Page 103 of Cooper

“Look, I have to focus on getting my mom to safety and then drawing this fucker out so we can end this. After that, I’ll figure out how to get Natalia to forgive me.”

“I talked to Ace, and he’s reaching out to some Middle Eastern contacts he has. Maybe he can get a line on who these guys are.”

“Oh, I’m sure it’s Yusef,” I mutter. “He promised I wouldn’t forget his name or face. And it’s his wife he’s looking for.”

“Well, I’m going to go make a few calls and see whose cage I can rattle. I’ll meet up with you later tonight, and we’ll figure out the rest of the plan.”

“Sounds good. Where are you staying?”

He gives me his information, and I throw everything I’m keeping into the back of my truck. I plan to travel light going forward, but I’ll leave the things I don’t want to get lost or damaged with my mom.

With any luck, we’ll take care of this sooner rather than later, and I can get home.

Home.

When did Limaj become home?

The minute I went there to be with Natalia.

I hadn’t realized it until now, but despite my misgivings, I was never going to give her up. No matter what I decide to do professionally, it’s going to happen in Limaj.

Because I love her.

I’m sorry, baby.I’m going to fix this.

* * *

I stopto get some cash out of an ATM.

I’m not sure where I’m going to be or how long I’ll be gone, but it’s probably better not to leave a paper trail. Then I hit a drug store to stock up on some essentials since I don’t plan to stay at my mom’s very long.

Erik, Sandor, and I talked for a few hours last night, and the plan we came up with should work. Itwillwork. I’ll repeat that to myself as many times as necessary until I believe it.

Because I don’t plan to go on the run indefinitely.

I’m going to end this, whether what we have planned works or not.

I just hope I don’t die in the process.

The phone call I had with my commanding officer this morning had been frustrating. Instead of listening to me, he’d told me he wanted me to report to Hawaii as soon as I was able to schedule a physical that would deem me fit for duty. The thing is, I’ll go AWOL before I move to Hawaii. At this point, I’m done with the military, and as much as I love my country, I have different goals now.

I’m also annoyed my CO wasn’t overly concerned about the attacks, skeptical when I told him the story of how my kidnappers in Iraq were the ones after me. Like I was making something up so I could stay in Hiskale with my girlfriend longer.

Frankly, it’s insulting.

Generally speaking, he’s a good guy, and this is out of character for him. But I understand that he has protocols to follow and higher-ups to answer to, so it’s not easy to get people to listen without hard proof.

It’s one of many reasons I’m ready for a change.

But I can’t fully commit to the Protectors—or to Natalia—until the current situation is handled. I’m grateful for Sandor and Louie’s help to pull this off.

I’m filled with nervous energy as I pull up to my mom’s house. It’s the same feeling I used to get whenever I went on patrol in Iraq. There’s a kind of excitement mingled with a touch of nervousness and a pinch of fear. And it’s never fear for myself. If I die, well, I’m not going to know it. It’s my family, my brothers-in-arms, and the people I care about that worry me. What my death will do to them.

My mother has already had enough loss in her life. Her parents died young, she had three miscarriages, and then she lost her husband—my dad—when they were in their thirties. She’s been single a long time, and I can’t imagine what losing me would do to her. Of course, she’s also tough as nails, which is why she was on board to help.

Not to mention what this could do to Natalia.

After what happened with Logan?

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