Page 29 of Beckett

Beckett

My fist connected with the heavy bag, the impact reverberating up my arm and into my shoulder. The sound echoed through Warrior Security’s gym, punctuating the silence that had settled between Coop and me.

“You planning to tell me what’s eating you, or are we just beating equipment tonight?” Coop ducked under my next swing, moving behind the bag to steady it.

I landed another combination—jab, cross, hook—before answering. “Nothing’s eating me.”

“Right. That’s why you showed up at—” he checked his watch “—nine-thirty on a Tuesday night looking like you want to punch through concrete.”

The bag swung back toward me. I caught it, holding it still. For once, the nightmares hadn’t driven me here. Rodriguez’s voice wasn’t echoing in my head. The blood-soaked Afghan dirt wasn’t fresh in my mind.

No, this was different. This was frustration, pure and simple.

“It’s Audra.” The admission rumbled out of me.

Coop’s eyebrows shot up. “The new lady at Pawsitive Connections?”

“Yeah. Ends up her brother and I served together. That’s how she heard about Garnet Bend.”

“Perfect. Can you ask him what’s going on with her and how we can help?”

“Can’t. He’s dead. Died eighteen months ago in a car accident.” I resumed my assault on the bag, needing the physical outlet. “And she’s hiding something.”

“So what’s your theory?”

“I don’t have one. That’s the problem.” I stopped and stripped off my gloves, flexing my fingers. “Everything about her story has holes. She shows up in Garnet Bend with nothing but a backpack and a beat-up car. Takes a job that pays cash. Flinches when doors slam. Checks exits constantly.”

“Sounds like someone running from something bad.”

“Yeah, but why would Todd’s little sister be running from someone bad? The way he talked about her, she was always gentle and fun.” The frustration leaked through despite my efforts to contain it.

“You’re really twisted up about this girl.” Coop studied me with those sharp eyes. “This about being protective, or is there something else going on here?”

The question hit too close to home. I grabbed my water bottle, taking a long drink while I sorted through the tangle of motivations. Truth was, I couldn’t figure out why this woman I barely knew had gotten under my skin so thoroughly.

“I don’t know,” I finally admitted. “Maybe both. She just… There’s something about her. More than just being Todd’s sister.”

Coop nodded slowly. “Well, at least you’re honest about it. That’s progress for you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Come on, Beck. When’s the last time you let anyone in? Really let them in?” He pulled off his own gloves, settling onto the bench. “You’ve been locked up tighter than Fort Knox since you got back.”

“This isn’t about me.”

“Sure it is.” He leaned forward, elbows braced on his knees. “Woman who’s skittish, keeping secrets, scarred up by whatever she’s been through. Ring any bells?”

I shot him a look sharp enough to cut steel. “You can fuck right off, Dr. Freud.”

Coop barked out a laugh, flipped me off, then grabbed his own water.

“Feels different from this side,” I admitted low.

“Always does.” He stretched his shoulders, easy as ever. “Look, you see someone hurting, you want to fix it. That’s who you are. Doesn’t make you broken.”

I nodded once, though patience wasn’t my strong suit. “Heading out?”

“Yeah. Back to Billings tomorrow—SWAT gig.”