The middle of hell was no place for hope.
“Hey.” Coop caught my chin, tilting my face up to his. “We’re going to get through this.”
“I want to help.” The words came out before I could second-guess them. “I can’t just sit here being scared. Tell me what I can do.”
He studied me for a moment, concern clear in his eyes. “Mia, you don’t have to?—”
“Yes, I do. I promise I won’t have another breakdown. Please. I need to feel useful.”
He brushed his thumbs across my cheeks. “You are useful, and your breakdown wasn’t unreasonable after what you’ve been through.”
“Look. I’m here, there’s no way around that. We might as well put me to any good use we can.” I gripped his wrists, squeezing gently. “Please. Let me help you.”
He was quiet for a long moment, clearly torn between protecting me and recognizing my need for agency. “The Gathering tomorrow. Oliver’s got something planned beyond just showing off weapons to buyers.”
I suppressed a shudder, remembering Oliver’s pale eyes cataloging me like inventory. “Something’s off about the whole thing.”
“Yeah. And unfortunately, we won’t know what it is until it happens.” He moved closer, his voice dropping even though the cameras were still disabled. “I need to document who shows up. These buyers—they’ll be careful, probably using aliases, avoiding photographs.”
“I could help with that.” The idea formed as I spoke. “My background—photography, design—I’m trained to notice faces. Details. The way light hits different bone structures, unique proportions. I could memorize them, help identify them later for authorities.”
Understanding crossed his face, followed by admiration. “That’s… Mia, that’s brilliant. But it could be dangerous if they notice you watching?—”
“They won’t. I’ll be the scared toy, keeping her eyes down. But I’ll be studying them. Especially anyone you point out.”
I moved away from him, sitting down on the bed to put on my socks and shoes, thinking about how best to do this. How best to categorize the buyers in my mind so I’d remember the most details.
For the first time since this nightmare started, I felt like more than a victim. I had a role to play, a contribution to make that could help bring down Oliver’s entire operation.
I found Coop staring at me, his expression soft with something that looked like wonder.
“What?” I asked.
“You.” He shook his head slowly, like he couldn’t quite believe what he was seeing. “Do you have any idea how incredible you are?”
My face flushed hot. “Coop?—”
“No, I mean it. Most people would have shattered by now. Hell, most trained operatives would be struggling with what you’ve been through. But look at you—not just surviving but finding ways to fight back. To turn this around on them.” He cupped my face again, thumb tracing my cheekbone. “You’re a warrior, Mia. You just don’t know it yet.”
Warrior.
Like I was one of them, one of his brothers who’d survived the unsurvivable.
I stood and kissed him, unable to find words for what his faith in me meant. The kiss was softer than before, less desperate but somehow more meaningful. A promise. A partnership. An acknowledgment that whatever came next, we’d face it together.
When we broke apart, his eyes held that same fierce determination I’d seen earlier. We both knew what we had to do.
Coop moved through the cabin with quiet efficiency, replacing the cameras he’d removed last night. I watched silently as he positioned each one back exactly where they’d originally been. His jaw was tight with disgust as he handled each device, these electronic eyes that would soon be watching us again.
The morning light slanted through the windows differently now, harsh instead of golden. But something fundamental had shifted.Ihad shifted. I wasn’t just the traumatized woman trying to survive anymore. I had a purpose. A plan. A partner who saw me as a warrior.
Coop took my hand, squeezing it once before letting go. We couldn’t afford obvious displays of real affection now, not with Oliver back, not with whatever twisted plans he had for the Gathering approaching.
But that single squeeze said everything. We were in this together. We would survive this together.
“Ready?” he asked.
I thought about Garnet Bend. About therapy animals and mountain views, about second chances and the family of broken warriors Coop had found. About the future we might have if we could survive.
