Page 43 of Waging War
“You were so angry with me. You said I was just like my good for nothing old man.”
“Was I wrong?” I turn to see his eyes trained on me. It hurt watching my best friend reduce himself to stealing cars, and that was the one thing I knew would rattle him enough that he just might think twice.
“No. You weren’t wrong.” His voice softens. “But you never are, are you?”
I swallow a knot building in my throat. No one would care if I let Cooper close the little bit of distance separating us and kiss my lips the way I know he wants to. In fact, they might cheer for something everyone around here has secretly wished for.
Taking a short step toward my bike, I gift him a tight smile. “I’m glad you got out of that phase, Coop.”
“Me too.” He squeezes my shoulder lightly before drawing the tarp off my girl. “She’s missed you.”
Curling my fingers around the handle, I trail the other hand over the sleek black metal shining under the shop lights, letting a little bit of hope sneak through.
Will he let me take her out?
Buzzing with excitement, I slide my leg over the seat. The sensation of the leather beneath me feels like coming home, and as soon as my ass settles back, I grin. “Wanna take a ride?”
Cooper’s playful expression falls along with any wishful thoughts I had.
Behind Cooper, yellow-and-orange sparks fly as the whirring sound of a saw blade against metal drowns the garage. His mouth moves, but I can’t exactly make out what he’s saying.
“What?” I yell over the high-pitched whining.
“I said, I can’t let you go!” The blade stops in time with my heart.
My face heats feverishly as the guys working nearby stare. When I glower, they make quick work of focusing on anything and everything that isn’t the two of us.
I lean forward, attempting to bring his averted gaze back to mine. “You’re joking, right?”
His face is pained, but it’s clear his word is final.
Stupidly, I let myself hope he was going to let me ride. Hell, at this point, I’d settle for a little supervision if I could just get back on the road.
I want to slap that sorry expression off his face. Ben’s parting words seep into my very soul, mocking this home of mine and all the people in it. “Cooper, tell me you’re not keeping me away from the one thing I love.”
“This is what we feel is best for you.”
My blood boils. “If I can’t ride, I’m no better off than when I was under Jackie’s care in that shithole prison he kept me in.”
The bike shakes gently when I move to stand, only to be stopped by hands wrapping around my shoulders.
“In his care? You werestolenfrom us, Hazel. Jackie may be done with Diablo, but he doesn’t care about you at all. Has being around Diablo’s enforcer warped your mind so easily?”
I shrug him off, storming outside the nearest door to the empty lot behind the garage. Just a few more steps and I could walk through the gate that leads to the attached apartments and escape. Air stings my lungs as I draw it in and out too quickly.
He hollers for me to stop, but my head is rushing with anger and fear of being trapped yet again. My fists clench tight enough that my nails pierce my palms.
“Do you even hear yourself when you speak? I didn’t spend all that time hoping to be freed just so I could exchange one cell for another. You can’t keep me locked away like some precious artifact.” A choking noise sounds from my throat. “I’m a living person, Cooper. I need fresh air and sunlight. Ineedmy bike.”
Cooper’s eyes soften as he pulls me into his chest.
I don’t know why I won’t fight him the same way I fight Ben. It grates against every nerve that I’m so powerless here, but there’s more to this than just getting my way. We have an order of doing things for a reason, but until now, I’ve never thought to question it.
Is this really what’s best for me?I don’t even know anymore.
I’m angry enough that I’m crying.
“Shh,” he whispers, running a hand over my hair. “I’ve got you, Haze.”
