erik, Sandor, and I talked for a few hours last night, and the plan we came up with should work. It will work. I’ll repeat that to myself as many times as necessary until I believe it.

Because I don’t plan to go on the run indefinitely.

I’m going to end this, whether what we have planned works or not.

I just hope I don’t die in the process.

The phone call I had with my commanding officer this morning had been frustrating. Instead of listening to me, he’d told me he wanted me to report to Hawaii as soon as I was able to schedule a physical that would deem me fit for duty. The thing is, I’ll go AWOL before I move to Hawaii. At this point, I’m done with the military, and as much as I love my country, I have different goals now.

I’m also annoyed my CO wasn’t overly concerned about the attacks, skeptical when I told him the story of how my kidnappers in Iraq were the ones after me. Like I was making something up so I could stay in Hiskale with my girlfriend longer.

Frankly, it’s insulting.

Generally speaking, he’s a good guy, and this is out of character for him. But I understand that he has protocols to follow and higher-ups to answer to, so it’s not easy to get people to listen without hard proof.

It’s one of many reasons I’m ready for a change.

But I can’t fully commit to the Protectors—or to Natalia—until the current situation is handled. I’m grateful for Sandor and Louie’s help to pull this off.

I’m filled with nervous energy as I pull up to my mom’s house. It’s the same feeling I used to get whenever I went on patrol in Iraq. There’s a kind of excitement mingled with a touch of nervousness and a pinch of fear. And it’s never fear for myself. If I die, well, I’m not going to know it. It’s my family, my brothers-in-arms, and the people I care about that worry me. What my death will do to them.

My mother has already had enough loss in her life. Her parents died young, she had three miscarriages, and then she lost her husband—my dad—when they were in their thirties. She’s been single a long time, and I can’t imagine what losing me would do to her. Of course, she’s also tough as nails, which is why she was on board to help.

Not to mention what this could do to Natalia.

After what happened with Logan?

This could break her, and that terrifies me more than almost anything else.

The last thing I want is to be responsible for that strong, vibrant woman losing herself.

I steel my resolve and walk up to the front door.

I knock and call out to her. “Ma? You home?”

I hadn’t given her a head’s up, just in case anyone has been watching her, so she night not even be home.

“Mom?”

The house is eerily quiet, and I’m surprised when the doorknob turns easily. She usually keeps her doors locked. It’s habit after living on her own for so many years.

“Mom, you home?” I call out louder this time.

There’s a strange noise in the kitchen and then my mother’s voice, which sounds a little strange. “I’m, uh, I’m in here, Coop.”

She only calls me Coop when something is wrong.

Fuck.

Am I too late?

Dread slides down my spine and settles in my gut like a bag of cement.

I pull the weapon I brought with me from Limaj from the back of my waistband and slowly walk into the kitchen.

The scene in front of me makes bile rise in my throat.

A familiar face looks up at me with a smarmy smile.

“Captain Ryan Cooper. Welcome home. Your mother and I were just about to have some tea. Would you like to join us?

My mother is sitting at the kitchen table, paler than I’ve ever seen her, and she meets my gaze almost guiltily. Like this is her fault.

We were going to set her up as bait, but they weren’t supposed to get here first.

And it’s worse than I imagined because leering over her is a man I never thought I’d see again.

He said I needed to remember his name, and I do.

I also seen his face in my nightmares.

Yusef Mustaffa.

Mother. Fucker.