Page 163 of Collateral Damage
“I’ll kill you for this,” Cooper growls, pinning Jonathan to the floor. “You think I’m taking the fall for you? That you can hurt my woman? You’re out of your goddamn mind!”
I scramble to my feet, searching for guns and more blood—God, please, no blood.
Jonathan struggles, but Cooper has him locked down right as the police burst in.
“Did you hear that?” Cooper calls out to them. “You hear how excited he is about that ‘seed money’ he’s getting as his uncle’s only heir? He fucking killed the guy not five minutes ago!”
They move quickly, apprehending both men.
The security guard from before walks in the room. “I heard it all. It’s the truth. He killed my employer,” he says, pointing at Jonathan.
Thank God he’s able to corroborate on our story. The tension that’s wound tight around my lungs slackens, and I can breathe again.
“No,” Jonathan tries, color draining from his face. “They’re lying!”
Conrad King sweeps into the room, his eyes wild with fear as he takes in the scene, and my breathing relaxes even more. As much as I can’t stand Conrad and as angry as I am at him, I know he’ll take care of Cooper.
“Are you okay, son?” he asks between desperate panting breaths.
Cooper shrugs from between the cops who are holding him down. “Yeah, the mother fucker killed his uncle and then shot me in the leg. He just shot an expensive hunk of metal.” He gives me a rakish smile, complete with a trickle of blood on his lips. “But Sybil’s okay, so I’m okay.”
A wave of relief washes over me, and I burst into tears.
Seventy-One
Cooper
Present - Age 27
“I’m taking you home,” I tell Sybil the second we’re finished giving our statements to the police. She doesn’t protest, only nods numbly and lets me guide her outside to my car.
She must’ve taken a cab to get here, so at least I don’t have to worry about getting her car back to her place. She’s in no state to drive. Her tears have dried up, but a traumatized storm cloud hangs over her face.
Jonathan Vale is lucky the police showed up when they did. I was two seconds away from ending him. I’ve never taken a life before, but I wouldn’t hesitate to end that psychopath. Nobody hurts Sybil and gets away with it.
I help her into the front seat, then swing around to the driver’s side and get us the hell out of there, turning the radio on low and the air conditioning on high. It’s hot out today, and she’s still sweating from what happened.
“I can’t believe Lance is dead,” she whispers, her voice shaky.
I reach for her hand, relieved when she lets me thread my fingers through hers. “The guy made a lot of enemies over the years, and now you don’t have to worry about either of those men ever coming after you again.”
She swallows hard. “Wait, what about the sex tape? They had footage on us, and if the police get it?—”
I shake my head. “Don’t worry. I talked to my father on the way out. His people will make sure everything is deleted. Nobody will see that footage, but just in case, I’ll contact my hacker to get Jonathan’s computer wiped.”
Illegal, but shit if I care right now.
She visibly relaxes, closing her eyes and breathing in long and slow breaths until she falls asleep.
I take my time getting her home, going the long way and being careful not to wake her. I want her to get a little extra rest. I’d carry her upstairs if she’d let me, but I know Sybil. Maybe one day she’ll let me carry her over the threshold of our place after we get married, but I have to convince her of marriage first. As far as I know, she still wants space from me. I almost lost her once today, and I can’t lose her again, not in any capacity of the word.
I pull up to her building, and when I stop, she startles.
“No,” she gasps, sitting up straight.
“Hey, it’s okay.” I take her hand again. “You’re home.”
She blinks rapidly as everything returns. She’s about to get out of the car, taking my heart with her, when she turns back. “Will you come upstairs?”
