The Risks We Take Duet Box Set

56. Cooper

COOPER

“ S he’s sat in the waiting room for the last two days, son. She’s been helping Emerson make arrangements for Linc. Your team leader’s wife and Carys have been taking care of things for her.” My heart hurts for my friend who’s never going to get to meet his baby, and my blood pressure soars when I think about Axe pulling the trigger.

And worse, I’m having a hard time accepting that Linc’s gone and Axe is the cause. My psyche refuses to believe it, and my blendered brain isn’t helping because I can’t remember it.

“You’re really not going to see her before we leave? Maybe it would help if you talked.” My father stands at the foot of my bed, arms crossed over his chest. His eyes are pinched in annoyance.

I don’t blame him.

I can’t give him more information, and he’s not listening to what I do say.

I wanted him to leave as soon as he got here three days ago.

To take Carys and go back to Kroydon Hills, far away from this clusterfuck.

He insisted he wasn’t going anywhere until I was cleared by the doctor.

But it doesn’t look like that’s happening yet, and the doc won’t tell me how long it’s going to take.

“No, Dad. Carys can’t come back here.” I hold his eyes and make sure he feels the strength of my words. “She can’t be here.”

“Cooper, I try not to meddle. Especially considering I love you both. But I have to say this one thing.” His posture loosens, and he takes a step closer. “Love is messy, son. Carys was knocked down hard with her diagnosis. She knows pushing you away was wrong. You owe it to her to hear her out, at the very least.”

“Like she talked to me?” I bite back.

I still love her.

I always will.

But when all this is over, I’m gonna spank her ass for pushing me away.

Dad stares at me, waiting me out for a better answer.

“We’ll talk at some point, Dad. But it won’t be here, and it can’t be now.” There’s no way for me to protect her here. “You guys have already been here too long. You’ve got to go home.”

Dad wraps his arms around me in a tight embrace. “I love you, kid. I want to hear from you as soon as the doc comes in with another update. Got it?”

“I’ll call as soon as I can.” He moves the rolling table over until it’s next to the bed, then hands me my phone.

“Make sure you answer your sister. She’s driving me crazy.” Dad shakes his head like all of us do when it comes to my persistent twin when she gets mad.

God help the man who gets in her way.

Guess that’s Brady’s problem now.

“No electronics, remember?” I really don’t think I can handle getting into it with Nat yet. Not when my brain still feels like scrambled eggs.

“Coop, she’s pregnant with twins. If she doesn’t hear from you soon, she’s getting on a plane and flying over here to see you for herself. Will you please just call her?” He turns and grabs his coat from the chair, then waits.

“Fine. But if she yells, I’m hanging up.” She’s going to yell. We both know it. Nattie is never quiet.

Dad crosses his arms over his thick chest and tries to act annoyed again but fails. “Love you, son. I’ll call when we land.”

“Dad... take care of Carys.” I hope one day she understands why I did this.

Dad shakes his head. “Don’t underestimate her, son. That girl is stronger than you think.”

There’s a knock on the door, followed by Ford’s head sticking in. “Hey, brother.” He glances between Dad and me. “Sorry, we didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“You’re not interrupting,” Dad claps Ford’s back, as he shakes his hand. “Just do me a favor and make sure he calls his sister before you’re all stuck having to deal with her.” He looks back at me one more time before walking through the door, and the immediate relief I have, knowing that he and Carys will be on a jet within a few hours, has my shoulders sagging.

Ford laughs as Rook and he stroll into the room in their full uniforms.

Rook closes the door and leans against it with his hands shoved in his pockets. Ford clears his throat. “Listen, Rook and I are being sent stateside later today.”

The words he left unsaid are that Trick and I won’t be going back to base with them.

The injuries to Trick’s leg are severe and could take months of physical therapy. That’s a one-way ticket back to Coronado. And head injuries are tricky. My vision isn’t even back to 100 percent yet.

The words potential medical discharge still echo in my shaky brain from my conversation with the neuro doc they brought in yesterday.

Potential permanent partial loss of vision.

I haven’t told the guys yet. I want to know more first.

“We’re needed for debriefing and...” Ford trails off.

“And?” I prompt.

He looks between Trick and me. “For Linc’s funeral.”

Acid churns in my gut. “Then I’m going too.” He was my best fucking friend.

“Same,” Trick backs me.

“Neither of you are medically cleared to travel.” Ford’s gaze slams into me. “Maybe by next week...”

Rook claps a hand on my shoulder. “We’ll need you in top form, brother.”

My diagnosis sours my stomach, twisting my guts. “Fucking bullshit” is all I finally mutter.

“We’ll be in touch as soon as we get more intel. Just focus on getting yourselves where you need to be to get the hell out of here.” Ford grasps my hand in a firm shake.

“Carys...” I let her name hang in the air. But he knows what I’m asking.

“Already done, brother. Jessie’s been talking to her and keeping me in the loop. I’ll have eyes on her as soon as she gets back to California.”

“Phoenix will keep an eye on her until then. Who the fuck knows where Axe’s head’s at, or what he’s gonna try?” Rook adds.

“She’s going to California?” I groan, frustrated. I thought she’d be staying in Kroydon Hills. An entire country away from this shit.

“Jessie said she’s coming to help Emerson.” He shifts uncomfortably. “Em’s not handling everything well. We should have more for you guys soon.” Ford steps away and claps Trick’s shoulder before they walk out the door.

This is all so fucked.