The Risks We Take Duet Box Set

37. Cooper

COOPER

W hen my plane landed on base in Coronado this morning, I had a plan. I needed to speak with Command, then with Ford. Command was easy, but when I find Ford in the cages where we keep our gear, I feel like a fucking asshole.

It’s a big room where each member of the team has his own cage. We keep our weapons, gear, and basically everything we need for our missions in here.

He’s sitting in his cage, and judging by the look on his face, he’s waiting for me. “Sinclair.” He stands up when I enter the room. “I heard you were getting back today.”

I unlock my cage and drop my bag inside. “Is that all you heard?”

Ford smiles in a way that answers my question.

“Am I making the right decision?” I sound like a kid asking for permission. “Leaving you guys feels wrong, man.”

Ford crosses his arms over his chest and stands silently for a moment. “This was a trial run, Cooper. You passed. Bravo Team wants you, and Lou’s leaving at the end of the year. He just needs to finish his time. You’re good. You know it. We know it, and now, they know it too. Do I want to see you go? Fuck no. But if you go there, you can be close to that crazy fucking family of yours, and I know you want that.” He rocks back on the heels of his boots. “Most of us don’t come from the kind of family you’ve got, Sinclair. I get it. I’d want to be there too. Plus, it gets your girl closer to home, if you take her with you. Jessie and she have gotten tight. Don’t fuck it up. She’s a good girl.”

“Yeah well, nothing is final. Looks like you’re stuck with me for the rest of this year.” I lock my cage back up and face my team leader. My friend. “Damn, leaving you guys is gonna suck.”

“You want your own Alpha Team someday, Sinclair. And I think that’s gonna happen for you with Bravo Team. Just don’t go getting lazy on me in the meantime.” He pulls me in for a back pound. “Come on. Carys has your Jeep, right? I’ll give you a ride home.”

Part of me doesn’t want to leave this team.

But the bigger part of me knows that for the longevity of my career, this is the move I need to make.

This will get us closer to our family, and even if Carys isn’t ready to tell them about us yet, she’ll want too soon.

I hope.

I call Carys on my way to her house, but it goes to voice mail, so I shoot her a text.

Cooper

Hey baby. I’m home and I’m dying to see you. You home?

She doesn’t answer my call or text. But worst-case scenario, if she’s not there, I’ll just walk down the street to my place. When Ford stops in front of the house, my Jeep is sitting in the driveway, so I’m hoping that means she’s home.

“Thanks for the ride, man.” I climb out of Ford’s truck and lean in the door.

“Be at the beach at zero-eight-hundred. Let’s see if you can still keep up.” The asshole pulls away, laughing. Joke’s on him. I cut time off my personal record, and I’m closing the gap between us. Ford may have been the fastest fucker on the team when I left, but we’ll see if he still is.

I walk up to the front door and knock once, then wait. When the door swings open, drummer boy’s on the other side of it. He eyes me carefully, and I can’t quite figure out what he’s thinking.

“Hey, man. Is Carys home?”

“Yeah.” He steps aside to let me in. “She’s not feeling well, so she’s lying down. Jack and I are downstairs, if you need anything. You know where her room is.” He shuts the door and heads toward the basement.

“Hey, Theo.” He turns around. “Thanks for taking care of her. I appreciate it.”

Where a minute ago he was open and easy, now he bristles at my words. “I didn’t do it for you. I did it for her.” He takes a step closer. “She’s too good for you, you know that, right?”

My blood boils at every word. “Yeah? And you’re good enough for her?”

He pulls a drumstick out of his back pocket and flips it through his fingers. “No. We’re friends. That’s it. But at least I’m here. Remember that.”

The motherfucker walks away.

Smug. Because he knows he’s right.

It’s mid-March. I’ll be here until July, then I’m gone again until the end of the year.

I take the stairs two at a time, then knock lightly on Carys’s door. When there’s no answer after a moment, I crack it open and whisper her name into the dark room. She’s asleep on the center of the bed. Her hands are tucked under her face, her dark hair spread out behind her on her pillow, and her legs are tucked up against her.

I close the door and kick off my boots, then lie down behind her, gently pulling her against me and holding her.

Carys whimpers in her sleep, then settles in my arms.

She sleeps soundly for another hour, and I lie here and watch her.

Thinking about all the things we’ve got going against us and all the ways I’d fight to keep her.

Eventually, she rolls over in my arms, and her lips press against my jaw. Her eyes remain closed, and her breathing is even, but she knows I’m here. “Love you, Cooper.”

“Until the end of time, Carys.”