Chapter 8
Chapter
Eight
July 12 th
12:16 A.M.
With the number of bullets being fired, there was not a chance in hell that they weren't going to wake the entire neighborhood.
While Cooper had no idea if the people in the area were friends of Mahmoud, if they were aware of or involved in the imprisonment of Willow, or if they would just call the cops, he did know there was every chance the professor would have at least one cop on his side.
Which meant the last thing he wanted was to get caught.
As he reached his car, he threw open the passenger side door, thrust Willow into the seat, snapped her seatbelt on, and then eased the weapon from her hands.
Silence.
Blessed silence.
“I think I got him,” Willow wheezed like she was the one who’d just run flat out down the street.
Maybe she hadn't exerted herself in that way, but with her injuries and obvious weakness likely from dehydration and starvation, just pulling herself out of her prison, over the fence, and then laying down cover fire so they could get away had obviously tapped her out.
“You did amazing,” he told her, scanning the dark night. Getting rid of whoever had been shooting at them gave them a fighting chance at escaping, but it didn't guarantee it.
“Didn't want you to get hurt because of me,” she mumbled, words starting to slur as her eyelashes fluttered on her cheeks. Then she was out.
As badly as he wanted to check her out now and determine how badly she was hurt, if he had to chance a hospital, if he could handle them himself, if she was stable enough to fly. The best option was to call Prey for an evac, Cooper knew they couldn’t risk staying there a second longer.
Keeping his weapon in his hand, he closed Willow’s door, hurried around, and jumped into the driver’s seat. Seconds later, he took off as fast as he dared down the street. Lights were beginning to flicker on in the houses around Mahmoud’s and he wished he knew what Willow did about the man so he had some idea of what he was up against.
Thankfully, Willow’s ability to shoot meant he had a clear ride out and he took it.
This late at night, there were still quite a few cars on the street as soon as he left the residential area and got back into the main part of Cairo. His hotel was nice, and while he was going to draw attention to himself carrying Willow inside, with the long black clothes she still wore, it wasn't likely that anyone would suspect he’d just rescued her from a hell one of their own people had put her through.
Even with her sitting passed out in his car he couldn’t quite believe it.
This was not at all how he had envisioned his trip to Egypt going. A few days there to gather all the intel he could from Tarek Mahmoud, then head home to dissect it with his brothers. That was all that was supposed to happen. Instead, he had a kidnap victim who was now his responsibility to take care of and protect.
Although Willow could certainly hold her own.
The drive to his hotel was eventless, and by the time he was parked and rounding his car, Cooper could feel exhaustion tugging at his mind. Just because this trip had taken a wildly different turn didn't mean it wasn’t mentally exhausting. For almost two decades, he and his siblings had carried around the weight of what happened to their parents and the deep injustice of it.
Now that he was possibly teetering on the precipice of blowing this whole thing wide open, it was like all those years, all that weight, had caught up to him all at once.
Unbuckling Willow’s seatbelt, he paused to look down at her. Even with the bruises marring her soft skin, she was beautiful, and in sleep she looked so peaceful and angelic. How could anybody hurt something this gorgeous? What did she know that had gotten her abducted and tortured? And was it possible it was in any way connected to what happened to his mother?
Answers would have to wait until Willow was strong enough to give them. Right now, she needed rest, time to recover, and let her body bounce back a bit.
When he gathered her into his arms, she stirred, a small moan falling from her lips. Since he wasn't sure if it was from pain or fear, he touched his lips to her temple in a kiss that felt far too natural given he’d met this woman only hours ago.
“Shh, honey, I've got you,” he murmured.
At the sound of his voice, she immediately settled back down, and Cooper bumped the door closed with his hip, then carried her inside.
Thankfully, the hotel lobby was mostly quiet, although several workers and a couple of guests gave him odd looks when they saw him carrying a figure bundled in black in his arms.
“My wife didn't sleep the whole flight here and then crashed in the car,” he explained to no one in particular as he strode toward the lifts.
It wasn't until he was safely in his room, with the door locked behind him, that he actually felt his body relax. They were safe there. There was a chance—probably a good one—that Mahmoud would associate Willow’s abrupt rescue with him. The shooting had likely woken him, and even now, he might be aware of the fact that she was gone. Even with his contacts, it would take the professor a while to locate the hotel where he was staying, so they should be safe for the night .
Tomorrow, he’d check out and check them in at another hotel under an alias. He’d brought a couple of different IDs with him, not that he’d thought he would use them, but it was better to be over-prepared than under-prepared.
Laying Willow down on the bed, he hurried into the bathroom, grabbed a washcloth, ran it under the faucet, and then returned to the bed. Willow was still unconscious, and he hoped if she woke in the middle of this she would understand he was only trying to take care of her and not take advantage of her in any way.
Peeling back the layers of black material, Cooper’s heart stilled in his chest until it felt like it had stopped beating altogether.
Beneath her clothes Willow was naked.
Barely a single inch of skin remained untouched.
Bruises in every shade of black, blue, purple, yellow, and green marred her skin.
Literally from her feet all the way up her body to her head.
“Damn,” he muttered, uncharacteristic helplessness hitting him hard.
This woman had been through hell.
Yet despite that, she’d been clear-headed enough to help him come up with a plan, to assist in her own rescue, and to save both their butts when they were escaping.
Who was this woman and how was she so amazing?
Honestly, he’d known special forces operators who couldn’t pull through what she had with as much determination and strength.
Doing his best to avoid her most intimate areas, Cooper got to work cleaning the dust and sweat from her body, focusing on her legs, arms, stomach, and face. Several times he had to return to the bathroom to wash all the dirt out of the cloth. But by the time he was done, she looked mostly clean, at least well enough until she was strong enough to shower.
Next, he eased onto the bed beside her and very carefully lifted Willow’s upper body until it rested against his bent legs and went to work on untangling the knots in her mane of blonde hair. It had been a long time since he’d brushed someone’s hair, not since Cassandra got old enough to do it herself, but it brought back a lot of memories .
It probably took him close to half an hour to get them all out and make her hair soft and smooth again. It definitely needed a good wash like the rest of her, but for now, he was confident that Willow would be able to rest comfortably.
Easing out from beneath her again, Cooper went to his bag and rifled through it. They’d have to do something about clothes for her later, but for now, he didn't want her to feel exposed and vulnerable before him. So, he grabbed a pair of his sweatpants and a T-shirt and took them to the bed.
It was a testament to her exhaustion because Willow didn't stir as he worked the sweatpants up her legs and over her hips, or while he slipped the T-shirt over her head. The clothes made her look even smaller and more fragile, and he had to remind himself that this woman was tougher than most. She was strong, resilient, and whatever she’d been through she’d find a way to survive and come out the other side, probably stronger than she’d been before.
There was a small couch in the room by the balcony, it was definitely the option he should take.
Yet Cooper found himself shifting Willow so he could pull back the covers, then stretching out beside her. When he had them both tucked in, he let his eyes fall closed. Even if this did wind up ruining his chances of getting intel that could help prove his mother’s innocence, rescuing Willow was worth it.
With a small sigh, she turned and snuggled her body into his.
Back away.
Although the voice in his head screamed at him to put distance between them, Cooper found he couldn’t.
Instead, he snaked out an arm and tugged the woman closer. He had no idea what he was getting himself into when it came to her, but he couldn’t fight against whatever was pulling him toward her.
Didn't even know if he wanted to fight it.
Consequences be damned.
July 12 th
6:31 A.M
Blows rained down on her.
One after the other.
They struck her everywhere.
Willow clamped her mouth shut.
She wasn't going to scream.
Couldn’t give Professor Mahmoud the satisfaction.
But the blows wouldn't stop.
They just kept coming.
Her whole body throbbed with pain.
There was darkness all around her.
Seeping inside her.
Consuming her.
It was eating away at her resolve.
The pain was too much.
She’d done the best she could, held out for as long as she could.
But it wasn't going to be enough.
The scream was already building inside her.
Willow could feel it.
Expanding, curling out from her stomach, invading her limbs, working its way toward her mouth.
She fought against it.
Didn't want to scream.
Didn't want to show an ounce of weakness before this evil, soulless man.
It was the only leverage she had, and once she lost it, it would be all over.
There would be nothing left.
She’d lose herself.
Once that happened, she would be as good as dead.
There was no way to stop it though.
It slithered up her throat.
Then her lips parted.
Her lungs sucked in air .
Then she screamed.
“Willow. Wake up, honey. Now.”
Wake up?
She wasn't asleep.
Trapped in a nightmare but one that had nothing to do with sleeping.
Her nightmare was all too real.
“Come on, honey, snap out of it.”
If only she could.
If only escaping from her tormentor was as easy as opening her eyes.
“Wake up for me, Willow. Now.”
A sharp sting on her cheek ripped her from sleep.
Panting, shaking, confused, Willow’s gaze roamed the area trying to figure out what the heck was going on.
“It’s okay, honey, you're all right. You're safe. You're in my hotel room.”
The voice was soothing, washing over her overheated skin like a cooling balm. It calmed her racing heart even before she could properly process and figure out who it came from.
“There you go, that’s good, honey, calm your breathing for me.”
A face leaned in close, and slowly her vision cleared enough for the features to come into focus.
Storm-gray eyes.
Framed by long, dark lashes.
Thick dark hair framing a strong face.
He was shirtless and in the bed beside her.
Heat emanated off him, but not the kind of stifling heat that had surrounded her in the underground cell. This was pleasant and cozy and made her want to snuggle into it, bury her head in the sand, and pretend this whole mess was over and she’d never have to worry about the evil professor again.
But she couldn’t do that.
Even hurting as she was, even exhausted as she was, even with the lingering fear of the nightmare fresh in her veins, Willow knew she had a long road ahead of her. A long fight to make sure Professor Mahmoud was brought to justice.
“Your skin feels like ice,” Cooper murmured, running a hand up and down her arm, leaving a trail of fire in its wake.
It was only then that she realized she was no longer wearing the black dress the professor had put her in the day he abducted her. Now she was wearing a black T-shirt that was more like a dress on her, and a pair of sweatpants covered her legs, which were twisted in the covers. Her feet were bare, the sweatpants rolled up several times around her ankles. The clothes had to be Cooper’s. He must have undressed her while she was unconscious.
“I just cleaned you up and put my clothes on you,” Cooper told her, reading her mind. As though expecting his proximity might push her over the edge, he shifted away from her, moving to get off the bed.
The second she lost the contact of his hand on her forearm, Willow reacted purely on instinct. Reaching out to curl her fingers around his, clinging to him in a way that certainly didn't prove she was the strong woman she believed herself to be.
Right now she needed Cooper.
Not just to rescue her, he’d already done that, it wasn't even need in a way she could explain, even to herself. All she knew was that she wanted him close. His touch didn't scare her, and while she might have preferred him not to see her naked while she was vulnerable, she already knew he wasn't the kind of man to take advantage. He’d been taking care of her, and after spending two weeks in hell, she was so very grateful for his tenderness.
“Thank you,” she whispered, meeting his gaze so he would know she was telling the truth.
For a moment, Cooper studied her gaze. She could feel the tension emanating from him in the tense way he held himself, then it faded, and he relaxed. “You're welcome. Although I think given half a chance you would have found a way to escape on your own.” He winked, and the smile he gave her transformed his entire face into something that was beyond words, sexy and gorgeous.
His words pulled a small giggle out of her, but then she winced as the pain throbbing through her body came roaring back with a vengeance. For the last two weeks, she’d had to ignore how bad her injuries were because she didn't have the luxury of spending time catering to them.
But now she was safe, at least for the moment, although given Professor Mahmoud’s reach, she couldn’t guarantee she’d stay safe, and she could no longer ignore the pain.
Again, Cooper seemed to know exactly what she was thinking. Giving her fingers a squeeze, he released them and then climbed from the bed. “You need some painkillers. Water and food, too. I’m going to order some room service. Do you need help going to the bathroom? I thought once you were up to it you could shower. We’re going to have to check out soon, though. I’m here under my real name and don’t want Mahmoud to track us down. You need some time to rest and recuperate.”
That was too many things for her to process all at once.
Overwhelmed, Willow sunk back against the pillows. The sweat that had dotted her skin as her body panicked in her nightmares now made her cold, and she tugged up the covers, wincing as her body protested even that small movement.
For now, she didn't want to have to think about showering and traveling to another hotel, she just wanted to curl up and sleep for about a week.
“Here, take these.” Cooper’s arm curled around her shoulders, and it took all her strength not to just turn into him, burrow into his warmth, press her face against his neck, and refuse to ever let go.
When he tipped the pills into her hand, she dutifully put them in her mouth, then swallowed them down with the water when he held a bottle to her lips. The water felt like a little slice of heaven as it slid down her throat. Cool and refreshing. She’d never ever take for granted again the simple blessing of being able to take a drink of water any time she wanted.
“I'm not really hungry,” she said, allowing her eyes to slide closed.
“You have to eat, keep your strength up. I need to know how badly you're hurt,” Cooper told her, and she could feel his presence right beside the bed. “Do you think anything is broken?”
“My face probably, maybe my arm, possibly some cracked ribs,” she rattled off. The truth was, her entire body felt like it was broken.
“Okay, not a lot we can do for the ribs or your face right now, other than keep up the painkillers. I’ll bandage your arm though.”
Too tired to open her eyes, Willow listened to Cooper bustle about the room. When he settled beside her, she felt a warm kind of peace settle around her. Maybe the painkillers were starting to do their job because she didn't even care when he picked up her arm, gently probed it, and then began to wrap a bandage around it to keep it stable.
When he gently set her arm down on the mattress, he tucked the blankets tighter around her and then just hovered there.
Blinking open her eyes, she looked up to see him looking right back down at her.
“I'm sorry,” he whispered.
Her brow crinkled. “For what?”
“I could have gotten you out a couple of days sooner. But I didn't. Because I could only see what was important to me.”
Reaching out with her good hand, she grabbed his fingers. “You didn't know I needed help.”
“I knew something wasn't right.”
“And when you knew what, you got me out. I hate to break it to you, Cooper, but even if you'd got me out two days earlier, I still would be covered from head to toe with bruises. I've been with him for two weeks, and his favorite game was beating on me. In the scheme of things, those two days didn't mean anything.”
A huge yawn tugged at her lips, and the room began to fade around her.
Willow knew she needed to tell Cooper what she knew about the professor. She also knew he was right, they weren't safe there. With his reach, it wasn't a matter of if but when Professor Mahmoud found them.
But right now, she was powerless to fight against the exhaustion weighing down on her.
She’d just have to trust Cooper to look out for both of them.
That wasn't easy for her.
She didn't trust people.
Ever.
Yet for some reason, Cooper seemed to make it easier than she’d expected.