CHAPTER NINETEEN
“It’s done,” said Bianca.
The men all turned sharply, staring at her with confused expressions. She stepped forward with Kat and the rest of the legal team, laying a thicker contract on the table, signed by Bianca Garcia.
“What’s done? What did you do?” frowned Ham.
“She did the right thing,” said Kat. Jill smiled at her and nodded.
“I have to say, I completely agree. They can’t do a damn thing to her now. It’s completely out of her hands and no one, not even the government will be able to argue against it.”
“She sold the land to the indigenous tribes. For five-dollars each. All of them have equal ownership in the land and cannot sell off a piece of it without the approval of the other tribes. They have vowed to never sell the land or the natural resources within it.”
“Well, that’s a lovely thing,” frowned Cooper, “but it won’t fucking stop Pablo and Charlie Myles from coming for her.” Bianca was taken aback by Cooper’s anger. She took a half step backwards, staring at him, then at Ham and the other men.
“I don’t agree with his tone,” frowned Rush, “but he’s right. Pablo will be pissed off and he will still try to come for you. A man like that doesn’t like to be made a fool.”
Bianca turned toward Kat, Jill, and the other women. She had big tears in her eyes, a look of disappointment and pain. Kat looked up with a glare that frightened every man in that room.
“You’re a bunch of assholes, you know that?” she spat. “She did exactly what she should have done. Pablo might come, that’s true. But that’s why you’re all here. You’ve done it before, do it again. Keep her safe until this thing ends permanently.”
“You put a target on your back,” frowned Cooper. “Again.”
Bianca sucked in a breath as though she’d been gut-punched. She took a step back and shook her head, the pain of Cooper’s comment sucking the very life from her body. She stared at him. This was the Cooper from before. The one that was all business and sent her into the arms of a mad man.
“Cooper!” yelled Kat.
“No. No, it’s okay. I understand,” she said forcing a smile to her lips.
“This is the real Cooper. The one who doesn’t need anyone when it comes to business.
He says all the right things behind closed doors but in public, he’s just Cooper Salcedo, Army Ranger.
Well guess what Cooper Salcedo? I’m not an Army Ranger.
I’m a woman who has feelings, a mind of her own.
I feel for my countrymen, the land I was raised on.
“I know all too well what kind of man Pablo Garcia is and I knew the moment I signed over that land that he would be infuriated.”
“And yet you did something so stupid anyway,” he growled.
“Cooper,” said Rush gripping his forearm. Manx and Morgan shook their heads glaring at him.
“Don’t fuck this up again,” said Morgan.
“Too late,” said Bianca. She turned and left the room, the legal team staring at Cooper.
“Are you really that fucking thick-headed?” frowned Kat. Diego and Abe stared at Cooper, unsure of what brought on the anger.
“You’re scared,” said Abe. Cooper jerked his head toward his father.
“You’re scared that you’ll lose her to them.
Except you just did the one thing that guaranteed you’d lose her.
You’re so wrapped up in playing superman you forgot that she’s an intelligent woman who can make decisions for herself. ”
“Decisions that will kill her!” yelled Cooper.
“Cooper, you’ve been here your entire life. When have we ever lost a woman that we loved because we let the bad guys win?” whispered Abe.
“Skull. Skull lost Willa,” he said with a trembling lip.
“That was different and you know it. He lost Willa to a kid with too much to drink and too little common sense. It was an accident.”
“That’s the point! She could walk out the door and be hit by a car! She could catch a cold and die!” he yelled. He was talking irrationally. He was afraid of the whole world taking the woman he loved, not realizing that he was the only person who controlled that.
“Brother,” said Morgan, “you did this before. You thought if you pushed her away she’d be safer and she wasn’t. She was nearly killed then and now the same thing could happen because you’re the one afraid.”
Cooper slid down the wall, landing on his ass, his head in his hands as he wept like a baby. Kat kneeled beside him.
“Coop, she did the right thing. The corrupt authorities in Argentina are being arrested as we speak. Hundreds of them. Neighboring countries are offering their assistance to them and special elections will be held within a few weeks.
“Yes, the U.S. is reeling from it all. We know we have some issues in our own administration and those will be dealt with. But she did something miraculous.”
“Senator Myles was found dead this morning from a knife wound,” said Hiro standing behind his computer. “His body was found in a park along the Potomac. They suspect robbery.”
“We all know that’s bullshit,” said Ham. “Where is Bianca?”
Cooper snapped his head up, staring at the older man as if he might kill him.
“Relax. I’m married, remember? I want to speak with her to let her know that even if you’re a damn asshole, we’re all here for her.”
“Looks like she’s in her cottage,” said Hiro.
Ham left the room, the others gradually following. Eventually, Cooper stood and followed as well, making his way toward the cottage. He’d have to find a way to apologize to her.
“She’s not here,” said Ham. “She’s gone.”
“Wh-what?”
“Her bracelet,” said Rush holding it up in the air. “She took it off and left it on the counter. She’s fucking gone you God-damn idiot!”
Rush pushed past Cooper, the older man shoving his shoulder so hard, he nearly fell over.
“Uber just picked up a passenger at the café,” said Hiro running toward them.
“An Uber?” frowned Cooper.
“Skull and the others at the bike shop saw Bianca get in. They tried to stop her but the driver sped away.” Cooper’s face went white.
“What have I done?”