Page 18 of Cooper
“I-I told them if she was alive, Coop probably had her. I told them he was special. I-I had to,” he sobbed, “I had to do it, don’t you see. I needed the money.”
“You fucking coward,” muttered the other man. “You sold out your brother for damn cash!”
“It’s not just ‘some’ cash. Ten-million. I got ten-million and I’m disappearing tomorrow. I’ll be gone,” he muttered in his drunkenness. “I’ll be go…”
“That’s it, Coop. He sold you out, brother. We’re so fucking sorry,” said Manx. “We turned him over to the MP’s this morning. He’s been placed under arrest but I doubt that will save his ass.”
“He’ll be dead before he ever faces trial,” said Coop. “Not by me but by Garcia. He won’t let a loose end like that live.”
“Are you safe, brother? We can come to you, and Bianca if she’s with you.” Coop hesitated for just a moment. He trusted these men as much as he trusted those before him.
“Did you know? About me and my family?” he asked.
“A little,” nodded Manx. “We didn’t pry, brother. We knew your anonymity was important to you. We’re all placed on mandatory leave at this point until the investigation is concluded.”
“You could come here,” said Ham staring at Coop. The other man gave a subtle nod, thanking him.
“They’re watching us. We can’t take a shit without them following us and watching what we do. I don’t know how we’d get there, wherever there is.”
“Would you come if we could get you?” asked Coop.
“I would,” said Manx.
“Me too,” said Morgan. “At this point I have to assume we’re all in danger thanks to that idiot.”
“Coop? Is she safe? The girl, is she safe? I’m not asking for any other reason than we all liked her. She was a good kid and helped us in more ways than we damn sure helped her.”
“She’s safe and you guys will be as well. Stay where you are and we’ll let you know when we can come and get you. Don’t say a word to anyone. Don’t bring anything except a pack with your clothes. If you need weapons we’ll provide them for you.”
“Roger that,” said Manx. “I’m sorry, Coop. I’m fucking sorry for all of this.”
“One more thing,” said Morgan. “This feels like it goes all the way up the fucking food chain. The feds have put out a notification on Bianca, description, everything. They’re telling everyone she’s wanted for suspected terrorism.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” he frowned.
“I wish I were, Coop. This isn’t something where we’ll be able to eliminate the bad guys and walk home. I think the bad guys stretch all the way to the fucking top.”
The call ended, the screen black once again. Coop was furious that his own teammate had turned the woman he loved over to that monster. It couldn’t just be shale resources beneath that land. Why was it so fucking important?
His father reached for his arm and squeezed, staring at him.
“Coop? You have to tell Bianca.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
Bianca just stared at the bayou, watching as the rain clouds seemed to be rolling in faster and faster. It was appropriate considering the mood of the men on the dock.
“Where do I need to go?” she whispered.
“You’re not going anywhere,” said Abe, kneeling beside her. He held her hands in both of his, kissing the back of her fingers. “You are safer here than anywhere else in the world.”
“I can’t hide here forever and my being here will put all of you in danger. I won’t do that,” she said standing from the bench. Diego took her arm and pulled her back to the bench, forcing her to settle between he and Abe. Coop just stared at the men, the others gathered around her like a wall of testosterone.
“Bianca, they will not find you here,” said Diego. “You are safest here on this property with all of us.”
“Even if they don’t find me, that doesn’t mean they can’t hurt all of you! They put out that false report about me, don’t you think they could do the same for you? They’ll spread more lies. Just let me sign over that damn land and be done with it. Maybe they’ll leave me alone.”
“It doesn’t work that way,” said Rush. “Trust us. You sign over that land and you’re a liability. You know too much. They will want to kill you either way.”
