Ultimate Risk (R.I.S.C. Book 6)

by Anna Blakely

  A different kind of panic began to set in, but then Coop stopped. Slowly, he turned and came back to her.

  He didn’t smile. Didn’t try to pull his usual charm. He looked torn, and it killed her that she was the reason.

  “Fair enough.” His deep voice vibrated through her. “You were scared, and my timing was shit. I get that.”

  Mac blew out a breath and smiled. She opened her mouth to say something, but Coop started talking again.

  “I just need you to answer one question.”

  One question? Seems easy enough.

  Of course, nothing between them had been easy up to this point. Still, she had no choice but to take the bait.

  “Ok, shoot.”

  “Why?”

  His voice was still low and serious, but there was the slightest bit of light in his eyes when he finally looked at her again, and he sounded almost...hopeful?

  “What do you mean, why?”

  “Earlier today, you made it pretty clear you weren’t ready for marriage. At least not with me.”

  “Coop. That’s not how it was, and you know it.”

  “It is.” His gaze never left hers. “I laid it all out. Told you all the reasons this makes sense, despite all the rest of it, and you still said it wouldn’t work.”

  The more he talked, the angrier he got.

  “So yes, Mac. That’s exactly how it is. Except all of a sudden, you’re here telling me I should ask you to marry me again. All I want to know is why.” He took a step closer. “Why are you doing this? Why would you ask me to go through that again? Would seeing me humiliate myself for the second time today make you feel better about yourself? ’Cause I’ve got to hand it to you, Mac. You did a damn good job the first time. Not sure a sequel could top it.”

  Stunned, Mac realized she had her own why to ask him. Like why the hell was he making this so hard?

  Couldn’t he see she was already beating herself up over the way she’d reacted to his proposal? Yes, she screwed up before, but damn it, she was trying to make things right.

  And he was fighting her every step of the way.

  Her own insecurities and frustration began to take over, along with the barrage of emotions from everything else she’d been going through.

  Mac threw her arms out to her sides and let her fury fly.

  “No, you stubborn ass! I’m not looking to humiliate you. I’m standing here telling you to ask me again! Does it really even matter why?”

  A flash of hurt crossed over him, the spark in his eyes dimming as it passed. He shook it off, the look of resignation tearing a hole through the center of her soul.

  Coop cleared his throat, and for the second time that day, he pulled the damn rug right out from under her.

  “You should know I’m leaving town for a while. I’m not sure how long I’ll be gone, but Mike’s coming back to see his new niece, so Jake’s going to try to talk him into taking my place while I’m gone.”

  Screw the rug. The whole freaking ground felt like it was caving in.

  Shock from what he'd just said nearly knocked her on her ass.

  “Y-you're leaving the team?”

  He’s leaving me?

  “Jake’s looking to expand R.I.S.C. to other parts of the country. He’s got some possible recruits in Chicago and on the east coast he wants scouted out. Trevor needs to stay here to run things while Jake’s home with Liv and the baby, so he asked if I'd be interested. With the case on Doyle pretty much wrapped up, we’re free and clear to go back to business as usual, and Mike’s more than qualified to partner up with you.”

  “I don’t want Olivia’s brother as my partner. I already have a partner.”

  Acting as though she hadn’t spoken, Coop said, “Plus, it's not like there's anything for me here, so…”

  Her brows dropped. “What the hell is that supposed to mean? Of course there’s something here for you. I’m here!” Mac’s desperation grew.

  “Right. As my partner.”

  “We’re more than that, and you know it.” Fearful she’d lost her chance with him, she tried to understand what he was asking of her. “I meant what I said, Sean. What more do you want me to—”

  He reached up, halting her words as he cupped her cheek with his strong hand. Hazel eyes bore deep into hers, and even though he was the one deciding this for the both of them, he looked utterly heartbroken.

  “The why matters, McKenna.” Coop leaned down and kissed her forehead, his lips lingering against her furrowed skin there a little longer than normal. He pulled away with a sad smile, his eyes shining with unshed tears when he whispered, “It’s the only thing that matters.”

  Without another word, he stepped around her, got into his truck, and drove away.

  Alone in the quiet parking lot, Mac stood there, ignoring the tears rolling down her cheeks and feeling like she’d lost the most important thing in her entire world.

  13

  “You sure you want to do this? I gotta say, it kind of surprised me when you jumped at the chance to leave town the way you did.”

  Coop kept one hand on the wheel while he used the other to hold his phone to his ear. Jake had called him after he left without waiting for Derek to escort him home. Wanted to make sure everything was okay.

  It was about as far from fucking okay as they could get.

  “Not really sure of anything, anymore, Jake. Other than I know I can’t be here right now.”

  Jake’s voice softened. “Have some patience with Mac, Sean. She’s been through a lot, lately.”

  The hell? “Boss?”

  “Trevor filled me in. Not on everything, of course, because he doesn’t know everything. Only that you and Mac had gotten…closer recently, but something happened. He didn’t know what, and I’m not asking. All I’m saying is, give this assignment some thought before you go all-in. You have until Monday to decide. Who knows? Maybe Mac will have come around by then, and you won’t want to leave.”

  She had come around. That was the problem. He couldn’t quit seeing the excitement in her face as she’d come running across that damn parking lot. When she’d told him to ask her to marry him again, part of him had wanted to jump for joy. The other part needed to hear her say the words.

  I love you.

  If she’d said those three little words, even once, he would’ve dropped to both his knees. But she hadn’t.

  Jake talked about time. He’d given her fucking time. This past week. The past seven years. And he was done waiting.

  On a loud exhale, Coop told his boss, “Send me the itinerary for the interviews. I’ll be at the airstrip Monday, packed and ready.”

  There was a long pause before Jake spoke again. “I had Derek put together files on all the men and women you’ll be looking at. I’ll have him send you those, as well, so you can use the flight to look them over. Get a feel for what they’re like before you meet with them.”

  “More teams.” Coop flipped on his turn signal. “You ever think R.I.S.C. would be this successful?”

  “Not at all.” Jake laughed into the phone. “Not at first, anyway. Hell, Mike and I were just two guys shooting the shit when we came up with the idea. Sitting on our asses, waiting for a bunch of pencil pushing politicians to decide our fate and that of those we’d been sent to rescue when the idea struck.”

  Coop couldn’t help but grin. “I’d say it was one hell of an idea.”

  “Yeah,” his boss agreed. “It was.”

  “How is Mike?”

  “Good. Olivia called him a little bit ago after everyone left. He’s catching the next flight out and will be here by morning.” A few seconds of silence passed. “I’ll be sure to send you those files, and Sean?”

  “Yeah?”

  “You’re a good operative. One of the best.”

  “Thanks, Boss.”

  “So is Mac.”

  Just hearing her name made Coop’s heart ache to the point he wanted to rub his chest. “Thanks.” Did that come out like more of
a question?

  “I can’t imagine Alpha Team running without you.”

  “But?”

  There was definitely one coming.

  Jake sighed again. “What I’m trying to say is, you decide you need a change, I’ll make it happen.”

  Coop’s gut began to churn. “You talking about a permanent change, boss? You want me to transfer to one of the new teams?”

  “Hell, no. All I’m saying is this is a chance to think about what you want out of life. About what makes you happy. Life’s too fucking short to settle for anything less.”

  I already know what would make me happy. That’s the problem.

  “Thanks, Jake. Talk to ya later.”

  “Travel safe.”

  Coop ended the call and tossed his phone onto the passenger seat. He stared at the road ahead, but all he could see was her face. All he heard was her voice.

  Ask me again, Sean.

  His fingers tightened around the leather steering wheel.

  What do you want from me?

  His knuckles turned white.

  Does the why really even matter?

  “Fuck!” Coop slammed one palm against the wheel so hard, the truck started to jerk sideways.

  With both hands back on the wheel, he regained control and forced himself to calm down. Getting in a wreck sure as hell wasn’t going to make things any better.

  Maybe a couple of weeks away will.

  Hopeful some time away would do him some good, Coop turned onto the road leading to his apartment complex. It was a new development, only a few years old, and on the outskirts of the city.

  Not too far from R.I.S.C.’s downtown office, but far enough away he could go outside without hearing a bunch of traffic or sirens. Coop liked it here because he was able to experience a tiny bit of the quiet he got while on the farm.

  Driving down the tree-lined road, he spotted a car off the side with its hood up and flashers blinking. A man was standing in front with his head buried beneath the raised hood.

  Keep driving.

  But even as he thought it, Coop lifted his foot off the gas pedal. It was late, and there was no one else around. He wanted nothing more than to go home, take a long, hot shower, and sleep this shitshow of a day off, but he couldn’t leave the poor guy stranded without at least offering to help.

  With half his mind still stuck on Mac and his crushed heart, Coop pulled his truck to a stop in front of the man’s car. Leaving it running, he got out and walked over to him.

  “Need a hand?”

  With a flashlight in one hand and what looked like maybe a phone in the other, the guy didn’t turn around. Still tinkering with whatever he was working on, he said, “That’d be great. Damn thing stopped running, but I can’t figure out why.”

  The man’s Texas accent was thicker than normal for this region, making Coop think he was probably passing through.

  “Let me take a look. I’m no mechanic, but I’ve worked on my fair share of cars.”

  “Thanks, man.” The guy scooted over to make room. “I really appreciate you stopping. I would’ve called for a tow, but my phone died a few miles back, and I left my charger at the hotel. I was going back to get it when this happened.”

  Using the flashlight on his phone to get a better look, Coop jiggled some of the hoses to check their connection. Nothing jumped out at him, so he looked a little deeper.

  “Sounds like you’re having about as good a day as I am,” he muttered to the other man.

  “One of those, huh?”

  With his head still down, Coop nodded. “You could say that.”

  “That sucks, man.” He moved a few feet away from him. “Especially since it’s about to get a lot worse.”

  It took a couple of seconds for the words to resonate in Coop’s pre-occupied mind, and that the last part of what he’d said came out without even a hint of a southern accent.

  It was two seconds too long.

  “What the—”

  Coop heard a loud crackling sound followed by two sudden, sharp jabs on the right side of his body—one just above his belt, the other in his right thigh.

  Excruciating pain radiated out from both points of contact. A powerful current began running upward, filling his torso, arms, and hands. Another shot down his legs and into his toes, causing his knees to buckle.

  He tried to howl out, but the strained muscles in his neck and throat refused to allow much more than a pathetic groan to escape.

  Ignoring the pain, he tried with all he had to fight the guy off. Unfortunately for him, the taser’s fifty-thousand volts kept his limbs frozen in place.

  Having lost all muscular control, Coop hit the ground with a loud thud. His muscles cramped and twitched, his fingers and toes tingling as the effects of the electrical current continued.

  The immediate pain slowly began to lessen, but his breathing was still labored as the man leaned over his prone body.

  “Why?” Coop barely managed to ask the question.

  The fucker leaned down over him. “Your girlfriend pissed off the wrong person. My boss wants the two million, and you’re gonna help him get it.”

  Mac!

  From his peripheral, he could see something in the guy’s hand as it came toward his head. As it got closer, Coop realized it was a syringe.

  He tried to move away, but his muscles were still too weak. A sharp prick hit the side of his neck, followed by a strange, cool sensation.

  “Nighty, night, buddy. Thanks for stopping to help.”

  “Fuck…you.”

  Coop’s words slurred across his thick tongue. He had no way of knowing what that syringe had been filled with. Whatever the drug, it was strong as fuck and had an almost immediate effect on his system.

  Through the dizzying haze, he thought of how this guy’s boss—whoever he was—was going to use him as bait to get to Mac. And he had no way to warn her.

  No matter what else was going on with them personally, Mac wouldn’t hesitate to sacrifice herself in order to save him. She’d already proven that.

  The thought was enough to break him.

  Floating in a thick, heavy daze, Coop fought against the darkness pulling him under. He needed to get to Mac.

  Have to warn her.

  He struggled to keep his eyes open, and it wasn’t long before Coop realized he wasn’t getting out of this one.

  As his heavy lids fell closed, his last thought was how he’d failed the woman he loved.

  I’m so sorry, baby.

  “McKenna!”

  Mac jumped. From her place in the passenger seat, she swung her gaze to the man behind the wheel.

  Looking back at her as if he were waiting for a response, she realized Trevor must have been trying to get her attention for a while. Plus, he hardly ever used her full name.

  That’s not your real name, which is what started this whole mess. Remember?

  Ignoring the tiny voice—even though it wasn’t wrong—she turned to face Trevor.

  “I’m sorry, what?”

  His kind eyes softened. “I said, we’re here.”

  Looking through the windshield, she realized they were parked in front of her apartment building.

  “Oh.” Mac gave him a chagrined smile. She felt badly for having zoned out the entire way here. “Sorry.”

  Using what she’d always thought of as his big-brother tone, Trevor said, “Look, Mac. Whatever went down between you and Coop is none of my business. But if you want to talk about it, I’m a pretty good listener.” One side of his lips curled upward. “At least, Lexi says I am.”

  “Thanks, Trev.” Mac forced a smile. “But I’m pretty sure I messed things up for good with him this time.”

  “How do you know?”

  Because he changed his mind about wanting to marry me.

  She took a deep breath. “It doesn’t matter. He’s leaving for Chicago on Monday, and apparently Olivia’s brother is going to be my new partner now.”

  “That’s only until
Coop gets back. It’s a temporary change. One Jake thought would help ease Mike back into the operative life. Don’t worry, though. Bradshaw’s solid. He just needed some time to adjust to being himself again, and not the cover he spent years portraying.”

  Mike Bradshaw had been on the same Delta Force team as Jake and Trevor, back in the day. Until he was pulled for a major, deep-cover job that ended up lasting ten years.

  “I know. I don’t have an issue with Mike.” She’d met the man a while back. He seemed like an all right guy.

  “So what’s the problem?”

  Remember, you’re trying to open up to your friends more.

  “I’m not sure Coop will still want to be my partner when he gets back.” Mac sat back against the seat and sighed. “I’m not sure of anything anymore.”

  “I know that feeling, Mac. Second-guessing yourself. Replaying every single decision you’ve made, wondering how you could’ve done things better. Wishing you could turn back the clock and make different choices.”

  She met his dark eyes. “You’re talking about the Delta op you were in charge of that went south.”

  “I made a decision and people lost their lives.”

  “But you didn’t have another choice, Trev.”

  “Neither did you.” He gave her his big brother look. “Not where running away and building a new life were concerned. Not in my eyes or Jake’s. As for Coop, I thought he’d already forgiven you for keeping your past a secret from him.”

  “He has.”

  “So try to forgive yourself.”

  Mac stared out the passenger window to keep her friend from seeing her welled tears. “I’ve made so many mistakes, Trevor.”

  Too many.

  “You were barely sixteen years old, Mac. You can’t blame yourself for making an impulsive decision when you were still a child.”

  “That impulsive decision put Coop’s life in danger.” She swiped angrily at the tears and faced him again. “That’s not even the issue anymore, anyway.”

  “So what is?”

  With a nervous lick of her lips, she looked over at her friend. “It’s…complicated.”

  Trevor smirked. “I’m a pretty smart guy.”

  She couldn’t tell him about Coop’s proposal. Not because she didn’t want to open herself up to him. Okay, well that wasn’t the only reason.