Page 26 of Deceptive Lies

He couldn’t go in for Willow until he was sure Mahmoud and anyone else in his home were already asleep. Even then it was risky. He’d have to climb the fence, which wasn't an issue going in, but was going to be one coming out. Even if she hadn't been further injured, Willow was already in a bad enough state that he doubted climbing a fence was something she was capable of.

If she was even still alive when he got there.

Fear he would arrive too late curled and spread inside him, making his body physically tremble.

All the time he’d spent in this woman’s company amounted to mere minutes, yet her bravery and determination had struck him deep. Not a lot of people could survive two weeks straight of torture and still be standing, still thinking clearly enough to come up with a plan.

And not a lot of people would willingly put themselves in danger to protect another.

Which was straight up what Willow had done.

She could have begged and pleaded with him to get her out right that second, and he would have found a way to do it despite the risks.

But she hadn't done that.

Instead, she’d allowed him to put her back in that hole in the ground, knowing she was likely going to be punished for trying to reach out to him because she was trying to ensure he made it out of there alive.

Respect didn't even seem like a big enough word for what he felt for Willow Purcell.

Four hours later, when Cooper finally slunk through the dark night toward Tarek Mahmoud’s house, he was still in awe over Willow, still filled with desperation to get her out. There had been a lot of people he had saved in his career in Delta Force, a lot he’d saved in the years he’d been with Prey.

There had also been a lot of people he’d failed.

Cooper just prayed Willow wasn't going to be one of them.

Entering the professor’s property from the back was easier, less conspicuous, and closer to where Willow was being kept. The need to get to her was growing. It wasn't just about rescuing her, Cooper found himself equally invested in tending to her, caring for her, and making sure she was okay mentally and emotionally as well as physically.

He’d never had feelings like that for a woman before. Sure, he’d dated from time to time, it just wasn't easy when you were away as much as you were home, and you saw in the closest of details the atrocities human beings inflicted on one another.

But something about Willow called out to some primal part of him.

An almost compulsive need to protect her consumed him.

By the time he’d reached the trapdoor, cut the padlock, and was reaching out to lift the door, his hands were sweaty, and his heart raced.

Was he going to find Willow dead or alive?

July 12th

12:08 A.M

Her aching body trembled as moonlight tumbled down into her underground prison.

New bruises layered old, and the accumulated pain was almost more than she could bear.

Especially with her rescue so close.

Was it about to come or had Professor Mahmoud decided he couldn’t wait until morning when his friends gathered to end her life?

The exhilaration that her and Cooper’s plan had worked, that the professor had no idea Darius wasn't the one who had put her back in there, that Darius was dead now, had sustained her through the beating Professor Mahmoud had delivered after Cooper left.

But now …

Now she was just too tired.

Exhaustion wasn't just washing over her, it was barreling into her over and over again with harsh waves that knocked her down and kept her down until even just lifting her head took more out of her than she had to give.

Death or freedom?

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