Chapter 4 #3
Pipe shrugged. “You’d be surprised. The military the world over is the same. They need foot soldiers. Men and women willing to give their lives if necessary, without question. Just like any organization, there are those who excel at thinking and those who are best at doing.”
Cora frowned. “And you’re saying you were an unthinking robot who simply did what he was told?”
His lips twitched. “Not exactly.”
“I know you realize by now that I did my research on you and your friends,” she said, wanting him to understand why she was here with him.
“Yeah, you made that clear.”
“I don’t think I did. Pipe, I live in Washington, DC.
You know how many military guys there are around here?
Generals? Special Forces? Even private security, people who’ve spent years guarding the freaking President of the United States.
Not that I know them personally, but I could’ve used my six thousand dollars to hire one or more of them. I didn’t. You know why?”
She had Pipe’s full attention now.
“One, because the people I did contact only wanted my money. Didn’t seem to care about Lara as a person.
But mostly because I wanted the best. I wanted someone who would take this as personally as I do.
Who would believe me when I told them my best friend was in trouble.
Not someone who’d just take my money, do a shit job researching her situation, maybe a little recon, and then tell me they couldn’t help. ”
“How do you know I won’t do just that?”
“Because of Alaska,” Cora said softly. “And Jasna. And Reese. You and your friends…you’re protectors.
Not only of all the men and women who come to stay at The Refuge, but especially for the people you love.
I’ve read all about how you guys used your skills to help the women who now live at the resort with you.
And while you don’t know me, or Lara, I instinctively knew without a doubt that you’d do whatever it took to help me bring her home. ”
Pipe stared at her for so long, Cora struggled not to squirm in her seat. But she tilted her chin a touch higher and refused to give in to the unease swimming in her veins. She’d spent her life being judged, and she didn’t care about this man’s opinion of her, as long as he agreed to help Lara.
Refusing to admit she was lying to herself about caring what Pipe thought about her, Cora waited for him to say something.
“I can’t promise you anything,” he finally said.
“I know.”
“And we aren’t in the military anymore. We’re civilians. We can’t exactly use guns, grenades, and the might of the government to break laws.”
“I know that too. I’m not asking you to do that. All I’m asking is for you to use the tactics you’ve learned to help me get in to see my friend, and possibly get her out of a bad situation.”
“And you’re sure she’s in a bad situation?” Pipe asked.
Thankful he didn’t sound skeptical, just curious, Cora nodded firmly. “One hundred percent.”
When he didn’t respond, Cora said a little desperately, “And I still have my six thousand dollars. It’s all yours to use for flights or supplies or whatever you need.”
“If we decide to help you, we aren’t taking your money,” Pipe said firmly.
Cora wasn’t certain how to respond to that.
He had no idea what she’d done to come up with that amount of money.
The fact that he’d let her keep it meant the world to her.
She could use it to get Lara counseling, to move them to another city…
whatever it took to make sure her friend was okay after whatever she’d been through.
And that was the most terrifying thing—Cora had no idea what was happening to Lara. She might be fine. Might be perfectly safe and being treated kindly.
She mentally snorted. She didn’t believe that for a moment. Whatever her friend was experiencing, it wasn’t good. Cora had no doubts about that.
The sound of footsteps startled her, and she turned toward the entrance to the restaurant. She half expected an employee to be standing there frowning, but instead, the man she’d seen earlier that night, Owl, was walking toward them.
“He really does look a little like Ed Sheeran,” she mused.
“If you want to get on his good side, whatever you do, don’t bring that up,” Pipe said before standing and greeting his friend.
Owl pulled a chair out from one of the empty sides of the square table and nodded at her. “So you’re Cora.”
“And you’re Owl,” she returned.
He grinned. “That’s me.” He turned to Pipe. “You didn’t miss much. The MC was a little peeved that you weren’t there, but since they raised over a hundred thousand for veterans, he’ll get over it.”
“And the bitch?”
“Ran off with her equally bitchy friends,” Owl said with a shrug.
“You made it clear that I wasn’t taking her to dinner?” he asked.
Owl smirked. “I don’t think that was ever a part of her plan.”
“Right. What was it she said?” Pipe asked, looking at Cora. “‘No way would I sully my reputation by being seen out and about with someone who looks like a gang member.’ Right?”
“I don’t remember every word, but that sounds right,” Cora said. It was a lie. She remembered exactly what Eleanor had said as she’d insulted Pipe. His memory was spot on.
She once more doubted his claim that he wasn’t a good planner. Anyone with that good of a memory had to be an asset when planning some top-secret op.
“Anyway, she left, I paid her bid, all’s good,” Owl said. “Now…what’s up?”
Pipe looked at Cora. Having both sets of eyes on her was a little disconcerting, but she did what she always did. Straightened her shoulders and refused to show that she was intimidated.
“My friend Lara was kidnapped by her so-called boyfriend, and I need help breaking her out and bringing her home.”