CHAPTER TWO
Cooper stared at the dark hair fanned out across the pillow. The nurses had done an exceptional job of keeping her cleaned and showered, never letting her look less than human.
But that didn’t apply to him. He felt like an animal. The fresh scar across her cheek and chest reminded him that by dismissing her, she’d placed herself in obvious danger.
“You know her?” asked Blythe.
“Yes. Sort of. She was our informant on that last mission. Her name is Bianca Garcia. Her family was killed by Rodriguez. She wanted to stay with us but I told her to leave, to go home. I thought I was protecting her.”
“You were protecting her,” said Blythe.
“Why won’t she wake up?” he asked.
“Rodriguez, at least we assume it was him, pumped her full of drugs. They didn’t kill her but damn near. She’ll wake when her body is ready.”
“Thank you, Blythe.”
“Don’t stay too long, honey. She needs to have quiet and rest.” Blythe patted his shoulder and disappeared down the hallway to her next patient.
Coop grabbed her hand, kissing the back of her fingers, rubbing them gently.
“I’m so sorry, Bianca. I’m so very sorry,” he said whispering to her. “I’ll make it up to you. All of it. I swear.”
He was about to stand when her eyes fluttered, the big brown orbs staring back at him with shock at first. He smiled, sitting beside her again, reaching for her hand. But she pulled back, the expression on her face not a happy one.
One loud crack echoed across the facility.
Standing, he stepped into the hallway as Blythe came running.
“What happened?” she asked.
“She woke up and she hates me.”
“I doubt that she hates you,” said Blythe. “I’ll go check on her. Stay here.”
Blythe stepped into the room and looked down at the woman lying in the bed. She had big tears in her eyes, her face flushed red.
“I see that you’re awake,” she smiled. Bianca nodded. “Are you feeling better?”
“I’m not sure,” she said quietly. “I slapped him.”
“You did but I’m sure he did something that deserved it.” She checked her vitals, nodding at her. “Do you feel like eating something?”
“I’m pretty hungry,” she said softly. “Where am I? Am I near home?”
“You’re a long way from home, sweetie. You were brought to our facility to help you and keep you alive. Your village, all of it, was burned by Rodriguez and his men.”
“So, I have nowhere to go. No home. No business. No family. I have nothing,” she whispered.
“You have me,” said Cooper standing in the doorway. “I know you must hate me but I’m here. I’m here to help you and make sure that you have the life you deserve.”
“You can’t bring my family back,” she said looking at him. She swallowed hard, seeing that stunningly handsome face. His chest was wide and muscled beneath the t-shirt, his eyes dark and mysterious. “You can’t change what he did to me.”
“I know,” said Cooper taking another step inside the room. He took the seat beside her again and leaned back. “Are you going to slap me again?”
“I think I’m done for a while,” she said with a sad smile.
“I should have kept you with us but I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought I was keeping you safe. I’m so fucking sorry, Bianca.”
She shook her head, fresh tears coming down her cheeks.
“No. No, it was my fault. You told me to leave and get back to town. I wanted a front row seat to his destruction and I got caught because of it. It was my fault, not yours. Now everything is gone. Everyone. I have no job, nothing.”
“You could work here,” he said reaching for her hand.
She seemed to tug back at first, then allowed him to wrap his massive hand around her own.
“We own a General Store not far from here. Many of the wives on the property paint, make jewelry, all kinds of things. They do very well. You could sell your things there as well.”
“Maybe,” she said looking from him to Blythe.
“She’s hungry, Cooper and needs to eat some solid food. Maybe take her to the cafeteria. She can be discharged to a cottage after that. I’ll get all the paperwork done while you go eat.” He nodded, standing to get a wheelchair.
“Where’s the man?” They both looked at her and said nothing, just staring at her. “The older man who carried me out of the mansion. He held me the entire way here but I don’t remember much of anything else. He saved me.”
Blythe and Coop both grinned, nodding their heads in understanding.
“I’m sure you’ll see him again at some point,” said Blythe. “For now, there are clothes in the closet over there. Several things to choose from. You get dressed and then Coop can take you for some real food. Nothing too decadent.”
“Yes, ma’am,” she nodded.
“I never asked you before,” said Coop. “Your English is very good. Where did you learn to speak so well?”
“My grandparents lived in Texas their entire lives. I spent summers on their ranch when I was little. I loved it. I always wanted to come back here but with what happened to my family, I just couldn’t leave without punishing Rodriguez.”
“We took care of that for you,” said Coop.
“I know,” she said from behind the partition as she changed her clothes. “I’m sorry I didn’t thank you instead of slapping you.”
“It’s okay,” he smirked rubbing his jaw. “That’s the second time you’ve done that and both times hurt like hell. You’ve got quite a swing.”
She stepped from behind the partition dressed in khaki shorts and a pink Mardi Gras t-shirt. She had on a pair of sandals, her unpainted toenails looking strange. He couldn’t remember the last time he saw a woman without her nails done. It was refreshing. Innocent.
“Do I look okay? I mean, is this place fancy?” she asked.
“You look,” he cleared his throat, “you look great. And no, it’s not fancy. I’ll explain everything as we go.”
He wheeled the chair into the room and helped her to sit down. She protested a bit but he wasn’t having any of it. When they left out the back doors, she stared at the massive tree lined roadway, the huge iron gates behind them, and up ahead, dozens of beautiful cottages.
“What is this place?” she whispered.
“It’s home.”