Page 114 of Elite Metal: Warriors

Something sizzled in Cooper’s gut. The man’s demeanor was far too possessive.

Was this her lover? Her husband?

He hated either thought.

She laughed, capturing his attention again. “Gregor, stop scowling.”

“I am not scowling.” Great. Another Russian.

“You are too.” Why she laughed, Coop had no idea.

Apparently, neither did Gregor, who turned his scathing glare on her. “You risked your life for this man.”

She sniffed. “I was never in danger.”

“Even when they were shooting at you?”

“Bah. That was nothing.” She patted his hand. “You were far more savage with me during training.”

Training? Coop ran an assessing eye over the old man. Not a lover then. Her boss?

Nat sighed and answered the question humming in his mind. “This is Colonel Gregor Kalinski—”

“No longer a Colonel, dorogaya.”

“Commander of the Elitnyye Voiny.”

Cooper stared at her. How was that for a coincidence? “You are Elitnyye Voiny?” He’d heard of the highly-trained unofficial Russian force. In fact, they were much like his team, working in the shadows to right heinous wrongs. That explained her skills. How she could have taken out Ming Kow’s hit men by her lonesome…while he lay tied and helpless on a slab.

“Natalia is one of my best,” Gregor said, and while his tone held an element of pride, there also seemed to be a warning in there as well.

“I thank you both for your assistance,” he said, because it needed saying.

Gregor snorted.

Cooper ignored him. “How did you know I was in trouble?” he asked Nat.

“I happened to be in Ming Kow’s office when he got the call about a break-in. I figured it had to be you.”

“Why did you figure that?”

“No one else could be so bold.” Before he could preen, she added, “Or so foolish.” Natalia sighed and leaned back against the plush leather of the seat, and at the same moment, Cooper realized he was bleeding all over the expensive interior. He wiped his wrist on his pants and winced at the movement.

Gregor frowned again—he was very good at it, probably from so much practice—then he pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to Cooper. It was hardly sufficient, but it was something, and he proceeded to blot up as much of the blood as he could.

“It looks like Bruno really worked you over,” Natalia said. There was almost a hint of sympathy in her voice.

“I’ve had worse.” He had. Not by much, but he had. It was the ribs that would take longest to heal. Cooper was pretty sure Bruno’s steel-toed boots had shattered at least one of them. There were contusions on his abdomen and his kidney hurt like a bastard. And that didn’t even account for the damage they’d done to his face. He probably looked like hell.

“Vasili has medical training,” Gregor muttered, clearly against his will. “He’ll give you the once-over at our safe house, and then you can go home.”

“Home?” Funny how it was such a foreign word. He had no home and never had. The closest he came was the Elite compound in Texas but he didn’t know how long he’d stay after they finished their mission of stopping Red Wolf. Wasn’t sure who or what he’d be without that. The driver took a corner a little too sharply and he groaned as every muscle howled.

“You cannot stay here,” Gregor said.

“I have a mission—”

“Your cover is blown.”