Page 78 of Temptation and Tyranny

He ran a hand through his hair, a gesture that reminded me so much of Cooper it made my heart ache. “For now, we lay low. This safehouse should keep us off the radar for a while. But long term...we need a plan to deal with your father permanently.”

I nodded, a mix of fear and determination coursing through me. “Whatever it takes. I won’t let him hurt Cooper again.”

Steele studied me for a moment, a hint of approval in his eyes. “You’re tougher than you look, Miss Prescott. Cooper chose well.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Cooper

Pain. That’s the first thing I became aware of as consciousness slowly returned. A deep, throbbing ache near my chest that seemed to pulse with each heartbeat. I tried to open my eyes, but even that small movement sent waves of agony through my body.

“Cooper?” A soft voice reached through the haze of pain. “Cooper, can you hear me?”

I knew that voice.

Allegra.

With a monumental effort, I forced my eyes open, blinking against the harsh light. Her face swam into focus, beautiful even with worry etched into every line.

“Water,” I managed to croak, my throat feeling like sandpaper.

Allegra quickly brought a glass to my lips, supporting my head as I drank. The cool liquid was a blessed relief, clearing some of the fog from my mind. As my surroundings came into sharper focus, I realized I was in a vaguely familiar room, lying in a bed that was definitely not my own.

“Where am I?” I asked, my voice still rough but stronger.

“Safe,” Allegra replied, setting the glass aside. “We’re at your safehouse. Do you remember what happened?”

The memories came flooding back in a rush. The warehouse. Laurent Rousseau. The gun. His daughter—his daughter—looking at me with those tearful eyes. The way she’d screamed my name as I fell.

Every touch, every kiss, every whispered confession of love—had it all been orchestrated?

“Cooper?” Her voice was soft, concerned. A perfect performance, just like everything else had been.

I turned my head away from her. “Get out.”

“What?”

“I said get out.” My voice was cold, detached. “I don’t want you here.”

“Cooper, please, let me explain—”

“Explain what?” I cut her off, forcing myself to look at her. “How you and your father played me? How you made me fall in love with you while feeding him information?”

“No!” Tears welled in her eyes. “I had nothing to do with what he did. I cut him out of my life years ago. Everything between us was real—”

“Was it?” I laughed bitterly. “Because from where I’m lying—with a bullet hole in my chest, by the way—it looks like daddy’s perfect plan worked.”

“Cooper,” Allegra pleaded, “everything I told you about my past, about living with my grandparents, building my own life—it was all true. I love you.”

“Right,” I sneered, ignoring the way my heart clenched at her words. “Just like you loved the other men your father sent you to spy on? Was Tomas another mark for you?”

Her sharp intake of breath told me I’d landed a blow. Good. Maybe if I hurt her enough, she’d leave before I could weaken.

“There were no other men,” she whispered. “Only you. I’ve only ever loved you. You know that’s true. You know I’m telling the truth.”

And that was the problem, wasn’t it? Deep down, past all my anger and hurt, I did know. The way she’d looked at me in the warehouse, her horror at her father’s actions—that couldn’t be faked. But admitting that would mean facing feelings I wasn’t ready to confront.

The fear of losing her. I wouldn’t survive it. I had to shut it down—move on. Forget the feeling of love.

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