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 they had 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 base commander 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 hoping for 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. They were 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 waiting for? 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 muttered before 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. Talk to 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 tracker could 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 she would 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 been hoping 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, talk to 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 keep something 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 formulate a 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 ripping into 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.”
“We have to get back to base.” Bulldog informed them. “Thank you for letting us in at least this mission, even if we didn’t get our bad guy. Still had fun.”
“Thank you for your assistance. I told you before, I didn’t have a lot of warning before we found the informant.”
“I just have to give you shit, Midas. Relax.” Bulldog gave him what he would assume was a grin and walked off to rejoin his team.
“Cora and Hannah are welcome to stay if needed.” Hound informed Ben and Liam. “With Alejandro still on the lose it may not be safe for the women to leave.”
“I agree,” Midas clapped Hound on the back. “Hannah won’t mind. I’d like to get some shut-eye before we have to head out anyway.”
“And Cora, will she be staying?” Hound asked Liam.
He opened his mouth to tell him she’d stay when the woman in question walked out on the porch with her bag in hand. He was going to have a hell of a time convincing her now.
“What’s she doing?” Hound asked confused.
Liam ignored them and ran up to Cora. Cora kept her features neutral and tried to ignore him. “I need a ride back to my house since Liam drove me here. Can one of you take me?” The men remained silent and looked around nervously. They didn’t want Cora leaving with Alejandro still on the loose, and no one wanted to be the focus of her ire when they told her no.
Cora looked at each man, but no one would look her in the eye. “Fine, Charlie you look like you are set to leave. Can I get a ride from you?”
Bulldog looked between Cora and Liam. “We’re not headed in the same direction, Cora. Sorry. Maybe you should stay here the night. Let these guys catch up on some sleep, and you can head out then. They just got off a mission and raced here to keep you safe. They need some shut-eye. One more night here won’t kill you.” Leave it to Bulldog to be blunt. The fact was they would pass her house to leave but Bulldog knew the dangers with Alejandro still on the loose and wanted her to stay there.
If he thought his word would appease her however he was far from right. “Very well, I will call a cab.” Cora started pulling her phone out of her back pocket. Liam realized she wouldn’t give up her quest to leave.
“That won’t be necessary. I’ll take you home.”
“No thank you.” Her words clipped.
“Cora, why are you so determined to leave?” Hannah asked as she came outside. It was the first Cora had seen her since sending her down into the computer room. Cora’s stiff posture dropped at hearing Hannah, but she didn’t turn to look at her.
“I’m just ready to go home.”
“As I’m sure the guys are too. They did just get back from a mission and fought all of Alejandro’s men. I’m sure they are exhausted and could use some rest before having to travel back to town.”
Cora looked down at her feet guiltily. Charlie had just said the same thing but hearing it from another woman had apparently done the trick. She had been so focused on leaving she hadn’t thought of anyone else until now. She knew they all had to be tired after fighting and Liam and his team just getting back. She could survive one more day here. She would just have to make sure that Liam kept his distance from her. “You’re right. I’ve just never been gone from home so long. I’m just eager to get back. I can leave in the morning.” Cora spun around and raced back up the stairs to her room.
Hannah glared at Liam before racing inside after Cora.
“Well on that note, good to see ya’ll. Until next time.” Bulldog said and ushered his team into a van parked off to the side of the house and drove away.
“What was that all about?” Mike, “Tiny”, asked Liam.
“She’s leaving me.” Or she at least thought she was. He was tired of being passive in their relationship. He was a take charge kind of guy in the military he should be at home as well. His heart ached at the long road ahead of her forgiveness. He wanted Cora. He loved her. It took him a long time to realize it, and now that he had he didn’t want to lose her but how could he assure her that some secrets were required between them? If he didn’t he was facing a long life of them breaking up and getting back together.
“And you’re just going to stand there while it happens?” Mike looked at him irate.
“What do you want me to do? Cora wants to leave, so I’m letting her leave.” He tried to persuade her, and she wouldn’t listen. He would give her some time and try again. It worked in the past, it would work again.
“Idiot,” Tiny mumbled before stomping into the house.
“Tiny’s right,” Midas told him.
“I don’t want to hear it from you. You were willing to leave Hannah in Oregon.”
Midas looked towards the house. “Because I love her. But I didn’t want to leave her, and she had been without her family for over a year and a half. She needed that connection again. Cora is hurting right now. You kept things from her, and it doesn’t make her feel important to you. You have to tell her how you feel.”
He should tell her before it was too late. He lost her once, and he never recovered. Losing her again was unacceptable. He would talk to her tomorrow. Everyone was right in saying he didn’t do well with arguing. He always chose to walk away. In this case he needed sleep before he talked to Cora. As tired as he was and an angry as she was someone was bound to say something they couldn’t take back. She wasn’t leaving until tomorrow. He had plenty of time to come up with an all-out war to get his woman back. Failure wasn’t an option.