Page 100 of Cooper

“What do you need from me?” I ask quietly.

“Nothing. If you want to do your own thing, I have nowhere to be until it’s time to pick up Levi. Erik is working from home today, so we really don’t need anyone. If you want to go hang with your sister or have somewhere else you can be useful, you’re welcome to.”

I hesitate. “I really don’t want to talk to anyone right now,” I admit. “Especially not Joe or Sandor.”

She looks up and cocks her head. “Are you okay?”

“Cooper left,” I reply. “Someone from his past is after him, and he left so it wouldn’t blow back on us here. And they let him go. Alone. So no, I’m not okay.”

“I don’t know what’s going on,” she says, “but I’m sure Sandor wouldn’t have let him leave without having a plan to protect him.”

“He’s going back to the military.” I start to pace. “Andtheywon’t protect him. Not like we can.”

“If someone is after Ryan, they could come after you too. It makes sense.”

I sigh. It feels weird hearing her use his first name, but Cooper is too impersonal for what I’m feeling right now.

I’m scared.

Angry.

Worried.

Anxious.

And I’m really fucking tired of feeling anxious all the time.

I need to meet with Dr. Saluga, but I don’t have time.

I don’t respond because she’s right. But she’s also wrong. We’re stronger in numbers, and the idea of him fighting this battle alone just doesn’t work for me.

Logan had been alone the night he died. Yes, he’d been with Solange, but she hadn’t had any kind of training then, so she was basically a civilian and no help to him. And he’d died.

“Natalia, what can I do?” she asks softly. “Tell me. Do you want me to talk to Erik?”

“I don’t think it will do much for my career if I go over Sandor’s head,” I say with a wry laugh. “And anyway, even if I wanted you to, this is his doing so he’s going to side with Sandor.”

“What am I siding with Sandor about?” Erik asks from the doorway.

The man is stealthier than a freakin’ missile. How do I never hear him coming?

“It doesn’t matter,” I say. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have involved either of you.” I move to leave, but Erik blocks my path.

“But now I’ve already heard it, so I want to know what’s going on. This has to do with Cooper leaving, yes?”

“Yes, sir.” I look down, embarrassed to have put both Casey and Erik in this position.

“Talk to me, Natalia.”

“I’m sure you know more than I do,” I respond. “And I’m not trying to go over Sandor’s head. I just don’t know what I’ll do if…” I stop and swallow. “If something happens to him, I won’t survive. Emotionally, I don’t think I can take another loss like this.” Tears blur my vision.

To my surprise, he reaches out and pulls me into his arms. “You look like you need a hug,” he says quietly. “And that’s something I can do that won’t get you into trouble with Sandor.”

I sniff, fervently trying not to cry.

When I finally have control of myself, I pull away, grateful for this job and the people who’ve become my new family. It’s weird to think I can just get a hug from our king any time I need one, but it’s also comfortable. And he gives great hugs.

“Thank you,” I whisper. “I’m just so…scared for him.”

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