The Risks We Take Duet Box Set

77. Cooper

COOPER

R ook and I spend the rest of the day working through the data on the flash drive. Phoenix has someone doing the same thing on their end, but we want to make sure nothing’s missed.

I get it. They specialize in shutting down human trafficking.

But Rook and I know Axel.

At least, we thought we did.

I don’t think he was a criminal mastermind.

These can’t be his offshore accounts. And some of the tracking information on the women who were sold goes back for years. I can’t believe he’s been involved in this shit for that long.

A feeling scratches at something in my brain.

Him asking about the money. About the five million dollars in the failed op.

Fuck. “Axel talked about the money.”

Rook shuts the laptop and stares at me. “Explain.”

“We were on the roof, waiting for the exchange, and he asked if I’d ever seen that much money before. I told him I hadn’t and that we weren’t going to see it then either. And I think he told me I was wrong.” I rub my temples. “No. That’s not right. That was after.”

“After what?” The impatience in Rook’s tone pisses me off.

“I’m not sure. This is the first time anything has come back to me. They’re flashes. But I think they’re mixed-up. Out of order.” I rub my eyes in frustration. But the scratching is gone. “Fuck. It was right there. Like I could reach out and touch it until someone yanked it the hell away.”

“Give it time, man. The game’s starting in a minute. Why don’t we turn it on and watch San Diego kick your friends’ asses?” He puts his laptop back in the bag and stretches. We’ve been at this shit for hours.

“Yeah. Dream on. My brother-in-law could wipe the field with San Diego’s quarterback.”

“We’ll see.” Rook grabs the bag and takes it upstairs to the room he’s sleeping in, while I move into the living room.

Carys has sketches of lingerie spread across the floor and earbuds in her ears when I step up behind her and drop a kiss to the top of her head. She turns, startled, then pops an earbud from one ear. “Wanna watch your brother and Brady kick San Diego’s ass?”

“Ohh. Yes, please.” She jumps up from the floor and gathers her sketches as I watch over her shoulder.

The detail is amazing. She’s gotten even better since I saw her last sketches. “These are really good, baby. Any chance you want to model some for me later?” I wrap a possessive arm around her waist from behind, and she spins and bats her lashes at me.

“I haven’t made these to model yet. And my sewing machine is sitting in Chloe’s guest room, missing me.” She lifts up on her toes and runs her mouth over my ear. “But I’ve got something better under my clothes,” she whispers in a seductive tone that has my cock springing to life.

“Oh yeah? And what’s that?” My hands slide down her back and cup her ass the way I’ve wanted to since this morning, dragging her body close to mine.

She hums deep in her throat, her warm breath teasing my skin, and whispers, “I’m not wearing anything under my clothes.” She nips my ear. “Not a single thing.” Then she steps out of my hold and hurries into the kitchen, dropping her sketches on the island and rummaging in the cabinets for snacks for the game.

Leaving me standing in front of the TV with an overwhelming desire to find out if she’s telling the truth and an erection that needs adjusting.

When Carys comes back into the room a few minutes later, she’s got a big bowl of her favorite pretzels and two bottles of iced tea in her hands. She situates herself next to me on the couch and hands me one of the drinks. “It’s not exactly the spread Mom puts out for Coach and Declan’s away games, but it’ll have to do.”

I throw my arm across the back of the couch and run my fingers over her head, massaging it until she moans.

“God, that feels good.”

Rook joins us, bitching, “I’m glad you two figured your shit out, but you’re not exactly the porn I wanna watch, okay?”

“Ew,” Carys giggles. “If that was your idea of porn, I guess I understand why you’ve been single the entire time I’ve known you.”

He sits down in one of the reclining chairs at the end of the sectional. “That’s by choice.”

“Ha,” she mocks him. “Sure, it is.”

Luckily a woman steps onto the field to sing the National Anthem, distracting these two from their bickering. And once the game starts, all eyes are on the TV. Murphy gets a few good tackles, and Brady has no problem scoring on San Diego’s defense. By the beginning of the second quarter, the Sentinels are up ten to nothing, and Carys has fallen asleep with her head on my shoulder when Emerson comes downstairs, carrying a baby monitor.

She sits on the opposite end of the couch from Rook, who raises his brow. “Where’s the kid?”

Emerson rolls her eyes and grabs the bowl of pretzels. “ My daughter is asleep in her bassinet.” She holds the monitor up and shakes it. “I’ve got it covered.” Then she points to Carys. “Is she feeling okay?” Her shoulders droop slightly, and her voice quiets. “She’s been taking care of everything for the past week or so. I don’t want her to wear herself down and get sick because of me.”

“I think she’s just tired.” I run my fingers through the silky strands of Carys’s hair and realize I haven’t even thought about whether she was taking care of herself.

Emerson shakes her head and kicks her legs up on the ottoman. “Have you guys gotten any further with the Axel stuff?”

A warning rings in my head.

Emerson has seemed better the last day or so, but I don’t want to be the reason she has a setback.

As if reading my mind, she picks up a pretzel and throws it at my head. “I’m not a problem to be managed, Sinclair.” When Rook snorts, she levels him with a glare. “Are you any closer to figuring out what the hell’s going on? I don’t like living in lockdown. I want to feel the sun on my skin, and I want to go back to my own home.”

Damn. I feel like shit for not thinking about that.

But in all fairness, this is where Em was already living when I got back to the states.

I just assumed this was where she wanted to be.

“Gonna have to wait a little longer, Em.” Rook looks back at the game on TV but keeps talking. “Let’s stop there tomorrow after the doctor though. I want to check out your security system anyway. We might need to upgrade you.”

“Be careful, Rook. I might start to think you actually like me,” she challenges.

“I tolerate you. But you’ll always be family, even if you are too damn mouthy.” He looks at her out of the corner of his eye as she closes her eyes and laughs.

“I am mouthy, aren’t I?” Em swings her head to the TV in time to see Brady throw a beautiful spiral down the field. “Is that your brother-in-law?”

“Yeah. That’s Brady.” It’s incredible to see him out on that field. To see Murphy and him on the same damn team. It’s the dream they talked about in high school.

“You really are lucky to have such a big family around you. You should take Carys back to Pennsylvania. You guys deserve to be there, surrounded by all the crazy.” She grabs the pillow next to her and squeezes it to her chest. “Jack and I always wished we had a big crazy family. Don’t throw yours away, Coop.” Her eyes shine, but she doesn’t cry.

I wish I could take away her pain.

“After we take care of Axel.” Whatever that looks like . “Then maybe we’ll go home.” The words feel funny as I say them.

I love Kroydon Hills, but it doesn’t feel like home.

But suddenly, neither does San Diego.

Not anymore.

Emerson dips her head in a shaky nod. “After.”