Chapter Fifteen
Liam stared forlornly after Cora. He didn’t think she would take this so hard, him not telling her that they were there. But then he hadn’t expected her to be on the roof of Hound’s house firing at Alejandro’s men. He had just been trying to protect her. If she had known they were there, she would have been looking for him, and might have given a clue to the enemy where theyhad been lying in wait. He had seen two sets of flashes on the roof but figured one of them had been Bulldog’s teammates. Why had they let her on the roof? He couldn’t say women didn’t belong in battle. He had seen plenty of women soldiers, but they hadn’t been Cora. When the roof exploded from the RPG, he feared for the two people on the roof. He didn’t want to have to explain to Bulldog’s basecommander than he got Delta Force members killed due to a personal mission.
“You messed up bad,Tonto,” Oreo told him as Doc helped him up. It wasn’t the first time Liam had been called a fool.
“Why did you let her on the roof?” Liam snapped giving into his anger. It was a better emotion than grief right now. He would deal with Cora after he saw to Oreo. She needed time to cool and see reason.Right now, her adrenaline was running and she wouldn’t listen to anything he had to say. Because he had to wait he was giving into his anger and Oreo made for an easy target.
“Like any of us could stop her? We couldn’t very well tell her no, that you and your team were waiting out in the trees and we had it. She saved lives, Liam. You can’t deny that.” Oreo told him calmly. If Liam was hopingfor a fight it wasn’t going to be with him.
He couldn’t deny it. She had been incredible. He watched from the trees the shooter had perfect accuracy. Because he thought it was a fellow Delta he hadn’t thought much of it. Now that he knew that it had been Cora, he was floored. He knew her parents had taught her to shoot but once she started her own company, she didn’t have time to shoot anymore.He thought she forgot all about the skill. The lessons had obviously paid off. He should apologize to her. She had risked her life to protect them. He owed her his thanks, not a reprimand. “Thank you for keeping her safe.” His anger gone as quickly as it came. If not for Oreo, Cora may not have fared as well as she had.
Ortiz inclined his head. None of them were good at saying thank you. Theywere all brothers. And brothers watched each other’s backs there were no thanks required. “Is it really over?”
“I hope so. We cleared everyone out. The team is sweeping through the bodies hoping to ID Alejandro. Only then will we know that it’s truly over.” Cut off the head of the snake, and the body dies. If Alejandro was still alive, this thing was far from over.
“Well then what are we waitingfor? Let’s get this over with.” Ortiz stood up and grabbed his rifle. He winced at the pull on his shoulder and just switched hands. He started to reach into his pocket and started cursing in Spanish.
“What now?” Doc asked him, concerned there might be another wound he had missed.
“I can’t reach my Oreos without pulling on my shoulder. Those bastards are going to pay for that.” He mutteredbefore heading downstairs.
“Crazy bastard,” Doc said, feeling bad if any of Alejandro’s men were still alive because they wouldn’t be for long. Few things upset Oreo and keeping him from his cookies was one of them. Doc had never seen the aftermath before but had heard about it.
“At least he’s on our side and stationed at another base.” Liam pointed out. Lucky Fort Sam.
“Good point. Talkto Cora.”
He planned to. After he helped look for Alejandro’s body. “I will.”
“Now,” Doc told him pointedly then walked away. With no other recourse, Liam headed down the hall that Cora had gone down. He was not looking forward to this conversation at all.
~
Liam found Cora’s room easily. She had been muttering to herself rather loudly, and throwing things around. Even a rookie trackercould find her. She had worked herself up into a pretty good fit. He had no doubt there was about to be a lot of yelling. Cora was a passionate person in love or anger, and she had no problem telling you how she felt. What he hadn’t been expecting was to see her packing. She had told Doc and Oreo she was leaving but he hadn’t thought she was serious about leaving this very second. He knew shewould miss home, but he didn’t think she would be ready to go the second that the fighting was over. He was exhausted from their latest mission, and they had come straight here after they had debriefed. He hadn’t slept in two days. Not that he couldn’t function on less but still. As soon as they arrived, they had snuck onto Hound’s property and waited for Alejandro’s men to advance. He had beenhoping once the fight was over he could get a shower, maybe make love to Cora, and pass out for a few hours, before he took her home. He knew she would be angry at him for keeping his arrival a secret, but he didn’t think that she would be angry enough to try and run back home the first second, she could. This wouldn’t do at all.
“Cora,” he said as he walked into the room and closed the door.No point in having an audience for this.
Cora stiffened when she heard him but kept packing and ignored him. That wouldn’t do. Liam closed the distance between them and turned her around to face him. He expected to see tears in her eyes at his earlier outburst, but she just stared at him in, the only word that came to mind was hatred. She couldn’t hate him for what he had done. “Cora, talkto me.” He couldn’t lose her. Not now. Not after she learned about his family and accepted it. He couldn’t lose her again. He’d never survive it.
“I’m leaving.” Never had two words devastated him more. It was like being hit in the chest by an onslaught of bullets. The first time she said it five months ago he accepted it, but now it crushed him. What was worst being that she had said it so calmly.There was no anger in her tone just acceptance.
“No, not like this. We can talk.” He said frantically trying to think of all the reasons for her to stay with him. They couldn’t break up over something so simple.
Cora shook her head at him. “There’s nothing to talk about. I thought we were past the secrets, Liam. I learned about your family, and I understood why you kept it from me but this?It just goes to show me that there will always be secrets between us and not those that just concern your missions. I get you can’t tell me about those. But the fact I was left out of not knowing you were back? I could have killed you on that roof, and I wouldn’t have known you were there until too late.”
“I told you why I kept that from you.”
“And what about the next time? You’ll always keepsomething from me for my protection. I can’t do that. I won’t. I’m going home, and I don’t ever want to see you again.” Cora choked on her words in the end and had to turn away from him. Liam wanted to pull her into his arms but knew she would reject his comfort. Her mind was made up. When she made her mind up about something nothing could sway her. The best thing he could do was retreat and formulatea plan.
Liam stepped away. “Don’t think for a moment this is over. I told you when we made love. You are mine and I’m never letting you go. Just remember that.” With saying his peace Liam left and rejoined his men to look for Alejandro.
His teammates shook their heads at him, but remained silent, which he was grateful for. Right now, he was too raw and emotional to handle his teammates rippinginto him. After a thorough search, there was no sign of Alejandro. This didn’t bode well for them. Liam worried that he wasn’t there. Which meant this wasn’t over yet. But, where was he? Had he been in hiding while his men fought? Wouldn’t surprise him. Alejandro seemed the type to allow others to fight his battles for him.
“Anything?” he asked Midas.
“Nothing, I don’t think he was here.Hound, can you pick anything up?”
“No, there are tire tracks off to the left of the property, but I don’t know if it’s from him. All I can tell you for sure, is that he’s not here.”
