Page 10 of Cooper

We’re both quiet and there it is again.

“Either someone’s trying to get in or we got mice.”

“Rats,” I correct mildly.

“You guys suck.” Seghin’s hoarse whisper is a welcome distraction.

“Captain Cooper—you in there?”

The voice is decidedly American, and I whip my head around. “We’re here!” I call out.

“We’re getting you out—hang tight.” I don’t know who they are, but I want to kiss them.

A few seconds later, there’s a flash bang, the sound of metal-on-metal as they break through the door, and then a group of Navy SEALs burst in, and someone cuts me free. My arms are still numb, but I manage to stumble over to Seghin.

“He’s in bad shape,” I say.

“We got him.” A familiar face smiles at me from under his helmet and I squint.

“Jonesy? That you?”

He grins. “Sure is.”

“Damn, you’re a sight for sore eyes.”

“You flirtin’ with me, Cooper?” My friend from college wiggles his eyebrows at me.

“If you’re gettin’ us out of here, I will absolutely flirt with you. I’ll even buy you dinner.”

FOUR

Natalia

I don’t sleepthat night. After talking to Louie, I reach out to all my friends from the unit in Iraq, but I don’t hear back from anyone. So I pace. By morning, I’m buzzing on caffeine, insomnia, and fear. I have to do something. It’s irrational and emotional. I know that. I’m many things at the moment, but crazy isn’t one of them.

I’m also well-aware that my need to do something is based on a need to maintain some semblance of control of my life. Waiting and doing nothing while another man I care about potentially dies isn’t happening on my watch. I don’t care what I have to do or what favors I have to call in, I’m going to raise hell until someone does something.

I’m just about to call Louie again when his name flashes on the screen of my phone. I snatch it up impatiently.

“News?” I demand.

“They got them,” he says. “They’re headed to Germany.”

“Ramstein Air base?” I ask.

“Yeah.”

“Is he okay?”

“All I know is that they’re alive.”

“Thanks, Louie. I mean it.”

“You owe me a drink.”

I laugh. “I’m good for it.”

“Keep in touch, Nat.”

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