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.
