Chapter Thirty-Three
Allegra
The first thing I noticed when I regained consciousness was the cold. It seeped into my bones, making me shiver uncontrollably. My head throbbed, and as I tried to move, I realized my hands were bound behind my back. Panic surged through me as the events leading up to this moment came flooding back.
The elevator. Viktor Petrov. The sharp prick in my neck. Talking briefly to Cooper. Then, being drugged again.
I forced my eyes open, blinking against the dim light. I had been moved from the original room I was in. This room was smaller, windowless, and smelled of mold and despair. The only furniture was the hard chair I was tied to and a rickety table in the corner.
“Ah, Miss Rousseau. You’re awake again.”
I jerked my head towards the voice, wincing at the pain the sudden movement caused. Viktor Petrov stood in the doorway, his cold eyes assessing me like I was a piece of merchandise.
“What do you want with me now?” I demanded, trying to keep the fear out of my voice.
Viktor smiled, but his eyes remained hollow. “It’s quite simple, really. Mr. Moreau is going to hand over his business. For you.”
My heart raced at the mention of Cooper. “He won’t deal with you. Not for me.”
“Oh, I think he will,” Viktor said, stepping closer. “You see, I’ve made him an offer he can’t refuse. Either he completes our original deal, or you...well, let’s just say there are many interested parties who would pay handsomely for someone like you.”
The implication of his words made bile rise to the back of my throat. I knew enough about Viktor’s world—about my father’s world—to understand what he was threatening. Human trafficking. I breathed deeply, trying not to hyperventilate.
“Cooper will come for me,” I said, but even as the words left my mouth, I wasn’t sure. Would he? After everything that had happened between us?
Viktor’s laugh was cold and humorless. “We shall see. In the meantime, make yourself comfortable. You may be here for a while.”
With that, he turned and left, the heavy door slamming shut behind him. I heard the click of a lock, and then silence.
I don’t know how long I sat there, trying to work my hands free of the ropes that bound them. Hours, maybe? My wrists were raw and bleeding by the time I gave up, exhaustion and despair washing over me.
What if Cooper didn’t come? What if he decided I wasn’t worth the risk? The doubt gnawed at me, mixing with the fear and uncertainty until I felt like I was going to scream.
Just when I thought I couldn’t take the silence anymore, the door opened again. One of Viktor’s men entered, carrying a tray with what looked like bread and water. He set it on the table without a word, then moved behind me. I tensed, expecting the worst, but he merely cut the ropes binding my hands.
“Eat,” he grunted, before leaving me alone once more.
I rubbed my wrists, wincing at the pain, before moving to the table. The bread was stale and the water was warm and slightly off-color, but I forced myself to consume both. I needed to keep my strength up if I was going to have any chance of escaping.
As I ate, I tried to formulate a plan. The room was solid concrete, with no windows and only one heavy door. Even if I could somehow overpower whoever came to check on me next, I had no idea where I was or how many of Viktor’s men were outside.
And I was in Spain. At least, I thought. How long had I been out? Was I still in Spain? I’d been moved to a different room, was I in a completely different country? Continent?
My best hope, as much as I hated to admit it, was Cooper. Despite everything that had happened between us, I believed he would come for me. He had to. I knew our love was real.
A day or two passed in a blur of fear and monotony.
But as time wore on and hope began to fade, I started to wonder if I was being foolish. What if Cooper had no idea where I was? What if he really cared more about his business than me?
It was on what I estimated to be the third day of my captivity that everything changed. I was dozing fitfully in the chair when the sound of gunfire jerked me awake. Shouts and the pounding of feet echoed from somewhere outside my prison.
My heart leapt into my throat. Could it be? Had Cooper actually come?
The door burst open, and for a moment, I thought I was dreaming. Cooper stood there, gun in hand, his eyes wild as they scanned the room before landing on me.
“Allegra,” he breathed, relief evident in his voice as he rushed to my side. “Are you hurt? Did they—”
“I’m okay,” I assured him, the tears starting to flow the second I realized it was really him. “I knew you’d come. I knew you wouldn’t leave me here.”
Cooper’s hands were gentle as he wiped away my tears, and then quickly checked me for injuries. His touch sent sparks through me despite the dire situation. “I’m so sorry, Allegra. I should never have pushed you away. I should have protected you.”
Before I could respond, another figure appeared in the doorway. Colton, Cooper’s twin brother.
“We need to move,” Colton urged. “Viktor’s men are regrouping. We don’t have much time.”
Cooper nodded, helping me to my feet. My legs were weak from days of disuse, and I stumbled. Without hesitation, Cooper scooped me into his arms.
“I’ve got you,” he murmured, his lips close to my ear. “I’ll always have you. Just hold on and don’t let go. Ever.”
We moved swiftly through dimly lit corridors, the sound of shouting and gunfire growing closer. Colton led the way, his gun at the ready, while Cooper carried me effortlessly despite his still-healing leg.
As we rounded a corner, two of Viktor’s men appeared. Colton reacted instantly, his gun firing twice. The men fell, and we pressed on without breaking stride.
“The exit’s just ahead,” Colton called back to us. “Car’s waiting out front.”
“Are we in Paris?”
“Just outside of the city,” Colton answered.
We burst out into the cool night air, and I gulped it in gratefully. Freedom was so close I could taste it.
But our escape wasn’t going to be that easy.
“Freeze, Cooper,” Viktor commanded. “Do you really think I’m going to let you take away such a valuable commodity without a fight?”
Cooper set me gently on my feet, pushing me behind him protectively. “It’s finished, Viktor. My clients don’t want to work with you—and they never will. You’ve lost. Let it go.”
Viktor laughed, the sound chilling. “Oh, Cooper. I’m afraid I can’t do that. Your girlfriend has become quite valuable to me. And if I can’t use her to ensure your cooperation, well...there are other markets for pretty women like her.”
“I warned you, Viktor.” Another voice echoed through the dark night. My father’s voice cut through the tension as he emerged from the shadows, his men materializing around us. His face was a mask of cold fury, but when his eyes landed on me, they held something I hadn’t seen since childhood—concern. “I gave you a chance to do this the civilized way.”
Viktor’s smile faltered slightly. “Laurent. This is a surprise. Though perhaps it shouldn’t be. A father’s love is quite the motivator, isn’t it?”
“Love?” My father’s laugh was bitter. “No, Viktor. This isn’t about love. This is about honor. About lines we don’t cross.”
He glanced at me, something like regret flickering in his features. “I’ve done many things I’m not proud of; I used my own daughter as a pawn in my games. But selling her? Trafficking her like common merchandise? That’s beneath even me.”
“Your daughter?” Viktor’s laugh was bitter. “The same daughter you were willing to use as bait to trap Moreau? Don’t pretend to have moral high ground here, Laurent.”
My father’s expression hardened. “There are lines even I won’t cross, Viktor.” He shook his head.
“Father,” I spoke up, my voice stronger than I felt. “Why are you here?”
Something flickered in his eyes again—regret? Concern? I couldn’t tell. “Because despite everything, you’re still my daughter. And some things are sacred, even in our world.”
Viktor’s men shifted nervously, clearly unsure which threat to focus on. Cooper kept me behind him, his body tense as a bowstring as he assessed the situation.
“You’re making a mistake, Laurent,” Viktor warned. “Think of the opportunities we could—”
The crack of a gunshot cut him off. Viktor stumbled backward, blood blossoming on his chest. My father stood with his gun raised, smoke still curling from the barrel.
“The only mistake,” my father said calmly, “was thinking you could touch my daughter and live.”
All hell broke loose. Gunfire erupted from all sides as Viktor’s men opened fire. Cooper pulled me down, covering my body with his own as bullets whizzed overhead. Through the chaos, I could hear my father barking orders, his men moving with deadly precision.
When the shooting finally stopped, I dared to look up. Viktor lay motionless by his SUV, his men either dead or fled. My father’s men were securing the perimeter, moving with deadly efficiency.
Cooper helped me to my feet, keeping his body between me and my father. But when my father approached, his gun was already holstered.
“Allegra,” he said softly, looking older than I’d ever seen him. “I know I have no right to ask for your forgiveness. What I did...using you against Cooper...it was unforgivable.”
“Then why did you do it?” I demanded, tears threatening to spill over.
“Because I let greed run my life. And maybe, I thought I was protecting you from men like Cooper.” He glanced at Cooper, something like respect in his eyes. “But I was wrong. He came for you. Risked everything to save you. That’s more than I can say for myself.”
Cooper’s arm tightened around me. “What happens now?”
My father straightened his jacket, ever the businessman, even in this moment. “Now, I step back. You clearly love my daughter, Mr. Moreau. And she loves you. Who am I to stand in the way of that?”
“Just like that?” Cooper asked, disbelief coloring his tone.
“Just like that,” my father confirmed. “But know this, Cooper Moreau—if you ever hurt her, if you ever put her in danger again...” He let the threat hang in the air. “Learn from me—don’t let your quest for power ruin the best things in life. It might be too late for me—but hopefully not for you.”
“I understand,” Cooper said quietly. “But you should know—I’d die before I let anything happen to her.”
My father nodded, seemingly satisfied. “Then we have an understanding.” He turned to go, then paused. “Allegra...if you ever need anything...”
“I know,” I said, surprised to find I meant it. He wasn’t a good man, my father, but he was still my father. And tonight, at least, he had chosen me over business.
We watched as he and his men melted back into the shadows, leaving us alone in the aftermath of the chaos. In the distance, sirens were beginning to wail.
“We need to move,” Colton urged, appearing beside us. “Local authorities will be here soon.”
Cooper nodded, pulling me close. “Let’s go home.”
The ride back to the city was a blur. I drifted in and out of sleep, the adrenaline crash and days of captivity finally catching up with me. Cooper never left my side, his hand holding mine, his thumb tracing soothing circles on my skin.
When we finally arrived at Cooper’s home, I was barely aware of being carried inside and brought up the elevator, and then laid gently on a bed. Cooper’s voice was a low murmur, reassuring me that I was safe, that he wouldn’t leave me.
I wanted to stay awake, to talk to him, to sort through the tangled mess of emotions that his rescue had stirred up. But exhaustion won out, and I slipped into a deep, dreamless sleep.
When I woke, sunlight was streaming through the windows. For a moment, panic gripped me when I didn’t immediately recognize my surroundings. Then the events of the past days came rushing back, and I relaxed. I was safe. Cooper had come for me.
Speaking of Cooper, I realized he was asleep in a chair next to the bed, his hand still holding mine. He looked exhausted, dark circles under his eyes and several days’ worth of stubble on his jaw. But he was here, and that was all that mattered.
As if sensing my gaze, Cooper stirred, his eyes fluttering open. When they focused on me, relief flooded his features.
“Hey,” he said softly, squeezing my hand. “How are you feeling?”
“Like I’ve been hit by a truck,” I admitted, my voice hoarse. “But alive. Thanks to you.”
Cooper’s expression darkened. “Don’t thank me, Allegra. This was all my fault. If I hadn’t pushed you away, if I’d just listened to you...”
I shook my head, wincing at the pain the sudden movement caused. “Stop. You can’t blame yourself for Viktor’s actions.”
“But I can blame myself for leaving you vulnerable,” Cooper insisted. “I thought I was protecting you by pushing you away, but all I did was put you in more danger.”
I could see the guilt gnawing at his insides, and my heart ached for him. “Cooper, listen to me. You came for me. You saved me. That’s what matters now.”
He looked at me for a long moment, his eyes searching mine. “How can you not hate me? After everything I said, everything I did...”
“Because I love you, you idiot!” I cried, surprised by my own boldness. “I’ve loved you since...God, I don’t even know when. And yes, you hurt me. But you also risked everything to save me. That has to count for something, right?”
Cooper’s eyes widened, a mix of hope and disbelief on his face. “You...you still love me? Even after all this?”
I nodded, feeling suddenly vulnerable. “I do. But Cooper, if we’re going to do this—really do this—there can’t be any more lies. No more forcing me away because you think it’s for my own good. We’re in this together, or not at all.”
For a moment, Cooper was silent, and I feared I’d said too much. Then, slowly, a smile spread across his face. It was a real smile, one that reached his eyes and made him look years younger.
“You want the truth?” Cooper’s voice was raw, stripped of its usual controlled demeanor. I watched as vulnerability cracked through his carefully maintained composure, his defenses finally falling away.
“Every other woman was just passing time until I found you. You’re it for me, Allegra. The beginning and the end of everything.”
My heart stuttered in my chest, tears springing to my eyes at the naked emotion in his voice. This wasn’t the smooth-talking criminal who’d first walked into my clinic, or even the protective man who’d saved me from Tomas. This was Cooper laid bare, offering me his heart without reservation.
“Cooper...” His name caught in my throat, thick with emotion. I pulled him closer, needing to feel his solid warmth against me, to anchor myself in this moment I’d dreamed of but never truly believed would come.
“I mean it,” he whispered, his lips brushing mine as he spoke. “No more pushing you away. No more pretending I don’t need you. You’re everything to me, Allegra. Everything.”
When our lips finally met, it wasn’t with the desperate passion of our previous encounters. This was different—slower, deeper, as if we had all the time in the world. His kiss tasted of promises and new beginnings, of a future I’d stopped letting myself hope for. In that moment, I understood what people meant when they talked about coming home. Because that’s what this was—Cooper’s arms around me, his heart beating against mine, his love wrapping around me like a shield against the world.
This wasn’t just a kiss. This was a beginning.
Tears fell freely from my eyes, but for the first time in what felt like forever, they were tears of joy. The warmth of his kiss lingered as we slowly drew apart, but Cooper kept me close, his forehead resting against mine. The morning sunlight painted patterns across his face, highlighting the raw passion in his eyes as they met mine. My heart raced at the tenderness I saw there.
“I’ve missed you so much,” he murmured, his fingers trailing softly along my jaw. The gentle touch sent shivers down my spine. “Every minute we were apart, I felt like part of me was dead. God, Allegra, you have no idea what you do to me.”
My breath caught at the raw emotion in his voice. His thumb brushed across my lower lip, his eyes following the movement with an intensity that made my heart race.
“When I saw you in that place...” his voice grew rough, catching in his throat. “I’ve never been so fucking terrified in my life. The thought of losing you—” He broke off, pulling me closer until I could feel his heart thundering against my chest. “You’re everything. Everything I never knew I needed until you fell into my life.”
“Cooper,” I whispered, my fingers curling into his shirt.
“No, let me say this.” His eyes held mine, dark with emotion. “I’ve spent my whole life keeping people at arm’s length. Never letting anyone close enough to matter. Then you came along with those damn beautiful eyes and that heart that’s too good for someone like me. And suddenly nothing made sense anymore except you.”
The tears continued to trickle down my cheeks as he continued, his voice growing hoarse. “I tried so hard not to love you. Tried to convince myself I could walk away. But damn, Allegra, loving you isn’t even a choice anymore. It’s like breathing. It’s like my heart beating. It just is.”
His hand cupped my face, thumb catching a tear as it fell. “I know I don’t deserve a second chance. I know I’ve hurt you. But if you’ll let me, I’ll spend every day of my life making it up to you. Because you’re it for me, angel. The only thing that’s ever felt real in my whole damn life.”
I leaned into his touch, savoring the feeling of safety and belonging that radiated from him. “Then don’t let go,” I whispered.
Cooper’s smile turned playful, though his hot gaze remained intense. “Never again,” he promised, pulling me closer. The familiar scent of his cologne surrounded me as he wrapped his arms around my torso. Despite my injuries, I felt wonderfully alive, every nerve ending singing with awareness of his presence.
“You should rest,” he said softly, noticing my slight wince as I shifted position. But his actions betrayed his words as his fingers traced delicate patterns along my arm, raising goosebumps in their wake.
“I’ve done enough resting,” I replied, reaching up to run my fingers through his hair. The strands were longer than I’d ever seen them, and I felt him shiver at my touch. “Right now, I just want to be here with you.”
Cooper smiled again, and it was bright enough to light the entire room. “Your wish is my command.” He moved under the covers, slowly trailing more kisses along my thighs. When his mouth closed over my panties, I sighed deeply. He pulled the black satin down my legs, replacing his lips between my thighs. His talented mouth spread me apart, and I felt my entire core tighten—not with tension, but with overwhelming desire. I felt his breath, hot against my entrance, and it was like time stopped. I arched my back, the pleasure already building.
“I mean it, Allegra,” his voice came, husky from beneath the covers. “I’m yours to command—and I’ll obey your every desire, make every whim come true.”
“Cooper,” I moaned, as he circled my clit, his tongue working against me.
“That’s it, baby. Come for me.” He increased the pressure, and the orgasm washed over me, stars dancing behind my eyes. Before I could even come down from the high, he was back, hovering over me, kissing me desperately, like a man dying of thirst .
“Now, do you want my mouth in between your legs again, or my cock inside you?”
I pushed my legs back higher, and his cocky grin, the one that I fell in love with before I even knew the real him, turned up the corner of his mouth.
“There’s my clever girl.” I felt him reach between us, positioning himself at my entrance. “Brace yourself, angel. I’m going to be as gentle as I can,” he promised me, “but I need you so badly right now, it’s going to be a struggle.” He pushed inside me, but his entry was smooth. Despite the damage that had been done by Tomas, Cooper had put me back together.
Cooper rested his forehead against mine, kissing me thoroughly as he rocked inside of me, slow and purposefully. His warm body on top of mine felt like heaven, like he was protecting my body with his, and I knew he would keep me safe no matter what now.
“Fuck, angel.” His kisses became erratic as he moved faster, more and more turned on. I felt the familiar surge of pleasure echo through me again, and my eyes widened. Cooper chuckled, feeling the tightness start again. He reached between us, rubbing me and thrusting, until a second release, one I thought I would never experience, rolled through me.
“That’s it, just like that,” he breathed, and then he let himself go, turned on by my second climax. I felt the heavy weight of his seed, warm and thick. I fell back on the bed, absolutely exhausted, but feeling more satisfied than I’d ever been in my entire life.
Cooper caught his breath and pressed a kiss to the corner of my jaw.
“Allegra,” he breathed, my name like a prayer on his lips. His hands tightened on my waist, pulling me impossibly closer as his mouth found mine again. When we broke apart, we were both breathless.
“I love you,” he said again, as if he couldn’t quite believe he was allowed to say the words. “God, I love you so much it terrifies me.”
I smiled, tracing the line of his cheekbone with my fingertips. “Good,” I whispered. “Because you’re stuck with me now, Cooper. No takebacks.”
His answering laugh was pure joy, and when he kissed me again, I could feel his smile against my lips. Outside, the world continued turning, but in that moment, nothing existed beyond the circle of his arms and the promise of tomorrow.
“I mean it, Allegra. I will do absolutely anything for you.”
“Well,” I said, trying to lighten the mood, “you can start by getting me some water. And maybe some pasta? I feel like I haven’t eaten in weeks.”
Cooper laughed, the sound warming me from the inside out. “Your wish is my command,” he said, standing up. But before he could move away, I tugged him back down, ignoring the protest of my sore muscles, and placed another kiss on his cheek.
As Cooper went to fetch me some water, I lay back against the pillows, feeling truly safe for the first time in days. The road ahead wouldn’t be easy. There were still wounds to heal, trust to rebuild, and a whole world of complications that came with loving someone like Cooper Moreau.
But as I watched him move around the room, his eyes constantly darting back to me as if to reassure himself that I was really there, I knew it was worth it. We were worth it. And somewhere out there, my father was watching over us in his own way—not as a threat anymore, but as a reminder that even in our darkest moments, love could still find a way to shine through.