Page 43 of Deceptive Lies

A fate that might very well have caught up with her anyway.

There was no doubt that it was the professor who had sent these men after them. No doubt that the professor knew how dangerous Willow was and what she could do if he allowed her to live. And no doubt that he was now more than likely going to be collateral damage.

But if they were both about to lose their lives, if Willow was going to wind up dead anyway, then Cooper could at least take solace in the fact that he’d spared her taking her final breath all alone.

July 12th

3:27 P.M

Every mile they drove felt like taking one step away from being saved.

Willow trusted Cooper implicitly. She believed that if anyone had the training and skill to get them out alive, it was him.

But she was also pragmatic enough to know how badly the odds were stacked against them.

Fear clogged every one of her pores, it seemed to seep down inside her body, attaching to her blood and making it throb as it flew through her veins. Her skin was clammy, her heart racing, and even though she kept trying to match her breathing to Cooper’s she knew hers was much too fast.

As badly as she wanted to show Cooper that she could be strong and calm, be an asset to him rather than a liability, Willow knew she was failing.

What was so different this time around?

Last time she’d panicked of course, but she’d been able to pull herself together.

This time they’d been gone all of an hour, maybe, and she felt like she was going to fall apart.

Knowing if she did, she was putting Cooper’s life in danger made itworse. Even though she was trying to use that knowledge to calm herself, it was doing the opposite. Making the panic worse, making her fear worse, making everything worse.

She didn't want him to die because of her.

Just because he said it wasn't her fault didn't change the facts.

And the facts were that if he’d left her at the professor’s house, she’d already be dead but he’d be either safe in his hotel room or safely on a plane back home.

Itwasher fault.

When the van finally stopped moving, she pressed herself closer against Cooper’s body. This would be the last time she’d feel a human touch that was meant to soothe and comfort her, that was soft and gentle. From here on out, when somebody touched her, it would be to cause her pain.

There were so many things she wished she could say to Cooper before they were both dragged out of the van, but her mind felt all tangled, and in the end, all she could do was tilt her face up and whisper her lips against his.

One last kiss.

One last moment of joy.

Maybe that would be enough to help her pull it together and last out whatever was coming. Maybe she could even find a way to make a deal to get Cooper out of there alive. After all, she was the one that Professor Mahmoud wanted. She’d told Cooper in the car what she knew about the professor, but he didn't have to know she’d already told him. If she lied and claimed that she had kept her evidence against Professor Mahmoud to herself then there would be no reason to kill Cooper.

Could she hold onto that lie under torture?

Only time would tell, but she would give it everything she had.

“You can do this, Willow. I believe in you. You are without a doubt the strongest and bravest person I have ever met. Don’t forget that.”

Before she could respond to Cooper’s whispered words, bright light flooded the back of the van as the door was thrown open. Cooper’s lips brushed across hers one last time as four men jumped into the van.

They hadn't talked much throughout the drive, and she hadn't beensure if Cooper was planning on making a move since he was free or if he was waiting to see what the odds were like when they got wherever they were going.

Obviously, four armed men against the two of them, her still bound because she hadn't had the strength to break the ties, meant the odds for them were non-existent.

“He’s free, boss,” one of the men called out as they saw Cooper’s arms wrapped around her body.

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