Page 25 of Cooper's Command

“Yeah, bleeding out. I’ll pull over…”

“No.” She made an effort to glance at him, only getting her head partway in his direction before giving up. “Just… drive, Coop. Okay?” She wet her lips, her eyelids slowly closing. “Just drive.”

“Nova. Nova!” Cooper grabbed his cell, hitting the Brotherhood number.

Hawk answered on the first ring. “Talk to me Cooper. And it had better start with,I have Nova.”

“Oh, I’ve got her but we’ve got a bigger problem. Call Kian and have him bring all his medic gear and as much bagged blood as he can get his hands on. This rescue mission just went seriously sideways.”

CHAPTER 7

“Kian!”

Cooper blew into Hawk’s office. Nova cradled in his arms, her blood already soaking through his shirt. She’d been in and out of consciousness since he’d called Hawk, not fully rousing in the last five minutes.

Kian was at his side a heartbeat later, directing him over to a makeshift trauma area in an adjoining small room. It wasn’t much more than an extra wide couch and a side table full of instruments — a couple of chairs off to one side, but it beat having to clear off one of the computer stations. Cooper placed her on the sheet covering the cushions, taking a step back when Kian moved in beside her.

Kian didn’t waste any time talking, just had all but her bra and panties cut off, and an IV and blood bag hooked up a few minutes later.

The man mumbled under his breath, glancing at Cooper over his shoulder. “Did she get shot during your pick up or…”

“At her office.”

“Great. So, she’s been bleeding for the better part of an hour. She’s lucky she’s still breathing.” Kian grabbed what looked like a portable ultrasound. “I’ll know more after I scan the area — seeif this requires surgery. Not that she’d survive the trip as she is right now.”

“I couldn’t take her to the hospital. Not when I still don’t know who’s behind this.”

“Then, let’s hope this is something I can treat.” Kian nodded at the door. “Emery’s here, and she doesn’t look impressed.”

Emery stormed into the room, getting up into Cooper’s face. “What the hell, Cooper? You said you were going to pick her up, not start a freaking war. Zip in, grab her, zip out. That was the plan. No witnesses. No hiccups and sure as shit not a path of carnage. Did you seriously blow up a car?”

Bellamy leaned over Cooper’s shoulder. “Actually, we weren’t the ones who blew…” He inhaled when Emery simply glared at him, her arms crossed. Eyes narrowed. “Never mind. That’s not important.”

Cooper raked his fingers through his hair. “We tried to be discreet, but then a bunch of tangos showed up, and we weren’t left with many options.”

“You mean like calling for backup?” She stared him dead in the eyes. “From the officer who gave you so much rope you managed to hang yourself with it.”

“You know we couldn’t do that without risking your and Nova’s safety. And those guys were most likely cartel, so you’re welcome.”

“Which is the only saving grace. Apparently, they don’t want to be identified any more than Nova does, and they took their wounded or dead with them. Because I bet my ass they didn’t all walk away, did they.”

“Perhaps you two could take this outside? It’s hard to work when you’re yelling in my ear.” Kian motioned to Flint. “Flint? Do a brother a solid and give me a hand.”

Cooper disengaged, focusing on Kian. “I can help?—”

“Not this time, Coop. You’re too close. And you and Emery need to finish your chat. This way, you won’t feel like you’re outnumbered.”

“I’m not worried about talking to Emery with or without Flint standing beside her. I’m worried Nova’s going to die because I wasted what little time she had driving here instead of to the hospital, consequences be damned.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence.” Kian waved off Cooper’s grunt. “If her injuries were going to be fatal, she’d already be dead. But she’s lost an obscene amount of blood. Let me get her stabilized, and I’m sure her vitals will pick up. Though, considering her blood pressure’s sixty over forty…”

Cooper closed his eyes, opening them when Bellamy nudged his shoulder, motioning toward Hawk’s main office. Coop looked down at Nova, praying Kian was half as good as Cooper needed him to be, then moved into the other room. He stopped just outside the door, stealing another glance at Nova.

“Kian’s pretty talented.” Emery nodded toward the other room. “Saved my life once or twice.”

“I remember.”

She sighed, some of the tension easing from her shoulders. “And I still owe you and Whiskey for helping to keep me safe.”

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