Page 6

CHAPTER 5

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear you were pouting, buddy.”

Cooper brushed Bellamy’s hand off his shoulder when his best friend slid onto the stool beside him, pushing a cup of coffee his way. “I’m not pouting. I’m thinking.”

“Then, you’re thinking about pouting because you’ve got one hell of a sour ass look on your face.” Bellamy took a swig from his mug. “She’ll be fine. She’s going to the DEA office, not some warehouse full of mercs like she probably did in Bogotá.”

“You’re shit at cheering people up, you know that?”

“It’s a gift.” Bellamy sighed when Cooper shook his head. “This isn’t about the investigation, is it?”

Cooper merely shrugged.

Bellamy turned in his seat. “It was a knee-jerk reaction.”

Cooper scrubbed his hand down his face, glancing at Bellamy. “What are you on about now?”

“Nova’s frustration over getting pulled from Columbia. It isn’t a reflection on how she feels about you.”

“Like hell it’s not.”

“Coop. Trust me. She’s crazy about you.”

“It’s not that I doubt she has feelings of me, it’s just…” He closed his eyes as he blew out a rough breath. This was way too close to all the reasons he’d had for not pushing their relationship the past few years. Why he’d thought getting seriously involved with Nova could be a critical mistake. Especially when he’d known from their first date that she was different. Had the potential to be far more than a temporary distraction. He just wished it didn’t feel as if she’d already left.

Cooper took a sip of his drink. “She’s an undercover agent.”

“So?”

“So, how often do you think she’ll get the chance to do that kind of work here? Sure, the odd case might crop up, but it won’t be like Columbia, where she couldn’t throw a bag of cocaine without hitting a cartel asshole.” He shook his head. “This isn’t the life she signed up for.”

Bellamy nodded. “I get that, but plans change.”

“You really think she’s going to give up the last ten years without a fight? All the work she’s put into carving out the next twenty?”

“If she’s found something better, then, yeah.”

Cooper snorted. “Oh, to have your optimism.”

“You seriously don’t think she’s invested in what you two have? Are you telling me you’ve just been fuck buddies for the past few weeks, then? That it meant nothing?”

Cooper turned. “First, we never have — and will never be — fuck buddies. And second, it’s not what I think or feel that’s in question.”

“So, you’re admitting it hasn’t been just sex between you.”

“Bellamy, let it go. I’m really not in the mood to talk about this.”

Bellamy paused, staring at Cooper before his eyes widened and he glanced around the bar to see if Ethan or Rusty were listening. Not that Cooper thought it would stop his buddy from voicing whatever was on his mind if they were.

Bellamy leaned in. “Wait. Are you saying that Nova’s been sleeping in your bed — and don’t even try to deny that because we all saw the way she kissed you — and you two haven’t actually…”

Cooper groaned when Bellamy made some weird hand gesture. “You’re an ass, you know that?”

“Apparently. Because I’m not sure I would have had that much restraint.”

“You got Octavia pregnant the first night you were reunited, so I think it’s safe to say restraint isn’t your or her forte. And not that I need to explain myself, but we were in the middle of an op, and Nova had just lost her partner. The last thing she needed was me taking advantage of her when she came over to my place absolutely wrecked about Tate but determined not to show it.”

“So, when Hawk interrupted you two tonight, you were finally…”

Cooper groaned. “Feel free to stop talking any time, now.”

“You were. Then, all that crap goes down with her boss and now, you’re sulking.”

“Seriously. Go harass Rusty or Ethan.”

“Well shit. This isn’t a passing thing for you, is it? You’re in love with her.”

Cooper clenched his jaw, mentally listing all the reasons punching Bellamy would be an epic mistake, like the ones Nova’s boss had accused her of making. “I’d really hate to have to explain to Octavia why you’ve got a split lip and a black eye.”

“Please, like I wouldn’t dodge. Besides, you’re so blinded by love, you’d probably miss.” Bellamy chuckled when Cooper stared at him. “Coop. Stop worrying. Nova was just caught off-guard, like we were when Moody had us eliminated from the K9 pilot program. Let her work through her issues on this case with Emery. No one better to show her all she has to gain, professionally, by sticking around.”

“Assuming she doesn’t get fired for kicking this Paulin guy’s ass the moment they’re in the same room together. Which is really what I was thinking about, wiseass. There was something about his call and what she said that isn’t sitting right.”

“You’re not even going to balk at the love comments, are you?”

“Can you focus, for one minute, on the real issue?”

“You’re only fooling yourself if you think being stupid in love with Nova isn’t the real issue, but whatever you say. So, what rubbed you the wrong way about this guy?”

Copper pushed down the riotous skip of his heart at the thought of Nova being in his life permanently, focusing on how they’d parted at the crime scene. That she’d obviously been hiding something when she’d told him Paulin wanted to talk about things. “It’s not him, it’s how she ended it. She said, ‘when and where’. Just like that. As if she was setting up a drop. And her expression…”

He’d had to fight every instinct not to tail her because she’d been whiter than the cocaine powder. “She looked as if she’d just seen a ghost.”

The fact she’d also suggested they talk hadn’t helped him feel any better about the situation. Especially when he knew she’d been brushing off his concerns over the meeting.

Bellamy nodded. “You think she’s in trouble?”

“I think there’s something far more dangerous going on than a simple drug lab. And I have a bad feeling she’s walking into the middle of it.”

“What does Emery think?”

“That Nova’s a seasoned DEA agent and can handle this kind of stuff in her sleep. Which, of course she can, except…”

Except Cooper couldn’t shake the feeling that he was the one missing the signs, this time. And if he wasn’t careful, Nova would end up like Tate.

“If your gut’s telling you something’s wrong, then I say we take a drive. Check out her office.”

“And when she decides to shoot us both in the ass?”

Bellamy laughed. “Then it’s a good thing our fellow Brotherhood Protector, Kian, is a medic.”

Cooper grinned. “Or, I could stop agonizing over theories and call her and see if she picks up. Save us a trip and a couple rounds in the ass.”

He grabbed his cell when the front door flew open, Flint and Emery marching in. Eyes narrowed. Mouths pinched tight. Flint stopped just inside, taking up point on the door as Emery headed straight for the bar. And Cooper knew things were about to get real.

She glanced back at Flint once she’d gotten within a few feet of Cooper, drawing herself up as she crossed her arms over her chest. “Have you spoken to Nova recently?”

Cooper frowned, looking from Bellamy to Flint then back to Emery. “Not since she left to meet Paulin at the DEA office. Why?”

“So, she hasn’t called you in the last five minutes? Maybe sent you a text?”

“I just said I haven’t talked to her since she left the crime scene. What’s up?”

Emery glanced at the rest of his team as Ethan and Rusty shuffled in behind Cooper, looking as if she wanted to be anywhere but there. “There’s been a development.”

Cooper huffed when Emery simply stood there, staring at him as if he’d grown another head — doing his best not to let his imagination run wild. All the thoughts he’d been having since Nova had driven off alone. “You’re going to have to be a bit more specific. What kind of development?”

Her shoulders drooped and she shook her head, moving over so she could lean against the bar. “There’s no easy way to say this so I’m just going to spit it out. Simmons is at the DEA office. Paulin’s dead. Shot twice in the chest. And Simmons claims Nova’s the one who shot him.”

“What?” Cooper stood, closing the gap between them. “That’s crazy. Why would Nova shoot Paulin?”

“I don’t know. All I’m getting are patchy details secondhand over the radio. But from what I’ve heard, Simmons went there to meet with them and walked in just as Nova gunned Paulin down. He says she turned on him but he managed to get behind some cover. Then, he says a bunch of cartel assholes showed up and they all had a massive gunfight before she escaped. As far as he knows, she’s still at large.”

Dreaming.

That’s what Cooper was doing. He’d obviously fallen asleep at the counter and this was some twisted nightmare wrought by his anxiety over the possibility of losing Nova.

Bellamy recovered first, shouldering up beside him. “No fucking way. Nova Martin’s as true as they come. She’d never turn and she’d never kill someone without provocation. And before you ask, yeah, I’m sure. Because if she was going to murder anyone, she would have capped Eric Moody the second he set foot on the island instead of leaving it to the feds.”

Emery held up her palms. “I’m just relaying what I heard. But you should all know, there’s a warrant out for her arrest as a person of interest in Special Agent Paulin’s death. One that will go federal once her boss gets involved. And Simmons is really pushing the fact that she fired on an officer. If she resists…”

“This is insane.” Cooper held up his phone. “Let’s call her.”

“You can’t. Her phone was found at the scene beside Paulin’s body. Trust me. That was the first thing I tried, which is why I came here. If she’s going to reach out to anyone, it’s you.”

“And you think I’ll just rat her out?”

“No. I’m hoping you’ll put your faith in me — in the fact you trust Flint.”

“Is that before or after you arrest her and she gets locked in a cell where she’ll have an unfortunate accident before she has a chance to tell her side of the story?”

Flint cleared his throat. “That’s not fair, Cooper.”

“No.” Emery shook her head. “Cooper has a point. We’ve all seen it happen. But I don’t think I need to stress how badly this will play out if someone else gets to her, first. All I’m asking is for a chance to talk. However that needs to happen.”

Cooper tried to swallow, praying he didn’t end up spitting it all over everyone. “That’s assuming she calls.”

Emery nodded. “She will.”

Cooper shrugged, trying to brush it off when his cell rang. He glanced at the number, not that he recognized it. But he didn’t need to. He already knew it was Nova.

He looked at Bellamy, then took a few steps away as he answered it. “This had better be you, Nova.”

A raspy breath, followed by what he swore was a low moan. “You already know.”

“Not nearly enough.”

“Where are you?”

He warred with the voice in his head, wondering how much to say out loud. “Ohana’s. Your turn.”

Nothing but silence for a few moments before she grunted. “Some obscure dirt road a good twenty miles from the office. I assume your team’s with you.”

“They are.”

“Emery?”

He looked up at the woman in question. “She’s standing several feet away, along with Flint.”

“Crap. Am I on speaker?”

“No.” He frowned. “Do you want to be?”

She sighed. “What I want isn’t an option right now. Shit, hold on…”

Had she dropped the phone? Because it sounded like the speaker hit her lap. An engine revved in the background a moment before a few loud pops echoed through the phone. Glass broke in the distance followed by what sounded like a car spinning across some gravel.

“Nova? What the hell was that?”

Something rustled before she grunted again as more pops carried over the cell.

“Is that gunfire? Nova!”

She muttered a curse, her breath wheezy and fast against the mic. “I’ve got cartel on my ass. Of course, it’s gunfire.”

“I need you to talk to me. Now.”

“I… Not over the phone.”

“This is obviously a burner.”

“But yours isn’t. And it’s no secret who I’d turn to for help, which is why Emery’s already there. For all I know they’ve got someone outside with a parabolic mic. Maybe a drone hovering overhead.”

Cooper frowned but gave Rusty and Ethan a twirl of his hand before pointing toward the door. His buddies nodded, darting past Flint as they rushed outside.

“Then, just answer me this.” Cooper switched ears, trying to distance himself a bit more. “Simmons claims you killed Paulin. Is that true?”

Utter silence for several heartbeats before her breath sounded in his ear. What could have been a sob or a moan. “No.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“That sounds like a question only you can answer.”

More silence and he knew she was deciding whether to actually ask for that help she’d mentioned or just hang up. Go it alone like he was sure she’d done a hundred times in the field when Tate was off investigating Moody instead of backing her up.

“Sweetheart—”

“As I see it, you’ve got two choices, Coop. Either you put your faith in me — in the person you know I am and everything we’ve been building between us since the day we met, or you can believe Simmons.” Another pause, as if she was catching her breath. Or maybe her nerve. “Honestly, I wouldn’t blame you if you did.”

Cooper sighed, glancing over when his buddies returned. Ethan nodded, giving him the all-clear signal before moving back beside Bellamy. “What do you need?”

She’d definitely sobbed. More than once though he couldn’t tell if she was sad, relieved or if it was something else entirely. “I need to ditch this car. Not that it’s got much life left in it, anyway. And, I need a ride and a safe place to crash for a few days while I figure out what the hell is going on. I know it’s a lot to ask, but?—”

“You remember where we went to watch the sunset the other night?”

A watery chuckle. “I was hoping you were going to seduce me on that cliff.”

“Leave the car in the lot and hoof it up to the lookout. I’ll be waiting in my truck on that access road near the back.”

Another grunt. “I’ll be there in twenty. And Coop… I doubt I’ll be alone.”

The line went dead like an eerie premonition of how her life would end if he didn’t get his ass to that spot before she showed up with god knew how many cartel assholes on her tail.

Emery stepped closer once he’d pocketed his phone, looking from Flint back to him. “Where are you meeting her?”

“I can’t tell you that.” Cooper held up his hand when Flint grunted and took a step closer. “You asked me to trust you. Now, I’m asking you to do the same. Let me get her to safety, then, we’ll arrange a place to meet and you can have that talk.”

“Cooper. Every cop on the island is looking for her. We don’t have time to play the long con, here.”

“I understand the gravity of the situation. But she’s not some naive civilian running scared. She’s a trained operative. One who’s logged more undercover hours in her agency than any other agent except Tate. If she chooses to disappear, no one will ever find her, including me. And that’s what will happen if anyone else shows up.”

“Other than us.” Bellamy crossed his arms over his chest. “There’s no way we’re going to stand by while you face armed gunmen alone because that was obviously a yes when you asked if that was gunfire. And Nova knows I’d take it personally if she ran from me.”

Cooper arched a brow. “Well, Emery? Either you trust that I won’t screw you over or you don’t. But either way, I’m going to help Nova, if for no other reason than to give her a chance to turn herself in, safely, if she is guilty of whatever Simmons seems to think she’s involved in. But I promise you, she’s not.”

Emery huffed, shaking her head as she moved aside. “Bring her to Hawk’s in an hour. I’ll radio in that I’ve cleared the ranch and am personally standing watch for a while. That should prevent any unwanted company from showing up.” She snagged Cooper’s wrist when he went to walk past. “Don’t cross any lines you can’t undo.”

Cooper tilted his head, nodding toward Flint. “How many would Flint cross for you?”

Emery glanced at Flint and Cooper swore she glowed with that same neon essence Nova had earlier after kissing him. “All of them.”

Cooper merely smiled as he held the door open for his buddies. “And I meant what I said. No one follows us, not even Blake in her chopper, or this will turn out far worse. I had your back when those assholes were gunning for you. I need you to have mine, now.”

“The ranch, Cooper. One hour.”