Page 37 of Deceptive Lies

Ten

July 12th

1:29 P.M.

Damn.

This was the last thing they needed.

Cooper had weighed the odds, knowing that whatever road he chose came with risks. In the end, he’d decided that Tarek Mahmoud would be using all his contacts to watch airports and airfields, expecting that he would take Willow and immediately flee the country, they’d do the opposite.

Which seemed to have backfired on them.

Because now he was alone with Willow at the Step Pyramids of Saqqara, and they were being followed.

If it was just him on his own, he’d just take them out the first opportunity he got and then disappear. But Willow was injured, weak, tough yes, but the physical toll her ordeal had taken on her wasn't something they could just magically overcome.

“What do we do?” Willow asked, and he loved that she skipped right over panic and went straight to logic. It made thingsso much easier. Not that she wasn't well and truly deserving of a meltdown, she’d been through hell, but right now, it gave them a better chance of surviving if Willow could hold it together.

“Right now, we do nothing,” he told her, guiding her along with him as they headed closer to the pyramid. For now, there was the safety of numbers. If they stuck with the crowd, then it would be harder for whoever Mahmoud had sent after them to make any sort of move.

“Nothing?” Willow repeated, but she followed his lead and kept walking so it didn't look like he was dragging her along with him.

“Yep, our best bet for the moment is to just blend in.” If they were caught there was every chance that Mahmoud would try to get him thrown in prison. Sure, Cooper knew he’d get out, he’d done nothing wrong, and Prey and Eagle Oswald’s reach far outweighed that of Tarek Mahmoud. But in that time the professor would ensure Willow was killed.

They were on Mahmoud’s home turf, and Willow was a walking advertisement that someone had been beating on her. There was every chance Mahmoud would use the injuries he inflicted to his advantage. Willow would no doubt tell anyone who would listen who had hurt her, but Mahmoud’s reach was long, and Cooper was positive he’d have her declared incompetent.

Again, all it took was separating them for the professor to get his hands on Willow.

Not going to happen.

Not as long as he was standing.

Whatever it took, he was going to keep this woman safe.

“I won't let him hurt you again,” he promised. It wasn't wise to make vows. Especially when he didn't have the upper hand. Unarmed but for a few knives that would do the job but only if he got close enough to the men following them, his weapon was out of ammo and he didn't have time to get more, he didn't have a good idea of the layout of the area, he had no backup, and he had an injured woman who was his responsibility.

But he’d worked with less.

Whatever it took.

“I know you won't,” she said softly, resting her head against his shoulder.

Something warm shifted inside him at the simple touch. This woman got to him in the weirdest ways. It confused the hell out of him, but he wasn't going to fight against it. He was going to do what he had to do to make sure Willow got home safe and took down the professor, and then he’d see what happened.

No use worrying about it right now.

Now all that mattered was keeping her alive.

“I know you're strong, Willow. You’re the bravest person I've ever met, but I need to know that you're going to do everything I ask you to do immediately and without complaint.” He would do whatever it took, but he had to know that Willow wasn't going to be fighting against him. For them to stand a chance, he had to be confident that if he asked Willow to do something, she’d just do it.

“I won't be a liability,” Willow said fiercely.

“Never thought you would be. But this is what I do, Willow. It’s been my job my entire life. I might not be able to explain why I need you to do something, I might have to ask you to do something you're uncomfortable with. There can't be any arguing, even a couple of seconds delay can make the difference between life and death.” It wasn't like he wanted to scare her more than she already was, but he also needed to ensure she realized the stakes.

“You don’t have to worry. I know this is your thing, not mine. I promise I’ll do whatever you need me to do without questioning you,” Willow solemnly agreed.

“That’s all I needed to hear. And, hey,” he caught her fingers and squeezed them, “when I help you with your article, you can totally boss me around.”

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