Page 115 of Elite Metal: Warriors

“I have to take Ming Kow into custody.” And destroy his business.

Gregor snorted a laugh. “Good luck with that. He is on to you now. You won’t get close.”

“I have to.”

“You are crazy,” Natalia said.

“Maybe.” Coop fingered the medallion that might hold the key to shutting down Ming Kow’s business forever.

“It hardly matters if he is crazy or not,” Gregor said. “You’ve taken enough of a risk helping him. You are going back to Russia with me and you—” He prodded Cooper in the chest with a thick finger. “You, we will patch you up and send on your way.” His tone made it clear there would be no discussion. Natalia pressed her lips together, crossed her arms and stared out the window.

And that, Cooper surmised, was that.

But damn, he didn’t want this to be over. At least, not the being with her part.

Somehow, after all this, with all the pain he was in, he still wanted her.

It was a shame it was pretty clear Gregor wouldn’t let him get close.

* * *

The safe house was a rental villa in a modest residential area of the island, a neighborhood frequented by tourists where the comings and goings of strangers would not be noticed. Cooper appreciated the privacy afforded by the foliage as Gregor and his driver helped him to the house. His muscles had started seizing up and each step was painful.

Naturally, he tried very hard not to let it show. Not that he was posturing for Natalia, but he didn’t want her to see him as weak.

However, when they led him into a back room with a cot, he nearly collapsed. It was a mercy to stop moving and close his eyes.

“We will collect the medical supplies,” Gregor said, and he and Vasili left the room.

Cooper knew she was still there. He could feel her presence. He forced open a lid to find her standing by the window.

“How bad is it?” she asked.

“Anxious to get rid of me?” Surely there was no bitterness in his voice.

“If I were that anxious to get rid of you, I would have let you die.”

Well, there was that.

“I am glad you didn’t.”

She was silent for a moment, and then she sighed. “So am I.”

A flicker of hope, of lust perhaps, flared in his chest. He struggled into a sitting position. “What are you saying, Natalia?” he asked in what he hoped was a seductive voice.

She huffed a laugh. “Are you serious? Are you coming on to me? In your condition?” She waved at his person.

“Many of my parts are still working,” he told her.

“I’ll bet they are.” Her gaze locked onto his crotch and one part in particular responded. He was nearly demoralized when she laughed again. Then she pushed against his chest until he fell on the bed.

“Are you saying you’re not interested?” There was hardly a pout at all.

“Not in the least.” She leaned forward and her perfume washed over him, making him lightheaded. “I just prefer my lovers not cringe in pain while I am fucking them.”

Ooh. She thought of him as a lover? That was heartening.

Perhaps—