Cooper Read online

  "Yeah, and I kind of miss you too, big brother."

  We talk for a little while longer. He catches me up to speed on some of the shit he and the boys at Corps Security have been dealing with. I've got to say, it sure as hell doesn't seem like the boring job I was picturing. By the time we hang up, I can already feel my eyes getting heavier. With promises to get together soon for a much-needed brothers vacation, I remind him to wrap up his junk, and with some quick 'I love yous' later, I'm laying my head down on my pillow. Just talking to Coop makes me feel lighter than I did just minutes before.

  I hate that he feels the way he does about life in general. I know he thinks that he's right--that every woman out there is just like our mother and Sarah Jane was. But I can't help but pray that, one day, I can prove him wrong. That, one day, I can meet a woman who will show him just how fulfilling it would be to give yourself to someone completely.

  One day, I vow. One day, I'll make that happen.

  Chapter 28 - Chelcie

  I'm so nervous. I keep running every possible scenario over in my mind. Asher will either decide to keep going down this dark path that I'm not sure my 'light' will be able to keep him safe on. Or he will turn it all over to the authorities, guaranteeing that dirty bastard spends the rest of his life in jail.

  My stomach has been in knots all morning, I wasn't able to eat breakfast, and I even threw up a few times. My nerves are completely shot to hell. I know Asher is worried about me, and I hate that because his mind shouldn't be focusing on me right now. But no matter what I do, I can't seem to turn off the overwhelming sense of dread that is hanging over me like a thick blanket. A thick blanket of doom. I hate it.

  "Sunshine, please try and eat something before we head over to CS. I don't like how upset you are."

  "I'll eat when we leave, okay? I might feel better by then." It's worth a try.

  He looks at me, trying to gauge where my mind is right now. I give him a weak smile and try my best to act normal.

  "All right. If you're sure, I'm going to grab a shower before we head in."

  He leans in and gives me one of those sweet kisses, holding his warm lips against my cold forehead and rubbing his large hand over my belly a few times.

  When I hear the shower turn on, I let out the breath I was holding. Fuck, I'm a mess. And it doesn't help that my back has been killing me all week--ever since I went on a nesting frenzy and cleaned every inch I could reach of the apartment. Then I spent an even longer time working in Zac's nursery. We purchased all of his furniture and got it all up--ready to go. It's a room fit for a prince. Well, it's a room fit for a prince if he decides that he wants to play sports when he gets older. Asher had so much fun picking out the bedding and decor for his room that I gladly went with the theme he wanted.

  He and Beck painted the walls a warm tan color that complements the dark hardwood floors perfectly. We got some warm cream rugs to place on the floor and one large baseball-shaped one for the center of the room. He hung up the three large letters that spelled Zac's name on the wall last night, finally completing the room.

  We had two large, cherry wood bookshelves that were already full of different sports memorabilia, books, and stuffed animals. After a very long shopping trip with Dee, Zac's closet is now stuffed with more clothes than a newborn baby could ever need. Hell, I'm pretty sure he has more clothes than both Asher and I have combined.

  I wander down the hall and open the door to his room. I smile when I see all of the small touches that Asher picked out himself. From the baseball-shaped beanbag seat that is definitely something Zac won't need for a few years, to the tiny football mobile that hangs above his crib, and my personal favorite, the framed photo of Coop that sits proudly on his dresser, facing his crib.

  I feel my heart melt when I think about how happy Asher was when he placed that picture there. He set it down, stepped away, and considered its location in the room then moved it a few more times. Each time, he would circle the room and see what kind of view our son would have of his birth father.

  After closing the door silently, I make my way down the hall and into our bedroom to get dressed. Asher called the guys late last night and asked that they all meet us there at noon. All I can do now is hope that, at the end of the day, whatever is meant to happen does. I selfishly pray that the day ends with Asher turning over all of his evidence on Dominic Murphy.

  Asher is in the middle of shaving when I walk into the bathroom, dressed and almost ready to go. I decided to go for comfort today. At this point in my pregnancy, comfort is really all that matters, and with my nerves already going haywire, I need every advantage I can get. I have some loose-fitting maternity jeans, one of Asher's old USMC sweatshirt that still hangs large on my body--even with my expanding belly--and my favorite pair of worn Chucks.

  "Damn, you look hot in my clothes." He reaches down to adjust himself, and I smile when I see the thick budge in his jeans.

  "These days, your clothes are the only things that fit. I guess it's time for me to go get some more fat-girl clothes." I sound like a brat. I don't mean to, but I've been struggling with the new--wide--version of my body.

  "What have I told you, Sunshine? I fucking love your body. Your body is changing and growing because it's keeping our son alive. Don't ever think of that as a bad thing. It's goddamn beautiful."

  He gives me a sweet kiss, laughing when he sees his shaving cream on my face, and then turns back to finish the task. With nothing left to do but wait, I head to my laptop and attempt to get some work done on my book. I'm actually shocked to say that it's almost done. With all the extra time I've had since I stopped working with Dee, I've stepped my writing up and everything else just started to fall into place.

  My story, the one I have been molding for years now, is finally coming to fruition, and I feel an overwhelming sense of pride in my story and, more importantly, in myself. I have Asher to thank for that. For encouraging me to follow my dreams and never give up.

  I am just finishing another chapter when I feel him walk up behind me. He cuddles close and kisses my head.

  "Are you ready to go?" he asks.

  "Yeah. Just let me save this and turn everything off."

  Once I've grabbed my purse off the back of my computer chair, I walk down the hallway and work on strengthening my courage for what's to come. Time to make sure the emotional basket case is locked up tight and the strong woman Asher needs me to be right now is ready to play ball. I push all my fears, nerves, and worry aside and get ready to walk the road less traveled with my fiance.

  Damn, I love the sound of that.

  ***

  The drive to Corps Security doesn't take long. Since the apartments are pretty centrally located to everything in town, we make the short drive in about ten minutes. I notice when we pull up that we're one of the first to arrive. Sway isn't even manning his normal spot--front and center in his salon's front window. I swear, sometimes I wonder if that man even works. The only time I ever see him actually doing hair is when one of us girls goes in. Other than that, he's bopping around the room with his ever-present smile in place.

  I see Axel's huge black truck sitting next to Greg's minivan--rather Melissa's minivan. Other than that, the parking lot is pretty vacant. I guess that's normal for a Sunday afternoon. All of the businesses around Corps Security close up on Sundays. The guys are normally closed as well, but with this emergency meeting, they didn't waste any time coming together and being there when Asher said that he needed them.

  Those men truly are the definition of brotherhood.

  I come out of my musing when Asher's hand gives mine a small squeeze. I look down to where our hands are laced together on his thigh before looking up and giving him a forced smile. He shakes his head and lifts my hand to give me a kiss.

  "Everything is going to be okay, Sunshine. Trust me, okay?"

  I nod my head, not trusting my words. I just know that, if I open my mouth, all of my careful bravado will crumble. I get another squee
ze of his hand before he lets go and climbs out. I watch his dirty-blond hair shine when the sun hits it. His face seems...almost peaceful, and I don't even let myself think of what that could mean.

  "Let's head on in," he says, reaching out to help me step down.

  "Hey," I whisper, grabbing his arm before he starts walking towards the door. "I love you."

  He gives me a heart-stopping smile, turning to wrap his arms around me. "I love you, too," he says against my temple.

  It seems weird to walk into the lobby of Corps Security and not see Emmy. I know there's a lot going on with her and Maddox right now, but this place just isn't the same without her bright smile greeting me. The last report I heard from Asher about those two was that he got a very short message from Maddox saying that he was handling shit and he had Cat. I don't know who the hell Cat is, but I hope that Emmy is okay with her.

  Even with Emmy gone, we usually had the pleasure of being greeted by a very attractive Davey. He's almost too attractive for his own good. His cheekbones are high and strong, his jaw is perfectly square, and when he smiles, his blindingly white teeth seem to blink at you. The girls always joke that he looks like he walked straight off a runway and strutted right into CS. Which I would believe since he managed to catch the eye of the master strutter himself--Sway. Those two have been a heavy and adorable item ever since they first met.

  The lights are dim in the lobby since they aren't open for normal hours and are just coming in to meet in the conference room. There's the big light that comes from behind the large CS sign behind Davey's desk and the light that hangs over Coop's memorial portrait. Other than that, it's just dark and ominous.

  I follow Asher's lead when he heads down the hallway that I know leads to their offices as well as the conference room in the back. Axel and Greg are in deep conversation about the pros and cons in hunting big game. I don't even want to know what the hell that means. I shiver at the thought, causing Asher to tighten his hold on my hand and look at me in question. I just shake my head and look around the room.

  "Hey, guys," I say when we step into the room, doing my best to plaster on a happy smile.

  "Hey, Chelc. How are you feeling?" Greg asks warmly.

  "I'm doing okay, just tired. Pretty sure that's normal though--all things considered."

  He laughs when I wave my hand over my big belly.

  "You have no idea. Melissa was tired all the time. Just nap when you can. She said that helped."

  "Izzy was the same way with Nate. Things seem to be different this time around though. Hang in there. You're almost done." Axel smiles at me, but before I can address them, I'm beat to the punch.

  "Yeah, bet that's because it's a girl this time," Beck jokes when he joins the group. "That would be interesting with how protective you are of Izzy and Nate. I can see it now. You're going to have that baby in a bulletproof bubble before she can talk."

  I laugh because, really, he probably isn't wrong. Axel is crazy about Izzy and Nate, almost to the point where it's overkill. She seems to love it, so I guess that works for them.

  Looking over at Asher, I think for the millionth time how lucky I am. He seems to have little bits of each of these strong alpha males' personalities in him. He has Axel's protectiveness without being over the top. If what Melissa tells us is correct, he shares Greg's bedroom skills. He has that huge heart of gold that Beck is famous for. And of course, he shares Maddox's strength and determination.

  I always found it fascinating how much these men all act like a family, but when you get right down to it, they really are brothers. Just minus the shared DNA. Sometimes I think that makes their bond stronger. They've fought together, worked together, and lived their lives together. They have that bond that some siblings will never have.

  "Come on, Sunshine. Have a seat and I'll go grab you a water."

  I sit in the proffered seat and look around the room, once again feeling the claws of dread latching into my skin, digging in deep, and refusing to leave.

  "Is everyone here?" Greg asks from the head of the table.

  "Not yet," Axel responds, walking up to Greg and punching him in the shoulder. Greg laughs and moves out of Axel's spot.

  "Who isn't here yet?" Beck asks, looking around the room.

  "Me."

  I turn my head and shiver at the intensity of the gaze that locks with mine.

  "Well, look what the cat dragged in," Beck says, walking over to give Maddox one of those weird half-hug, half-backslap things that men do. "When did you get back in town?"

  I'm starting to feel a little uneasy with Maddox's black eyes still focused only on me. I don't think there are many people who could hold his gaze and not physically feel burned. He gives me just the barest of nods before stepping forward, a slight limp to his long gait.

  "We've been back a few days now," he answers, coming around the table.

  He greets Axel and Greg the same way he did Beck. When he gets to Asher, my eyes widen. He pulls him close, his embrace different than the others, and turns his head to whisper something so that only Asher can hear.

  Asher's back gets tight, and I watch these two men interact with complete fascination. When Maddox finishes speaking to him, he pulls back, and whatever Asher says in response has a smile taking over his normally stoic mask. A smile that is so beautiful I let out a gasp before I can stop myself.

  Asher turns and gives me a smile of his own before pulling out the high-back, leather office chair and settling his large frame down. The guys are all speaking amongst themselves, so I take a moment to lean over and question Asher about what Maddox just said.

  "Are you okay? That looked...interesting."

  "Yeah." He looks over at me, his clear, blue eyes shining with a peace-like intensity. "He just reminded me about something he told me a few months ago. He asked me how that darkness has been treating me, and damn, it felt good to tell him I have been standing in the middle of some hell of a sunshine for a while now."

  Even though his words kind of make sense to me, the fact that Maddox is asking has me baffled.

  "Don't worry your pretty little head over it, Chelcie. It's good, I promise you."

  "All right, let's get this started. Asher, why don't you go ahead and let us know what you need talk to us about." Axel interrupts.

  I look around and notice that all four of the other men in the room have taken their seats, all staring intently at Asher and waiting for him to talk.

  Oh, God. This is it.

  I dig my fingers into the armrest on the chair, willing my body to calm down and my mind to stay sharp. This isn't about me; this is about Asher and making sure that he makes the best decision with the most favorable outcome. I know that, if anyone can see reason in his turning all of his information on Dominic Murphy over to the authorities, it will be these men. However, I also know that these men's sense of loyalty and passion runs deep. If they agree that vengeance is the way to go, there will be no way for me to talk him down from the ledge.

  "As some of you know, I've spent a good bit of time looking into Dominic Murphy. His empire of evil is essentially what lead to Coop's death. You all know the details on his connection, so I'll spare you those. I have been able to confirm from a few inside sources close to Dom that he did, in fact, put the word out that Coop's death had been taken to call on a debt. A debt that Coop didn't owe him. Dom doesn't care that he killed an innocent man. To him, it is nothing but a normal day in the office." Asher reaches out, pulls my hand off the armrest, and places it on his firm thigh before returning his eyes to the men around the table.

  "It's taken me months to get everything I have on this man. To get the proof I needed to pin Coop's demise on him and to get enough piled up on him that I could bury him underneath prison. I've spent hours staking out his local businesses, places of leisure, and homes. I know the identity of each one of his closest allies. If he breathes, at this point, I'll know it. I've gotten close enough to place tracking devices on six of his known vehicles as we
ll as attached a few to his person when I was lucky enough to get close at a few restaurants he frequents. Not much, and if he isn't wearing the jackets in question or they aren't hanging within a close enough distance to pick up audio, they're basically worthless."

  He looks over at me to assess how I'm holding it together. I give him a few squeezes to his leg and urge him to continue. Whatever he sees in my eyes is enough that he gives me a small nod and turns back again.

  "I've managed to collect audio confirmation about his involvement in Coop's murder. It might not be enough to convict him alone, but it is enough to paint him in one hell of a damning light."

  "You've managed to get this on your own without getting one of us to sit in on this with you? What the hell were you thinking?" Axel booms from his seat. "Brother, I understand where you're coming from, but putting yourself in danger won't help a damn thing."

  "Well, with all due respect, brother, this wasn't your call to make. I've been safe, I've stayed hidden in the shadows, and trust me, he doesn't have a clue. If he did..." He pauses, looking over at me. "If he did, then I wouldn't be sitting here right now."

  "It was reckless, Asher," Greg throws in.

  "Maybe so, but at that time, I didn't think I had anything to lose. Now... Now, I know better."

  I can feel my throat getting tight, and I will the impending tears away, blinking rapidly, taking my eyes off of Asher's proud strength, which seems to be emanating from his body.

  "I had a long chat with Chelcie last night. She's helped me see things in a new light, and the reason that I--that we--called you here is so that you can help me make this decision. I'm not sure that I can trust myself when it comes to seeing the logic. I want to lead with my heart, anger, and grief. I think I can say now that, if I do that, then the outcome might not be favorable."

  "That makes sense. Hard to be objective with the target when you're seeing your pain. Pain that he's responsible for," Axel grumbles.

  "So tell us what you have," Beck stresses.

  Greg and Maddox remain silent, their eyes hard. It's hard for me to judge what's going through their heads. I know that each of these men had a different relationship with Coop. Beck's and Greg's were arguably the closest. I think Maddox and Coop had shared a bond as well. Hell, judging by the fury that is coming off of him in waves, my guess is that he was closer to Coop than any of us know.