Page 10 of Cooper's Command

“With all due respect, sir, I don’t make bad decisions. Not in the field.”

“The fact Tate was murdered while you were a couple thousand miles away at the time begs to differ.”

Had she winced? Stumbled back a step? Released a concussive shock wave that had cracked the screen? Because she hadn’t expected her boss to voice what had been plaguing her since she’d received that fateful call. The one ugly truth she’d been doing her best to hide from.

She wasn’t the only one who had a visceral reaction, because both Cooper and Bellamy inhaled while Octavia openly gasped, covering her mouth when Nova chanced a quick side eye her way. Looking as if the other woman was about to march over and confront Cartwright until Bellamy hooked her elbow — dragged her in close.

Was she as pale as Octavia? Did she look as if she was going to puke too? Because she was definitely regretting the coffee Cooper had grabbed her on the way over — praying her legs didn’t simply buckle.

Cartwright merely continued, as if he hadn’t just dealt her a lethal blow. “It happens. When you’ve been working undercover for as long as you have, it’s hard to realign your perspective.”

He leaned back in his chair. “No one’s questioning your expertise. Whether I want to admit it or not, you’re a natural, Nova. Always have been. But there’s more to being an agent than exceptional gut instincts and an abnormally gifted ability to lie. I need to know you can play by the rules before I put you back in the thick of it. Consider this your way of proving to me I’m not insane for giving you another chance.” Cartwright stared at her. “Unless you don’t think you’re up to the task?”

Nova swallowed, nearly gagging in the process.

He’d continued talking, but all she heard over the roaring in her head was, “can’t play nice in the sandbox unless it’s filled with cartel or mafia henchmen?”

Did he actually expect her to speak after he’d accused her of getting Tate killed? And all because she obviously cared more about arresting drug cartel than she did Tate’s well-being?

She clenched her jaw, forcing the words out. “Of course not, sir.”

“Good. Special Agent Paulin should be back shortly. You can fill him in on whatever you uncover then. In the meantime, Detective McClane’s your point of contact. And Nova… If you have any hope of becoming Tate’s successor, I need you to impress me.”

The screen winked out, leaving a heavy void in the room. Nova stared at the monitor for a few seconds before tipping back her head — closing her eyes as she counted to ten. Willedthe floor to open up and swallow her. Anything to prevent her having to face Cooper and his team.

A hand brushed across her wrist, and she looked up into Cooper’s watchful blue gaze.

He glanced at the screen, shaking his head before turning back to her. “You okay?”

She tried to smirk, failed, then sighed. “Honestly, I’m not sure which part to be more upset about.”

He drew his brows together. “I realize getting pulled from Columbia is a blow, but out of all the other possibilities, is staying here that bad of an outcome?”

She held up one hand. “I never said that.”

“But you’re obviously frustrated that you’re not going back.”

“Of course, I’m frustrated. The man just gave my job to some greenhorn who wouldn’t know an informant if one slapped him in the face. I’ve spent ten years cultivating relationships over there, all of which will be gone the second Ross takes lead, regardless of how this all ultimately plays out.”

She raked her fingers through her hair, yanking on the strands in the hopes of grounding herself. “I’m not saying Cartwright was out of line. I broke ranks, and I knew there’d be a reckoning. Though, I could have done without the bit about Tate’s death. Not that everyone wasn’t already thinking it.”

Octavia marched over, stopping next to Cooper. Hands fisted at her side. A pink hue burning her cheeks. “I’m the reason Tate went to Texas, not you. If anyone’s to blame for his death, it’s me.”

“I appreciate the sentiment, but?—”

“No buts. He risked his life to save mine. Period. So, get your boss back on the line. I have a word or two I’d like to say.”

Cooper held up one hand. “While that’s a noble gesture, Octavia, I don’t think it would help the situation. Besides, you’re both wrong. Neither of you are responsible for Tate’s death.”

“Aren’t I?” Nova got closer, resisting the urge to tap Cooper on the chest to get her point across. “Because if I’d been standing beside him in that hotel in Texas, I can assure you things would have turned out differently.”

“You don’t know that. Maybe, you’d both be dead.”

“Maybe, but I can promise you I would have taken Moody down with me. Saved us all the trouble. But Cartwright wasn’t wrong. Iwastoo engrossed in shutting down Moreno’s cartel to have the forethought that maybe this was the time Moody decided to clean up any loose ends, and Tate would pray the price.”

“Nova.” Cooper looked as if he wanted to grab her and shake some sense into her, but he kept his hands to himself. “You didn’t even know Tate was meeting with Moody. No one knew.”

“But IknewTate. Better than anyone. I should have guessed he’d use the trip to get more dirt on Moody.” She shook her head, distancing herself as much as possible without actually moving. Anything to stop the riotous roil in her stomach. “We can dance around the semantics all night but in the end, Tate’s dead, and I’m alive. It doesn’t take a genius to do the math.”

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