Chapter Eleven
Cooper
The first rays of sunlight filtered through the unfamiliar curtains, rousing me from a fitful sleep. For a moment, I was disoriented, the events of the previous night a blur. Then the pain in my shoulder hit me, and everything came rushing back. The hostility from Viktor, the shootout, and...Allegra.
I sat up slowly, wincing at the stiffness in my muscles. The apartment was silent, so I quietly crept down the hall. Her bedroom door was open. I was surprised she hadn’t closed it with me here, but then I saw the white ball of fluff curled up with her and realized her cat needed to be able to come and go. I’d already spotted a litter box in the bathroom.
I stood at her door, getting a glimpse into her life like an unwelcome voyeur. I watched her sleep, listening to her soft breathing. She was covered from head to toe underneath a soft down comforter, and I had the strangest urge to crawl in and join her. Her bed looked so inviting, with the white crisp sheets and her silent slumbering body…I closed my eyes, dismissing my unusual thoughts.
I was glad she was still asleep. She deserved the rest after everything I’d put her through last night.
Tearing my gaze away from her beautiful form, I carefully made my way to the kitchen, determined to do something to repay her kindness. Breakfast seemed like a good start. I rummaged through her cupboards, finding enough ingredients to throw together some instant pancakes and scrambled eggs. It was the best I could do one-handed and with the limited amount of groceries she had.
As I worked, my mind wandered to the night before. The feeling of Allegra’s hands on my skin as she tended my wounds, the way her eyes had locked with mine, the almost-kiss...I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. I was in no position to be thinking about Allegra that way. My life was too dangerous, too complicated. She deserved better.
The sizzle of pancakes on the griddle filled the kitchen with a comforting aroma. I was just plating the food when I heard movement behind me.
“Something smells good.” Allegra’s sleep-roughened voice sent a shiver down my spine.
I turned, a smile automatically forming on my lips. She stood in the doorway, hair tousled from sleep, wearing an oversized tee-shirt that barely reached mid-thigh. The sight made my breath catch.
“Good morning,” I managed, gesturing to the plates. “I hope you don’t mind. I wanted to thank you for last night.”
“This is...unexpectedly sweet. Thank you.”
We settled at her small kitchen table, the domesticity of the scene at odds with the tension still lingering between us. Allegra took a bite of a pancake and let out a small moan of appreciation that did things to me I didn’t want to examine too closely.
“These are amazing,” she said. “I didn’t know you could cook. ”
I shrugged, and then instantly regretted the small movement. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me.”
As soon as the words left my mouth, I wished I hadn’t spoken them. Allegra’s expression dampened, and she set down her fork.
“You’re right,” she said quietly. “There is a lot I don’t know.”
I sighed, pushing my plate away. “Allegra, it’s complicated. The less you know, the safer you’ll be.”
She fixed me with a determined stare. “I think it’s a little late for that, don’t you? I pulled a damn bullet out of you last night, Cooper. Most importantly, I need to know I’m safe.”
She was right, of course. But how could I explain my world to her without putting her in even more danger? Or worse, making her see me as the true criminal I was?
“You’re right,” I conceded again. “I owe you an apology. But the more involved you get—”
Allegra nodded, her face a mixture of apprehension and curiosity. “The more danger I’m in.”
I took a deep breath, choosing my words carefully. “The people I deal with, they’re not just petty criminals. They’re powerful, dangerous. And sometimes, deals go wrong.”
Allegra’s eyes widened as the fear hit her. “Like last night?”
I nodded grimly. “Exactly like last night. I was meeting with a...business associate. Things got heated, and then we were ambushed. I still don’t know who was behind it.”
Allegra was quiet for a moment, processing. Then she asked the question I’d been dreading. “And Tomas? Was his arrest part of your…business?”
I felt my jaw clench at the mention of that bastard’s name. I realized instantly how clever and perceptive Allegra was. She knew I’d done it, and she wanted me to admit I’d done it for her. She’d backed me into a corner I didn’t want to be in. I tried to talk my way out of her hidden accusation. “Not exactly. That was...personal.”
“Personal how?” Allegra pressed, relentless in her efforts to get to the truth that I’d been hiding, the part of me I pretended didn’t exist. In that split second, sitting in her apartment, she stripped me raw—revealing the things I’d repressed, the subtle characteristics of the man I used to be, the man I’d squashed in my attempt to prove myself in this underworld game.
I met her gaze, seeing the mix of emotions there—curiosity, fear, and something else I couldn’t quite name. “He hurt you, Allegra. Threatened you. I couldn’t let that stand.”
She let out the breath she had been holding. “So you...what? Had him arrested?”
“I made a few calls,” I said, trying to downplay it. “Let’s just say I know people who know people. Tomas had enough skeletons in his closet to make an arrest stick. Enough that it makes me physically ill knowing you let a man like that touch you.”
Allegra reddened, and then shook her head, looking torn. It was enough to tell me what I needed to know: he’d hurt her. And I was willing to bet money that it had been physical.
“I don’t know whether to be grateful or terrified. Cooper, what you’re doing...it’s dangerous. How can you live like that?”
I leaned back in my chair, suddenly feeling the weight of my choices. “It’s not always easy. But it’s the life I chose. I’m good at it, Allegra. And the money...well, let’s just say it makes a lot of things possible.”
“But at what cost?” she asked softly.
The question hung in the air between us, heavy with implication. I didn’t have an answer for her—at least, not one that would make sense to someone like Allegra, someone who lived her life on the right side of the law, someone who was good and decent.
“I should go,” I said abruptly, standing up. “I’ve already put you in enough danger. Thank you for everything, Allegra. I mean it.”
I moved to gather my things, but Allegra’s hand on my arm stopped me. The touch sent electricity through my body, and I turned to face her, suddenly very aware of how close we were.
“Cooper, wait,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I...”
The uncertainty in her eyes undid me. Before I could think better of it, I cupped her face with my hand, my thumb tracing the soft curve of her cheek. Allegra’s breath hitched, her lips parting slightly as she looked up at me.
“Allegra,” I murmured, my voice rough with emotion. “You have no idea how much I want to stay. But I’m no good for you.”
She leaned into my touch, her hands coming to rest on my chest. I could feel the warmth of her palms through my shirt, and could smell the faint scent of her soap. It was intoxicating .
“Maybe I understand the reality of your world better than you think,” Allegra whispered, her eyes searching mine. “But…maybe I want you in spite of that.”
Her words struck me like a physical blow. Something haunted her features, a darkness that spoke of knowledge she shouldn’t have, understanding that went deeper than simple observation. For a moment, I wanted to press her, to understand how she could possibly comprehend my world. But the vulnerability in her expression, the way she’d admitted wanting me despite everything—it shattered what was left of my resistance.
The dangers we’d been discussing seemed to fade away, replaced by something more immediate, more primitive. All the tension that had been building between us, all the careful distance we’d tried to maintain, collapsed in an instant. With a groan, I closed the space between us, capturing her lips with mine.
The kiss was everything I’d imagined and more—soft yet passionate, tentative yet hungry. Allegra’s lips were warm and pliant against mine, soft and willing. It was the culmination of weeks of tension and desire.
One of my hands slid to the back of her neck, tangling in her soft hair as I deepened the kiss. Allegra responded eagerly, her arms winding around my neck, pulling me closer. I could feel every curve of her body pressed against mine. I knew she wanted me as much as I wanted her from the way she tugged me against her tightly.
I traced the seam of her lips with my tongue, silently asking for permission. I’d usually just take what I wanted, but something about her made me want to show her respect. Allegra granted me access to her mouth with a soft moan that sent blood rushing to my cock. As our tongues met, the kiss became more urgent as pent-up frustration and desire poured out.
My other hand moved to her waist, pulling her flush against me. My shoulder throbbed, but I didn’t give a fuck. I had wanted this for weeks, and I was going to enjoy it.
Allegra’s fingers threaded through my hair, her nails scraping lightly against my scalp in a way that made me groan. I backed her up against the kitchen counter, lifting her with my uninjured arm to sit on its edge.
Allegra wrapped her legs around my waist, pulling me even closer. The new angle allowed me to trail kisses along her jaw and down her neck. I nipped lightly at the sensitive spot where her neck met her shoulder, earning a gasp of pleasure from her.
“Cooper,” she breathed, her voice husky with desire. The sound of my name on her lips in that tone nearly undid me.
I captured her mouth again, flooding our kiss with all my conflicting emotions—desire, fear, hope, regret. Allegra met me passion for passion, her hands roaming over my back and shoulders, mindful of my injury but no less eager.
She was still in her oversized tee-shirt, and the soft material was creeping up her legs. Her perfect skin was begging to be touched, so I skimmed my fingers along the top of her thighs, working my way along her inner thigh.
She gasped, and I took the opportunity to kiss the hollow of her throat, enjoying the way she ran her fingers through my hair. She tugged on the ends, and the motion spurred me on. I’d been with countless women before, but I was excited in a way I never thought possible. Pulling her even closer against my erection, I curled my finger around the side of her panties, trying to slip them down, but it was difficult with one hand, and my shoulder wasn’t cooperating thanks to my newest injury.
I nearly came undone when she lifted her hips, helping me to slide them down. I gave her a dirty grin, then stuffed her black satin underwear in my pocket. She didn’t comment, but instead, leaned farther back on the counter, opening herself to me.
“Do you want me, sweetheart?” I couldn’t help but ask, knowing how vehemently she refused me before, citing her own professionalism and safety. I was also concerned about her past, worried that Tomas might have hurt her.
“More than anything,” she moaned, and I wasted no time unbuttoning my pants and sliding them down. Allegra leaned back up, and I watched a shiver go through her as she looked at me. She bit her bottom lip, and that one tiny action created a whirlwind of passion inside of me. This woman drove me crazy. I didn’t know how, or what, she had done, but she wove a spell that left me bereft and broken, both dead and alive at the same time. It was hauntingly beautiful, the way she made me want her.
I longed to impress her; I wanted to show off and make her come quickly and fiercely with just my mouth, but between my leg and shoulder I couldn’t get on my knees, which was how I ached to please this queen before me. Instead, I reached between us, stroking her and whispering filthy words in her ear. Words that made her blush and her entire body shake with want. Sentences composed of passion, desire, and raw sexuality.
I slid a finger inside of her and bent my knuckle, searching for just the right angle. She tensed around me tightly and gasped, even though she was wet. Instantly, I worried that I had somehow hurt her.
“Are you okay?” I asked, searching her face.
“I think so.” She closed her eyes tightly and cursed under her breath; a charming string of Italian profanity hit my ears. I knew just enough Italian to make sense of them.
This was far from romantic, but something we both needed. She wanted to feel desired and safe after her ordeal with Tomas, and I wanted to feel alive after my brush against death.
Allegra started to clench around my finger, and I pulled out. She groaned and opened her eyes, watching me as I licked my finger. She looked at me with unbridled surprise, and I wondered just how experienced she was. It was as if a man had never tasted her before.
I didn’t waste any more time, and bent over to retrieve a condom from my pants pocket. Rolling it on, I moved my lips back to her mouth, wanting to feel her mouth slacken as I entered her. Sure enough, as I adjusted myself at her entrance and pushed a bit, her mouth opened, eyes fluttering at the sensation. I took the opportunity to deepen our kiss again, trying to push farther inside. But it was like I’d met a brick wall, and I couldn’t work myself within her.
“Cooper,” she breathed, once again trying to angle herself backwards. I realized then that I might be slightly too big for her, so the change in position opened her a bit more, allowing me to finally inch a tiny bit inside. It was confusing to me, because I’d never encountered this problem before. I was larger than average, but not freakishly so. Perhaps she was just very, very tiny.
At any rate, I was lost, swimming in a deadly sea of desire, seconds from being pulled under. I’d never had problems pacing myself, and was always able to hold out until the end, but Allegra challenged me in a way I’d never been challenged before. It had also been an incredibly long period of abstinence for me, and it became a struggle. I felt her inner muscles protesting a bit, her body tensing up at the intrusion. The tighter she got, the weaker my control became.
“Relax, ma douce ,” I coaxed, stilling myself. If she didn’t stop clenching so aggressively, she’d force my tip out before I could go any farther. “Breathe, Allegra.”
I gave her a few seconds, breathing with her and showering her with praise. I was usually quiet during sex, only ever talking when issuing commands or demands. But not with Allegra.
“You’re so fucking gorgeous. So perfect. You’re making me feel so good. Let me make you feel good, too.”
I’d never experienced an issue getting inside a woman before, and I worried there was a fundamental size difference between us, and perhaps this wouldn’t be possible. I kept murmuring to her, breathing with her. Just when I was starting to fear that this wasn’t going to happen, she tugged on my hips and I pushed forward, moving a tiny bit more inside .
“That’s my girl…just relax….I have you, my clever one.”
My praise seemed to help her; I felt her muscles loosen a bit, and then I finally started rocking against her. I wasn’t fully within her, perhaps an inch or two, but it didn’t matter. My stamina was being severely tested, so I reached down between us, finding her clit. The second I made contact, she began to shake, her legs trembling.
“Come for me, ma belle . Let me see you. I want to see all of you.”
She fell apart around me, and I breathed a sigh of relief, knowing if it had taken a second longer for her to climax, I wouldn’t have made it. The moment her body seized up, I let myself go, closing my eyes against the pleasure. It seemed to go on forever, more and more of my thick seed coming forth. It had been a long time since I’d had sex, and as I imagined filling Allegra with my load, I shuddered and even more come spurted out of my engorged cock. As I pulled out, I looked at the condom, oddly proud with how full it was, even though our encounter only lasted all of ten minutes, and most of it was me trying to enter her.
When we finally broke apart, we were both breathing heavily. I rested my forehead against hers, unwilling to put any more distance between us than necessary. Allegra’s expression was dark with desire, her lips swollen from our kisses. She had never looked more gorgeous.
“Cooper,” she whispered softly, “I—”
Her face had suddenly turned ashen, and it seemed like she was about to apologize for something, but I stopped her. “You’re beautiful. ”
She lifted her face to mine, her earlier uncertainty dissolving as I continued to hold her in my arms.
We stayed like that for a moment, savoring the closeness. But reality began to creep back in, and I knew I couldn’t ignore it forever. Reluctantly, I pulled back slightly, though I kept my hands on her waist.
“Allegra,” I started, not sure how to put my thoughts into words. “That was...indescribably amazing. But it doesn’t change anything. My life is still dangerous. Being with me...it would put you at risk.”
She reached up, cupping my cheek in her hand. The tenderness of the gesture made my heart ache. “I’m not stupid, Cooper. I know we have no future together. But…I just knew that I wouldn’t be able to get you out of my head. Still, this needs to be a one-time thing.”
I leaned into her touch, closing my eyes for a moment. “I think that’s best. My world...it’s not pretty. It’s not safe. You deserve better than that.”
Allegra’s other hand came up to frame my face, forcing me to look at her. “I do. But I wanted you, Cooper. In spite of the danger.”
Her words hit me like a physical blow. How long had it been since someone had looked at me like that? Since someone had seen past the danger and the illegal activities to the man underneath?
I knew I should walk away. I knew the right thing to do would be to leave Allegra’s apartment and never look back. But I also knew that this wouldn’t be a one-night stand. That it couldn’t be.
The determination and affection in her look told me everything—I knew I couldn’t abandon this kind of intense connection. But I had to try .
I leaned in and kissed her again, softer this time but no less passionate. When we parted, I rested my forehead against hers once more.
We stood there for a moment, arms around each other, the weight of the moment hanging in the air between us. Then, reluctantly, I pulled away, reality intruding once more.
“I need to make a call,” I said, reaching for my phone. “I can’t stay here much longer. It’s not safe for either of us.”
Allegra nodded, understanding but disappointment clear in her eyes. I dialed Colton’s number, turning slightly away as I waited for him to pick up.
“Cooper?” Colton’s voice was tense with worry. “Where the hell have you been? I’ve been trying to reach you all night! I even went to your house. You scared the shit out of me.”
“I’m fine,” I said, keeping my voice low. “Things got...complicated last night. Can you pick me up? I’m at the Résidence Saint-Michel along Rue de Rouge .”
There was a pause on the other end of the line. “Are you sure you’re okay? Do you need me to bring anything?”
I glanced at Allegra, who was busying herself cleaning up the breakfast dishes, clearly trying to give me some privacy. “Just a change of clothes. And maybe some painkillers and general antibiotics from the medical supply closet in the office. The good stuff. I’ll explain everything when you get here.”
“Alright,” Colton said, his tone still conveying worry. “I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”
I hung up and turned back to Allegra. She was leaning against the counter, arms crossed, a mix of emotions playing across her face.
“Your ride?” she asked, trying to keep her voice neutral.
I nodded. “My brother, Colton. He’ll be here soon to pick me up.”
Allegra’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “I didn’t know you had a brother.”
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me,” I said, echoing my words from earlier.
We spent the next few minutes in comfortable silence, stealing glances at each other as I gathered my things and Allegra finished cleaning up. As the minutes ticked by, I felt a growing reluctance to leave.
But I knew I couldn’t stay. My world was waiting for me outside these walls, with all its dangers and complications. And as much as I wanted to, I couldn’t hide from it forever.
When my phone buzzed with a text from Colton saying he was outside, I turned to Allegra one last time. She was watching me, her look full of emotions I was only beginning to understand.
“I have to go,” I said softly.
Allegra nodded, stepping closer. “I know.”
I reached out, cupping her face in my hands. “I—I enjoyed being with you.”
She gulped. “I did too. But Cooper—whatever you’re involved in, I can’t be a part of it.”
Her words hurt me more than I thought they would. But I shrugged, trying to keep it casual. “Don’t worry. I’m not that kind of man, baby. Let’s keep it simple—it was nice, but it’s over.”
This time, it was her face that contorted into a look of pain. But she disguised it, just as I had.
I leaned in, kissing her one last time. It was a kiss full of regret, of things unsaid but deeply felt. When we parted, I rested my forehead against hers for a moment, committing this feeling to memory. I knew in my heart that I could never offer her what she wanted, what she deserved. And I wasn’t willing to change.
With a final squeeze of her hand, I turned and walked out of her apartment. As I made my way down to where Colton was waiting, I knew that I had perhaps just walked out on the best thing that could have ever happened to me. But I couldn’t look back now—not when I was making a name for myself.
The throbbing in my shoulder was getting worse as the evening progressed. I sat in the passenger side of Colton’s truck as he drove us to the warehouse district. I hadn’t told him yet what I planned to do with Henri Navarre and his crew after their betrayal over the shipment, but my brother knew me well enough to guess.
“Are you sure about this?” Colton asked, his knuckles white on the steering wheel. “We could handle it...differently.”
I adjusted my position, trying to find a way to sit that didn’t send shooting pains through my chest. Colton’s truck didn’t exactly run smoothly. “They need to understand there are consequences. You short me on product? That’s not how business works.”
The warehouse was dead ahead, the building leaving shadows in its wake. Mario had tracked them here—Navarre wasn’t as clever as he thought he was.
Inside, we found Navarre and his two associates zip-tied to chairs. Mario stood behind them, obviously proud that he had managed to handle all three men by himself. Their faces showed varying degrees of fear when they saw me walk in.
Good. Fear was useful.
“Henri,” I said, keeping my voice steady despite the pain in my shoulder. “You’ve caused me quite a bit of trouble.”
“Cooper, please,” he stammered. “It wasn’t personal. Rousseau said if we didn’t—”
I went still at the mention of Rousseau’s name. That explained a lot. Rousseau’s appearance at the gala, Viktor’s warning….
“Rousseau?” I interrupted. “Now that’s interesting.” I circled behind them slowly, letting the tension build. “So, he’s the one who wanted me dead?”
“He said either we help set you up, or he’d make sure we never sold another weapon in Europe,” the younger man, Philip, blurted out. “Said he’d kill our families if we warned you.”
I moved back into their line of sight. These men had been reliable suppliers for years. They weren’t killers—they were businessmen who’d gotten in over their heads with the wrong person. And now I knew who was really behind this.
“You know what the usual punishment is for betrayal,” I continued. Navarre’s face went pale. “But I’m feeling...generous today…even if your actions nearly got me killed.”
“Generous?” Navarre whispered, barely daring to hope .
“You’re going to tell me everything you know about Rousseau’s operation. What he’s planning, who he’s working with, where he keeps his merchandise. Then you’re going to take your business elsewhere. All of you. If I ever see you selling in my territory again, I won’t be so merciful.”
The relief on their faces was palpable. Behind me, I heard Colton shift his weight, probably surprised by my decision.
“Thank you, Cooper,” Navarre breathed. “We’ll tell you everything.”
And they did. Apparently Rousseau was getting desperate…which usually only meant one thing in our world—he was on the brink of ruin.
When they were done, I cut their zip ties and escorted them out with clear instructions never to return.
“You sure it was Rousseau behind the attack?” Colton asked, heading back to his truck. I followed, lagging behind as I tried to contemplate my newest enemy.
“I do. We’ve got to keep a close eye on him. It’ll be hard—he’s pretty heavily guarded and doesn’t make his business moves in public, preferring to work through others—but we’ll smoke him out.”
Colton drove us home, and the ride was silent until we approached the heart of the city. Finally, Colton spoke up. “That was unexpected. You never show mercy like that.”
I stared out the window at the passing city. “I’m just tired. And my shoulder hurts.”
“Or maybe you’re finally remembering there are other ways to handle things,” he said carefully. “Ways that don’t involve adding more bodies to the Seine. Those men—they were scared into betraying you. You saw that.”
I thought about Allegra, about the way she’d looked at me this morning. About how for just a moment, I’d felt like a better man. “Maybe,” was all I said.
But Colton wasn’t done. “You know, it’s okay to want something different. To be someone different. What you did back there? That was smart. Now we know Rousseau’s behind this, and you didn’t have to kill anyone to get that information.”
I closed my eyes, suddenly exhausted. “It’s not that simple.”
“It could be,” he pressed. “You have options, Cooper. You always have. And now we can deal with Rousseau the right way—with information and strategy, not just brute force.”
I didn’t respond, but his words stayed with me. Options. Different choices. Maybe Allegra had shown me something I’d been trying not to see—that there might be another way to operate, even in this world of shadows. And now I had what I needed to eventually take down Rousseau without turning Paris into a war zone.
For the first time, that thought felt like a victory, not a compromise.