SEALs of Honor: Cooper (24 page)
“Now stop there.”
“Shit.”
He froze and glanced around. Six feet to the railing. A hundred feet to the water. He’d take the chance but with Sasha?
A single shot fired. Sasha’s knees buckled. “My leg,” she cried out.
Decision made.
He caught Sasha up in his arms and in two steps he sprung up and soared over the railing.
Shots spat around him. He felt one tug his shoulder. He cradled Sasha close.
And they fell down.
Sasha whimpered and clung to him. The landing was going to hurt. He wrapped his arms around her tight. Pinning her against her chest.
With his other hand he held her neck and said, “Hold on.”
He took a deep breath and sealed her lips with his own.
And they hit the water…hard.
S
asha felt the
hard force of the water try to separate them as they slammed into it, but Cooper held her against him so tight she never felt any pain. They sank for a long moment then he kicked up hard and they started moving to the surface. His mouth still on hers. Several more hard kicks and they broke the surface. She gasped for air. The shock of what just happened argued with the shock of the cold water.
“You okay?”
“Yeah,” she said crying, blinking to clear her vision. “I’m okay.”
“Just hold tight,” he whispered as he struck out strong. “The Coast Guard boat is close by.”
“Oh thank God.”
He swam strong and she kicked every time he did. It hurt but it felt good. She couldn’t believe this had just happened. “What about Theresa?”
“The men will look after her.”
She kissed his cheek, the water splashing up between them. “Thank you for saving me.”
“Really?” He chuckled and snuggled her in his arms. “I threw you off the ship.”
“No, you didn’t. You carried me off. Different story.”
He laughed. “Any way you like to think of it.”
“There is the Coast Guard.”
She twisted and looked. “Good thing. I’m getting cold.”
“Shock,” he said striking out again.
“Yes, doc,” she said.
He grinned. “You are very cheeky considering that you just got shot.”
“Hopefully just a graze,” she whispered. “Besides I had a guardian angel who could fly.” She smiled and wrapped her arms tighter around his neck. “Starting to feel a little woozy.”
“Hold on. Don’t give in just yet.”
*
He reached the
boat to find several men reaching down for him. They had Sasha up on the deck and wrapped in blankets before he made it onboard.
Safe finally, he stood and stretched. He accepted a blanket and wrapped it around his shoulders. There was a commotion above. He turned.
The bullet hit him square in the belly.
He was lifted up off his feet and slammed back down on his back.
Where he stared at the sky.
“Cooper!”
He could hear Sasha cry out. One of the Coast Guard men bent over him.
He could hear voices, could see faces. But there was ice in his veins. His blood pumped out across his abdomen, dripping down his side.
Then pressure. So much damn pressure.
S
everal shots slammed
into the side of the boat. Everyone scattered.
Sasha ignored them as she worked frantically on Cooper. The blood was welling on his lower abdomen. “Get me a helicopter,” she screamed at the men undercover.
“Ten minutes out.”
She nodded. “Good.”
She worked to stabilize Cooper, but the bleeding was heavy. She used part of her shirt to fold up a wad of dressing, and using his knife, she cut away his shirt and tied the pad around him. The Coast Guard vessel would have a medical kit on board but with the bullets pinning them in place no one was moving. His heartbeat was strong. But his color was poor. His temperature, low.
“Cooper, you stay with me,” she cried.
“Sasha?” he whispered.
“I’m here. Save your strength,” she whispered, leaning over him. “We’ve got a helicopter coming for you.”
“Only if you come with me.”
“I’m fine,” she cried. “It’s you.”
“I’m fine.” But his voice was fading. “I didn’t go through everything I did to lose you now.”
“You haven’t lost me!” She leaned over and placed her lips against his. “Never.”
“Are you sure?”
“Jesus, Cooper. You know I love you.”
“No.” He squeezed her hand. “I didn’t know that. But I’d hoped.”
And he fell silent. His head rolling to the side.
Shit,
shit.
She lifted the dressing, but the hole was small and nasty. They needed to get that darn bullet out. She was more worried about what damage it might have caused inside. She studied the sky. Where was the damn helicopter? Finally she heard the whup whup as it spun closer, the noise loud in the sudden silence. The gunfire above had stopped. Good. Maybe this was over now.
“It could land up top, couldn’t it?” But then she’d have to move him up the ladder, and she didn’t want to do that if not necessary. Not anymore than was necessary.
The Coast Guard brought a stretcher to her side. It was amazing to see how efficient the professionals worked to transport him. Without ceremony Cooper was transferred to the helicopter. She watched in amazement as he was whisked away.
“Not to worry.” Mason spoke at her shoulder as he helped her to sit down. “Cooper is strong. He’ll be fine.”
She knew all too well that even the simplest of wounds could be the downfall of the strongest of men.
In Cooper’s case, his injury wasn’t even close to being simple.
*
Cooper opened his
eyes to a room that he’d seen too much of already. He was in the hospital. Again.
Shit
.
Anger and disbelief overwhelmed him. He didn’t want to be here. He didn’t want anything to do with being injured.
“How are you feeling?”
He smiled, his gaze following Sasha’s voice. Inside he relaxed. It was her. She lay stretched out on the bed beside him. “You’re supposed to be in the hospital,” he snapped. “You were shot in the leg, weren’t you?”
“Just a graze. Besides I’m in the hospital,” she said with a smirk. “And as I’m in bed I’m resting too.”
“But you’re in my bed.”
She leaned forward, heat in her gaze. “You don’t want me in your bed?”
“Ha, it’s all I can think about,” he said, feeling his insides ease as he realized they were both going to be fine and that she really was there with him.
“Well, you’re not
that
badly injured,” she whispered, dropping kisses on his temple, her fingers trailing across his chest.
“Really?” he asked in delight.
“Nope. You’ll be down for a few weeks at the most.”
Relief overwhelmed him.
“Then maybe that’s too bad,” he whispered, tumbling her into his arms. “I’d love to spend a few weeks in bed with you.”
“You should be so lucky.”
“Oh I plan to get lucky – often.”
She laughed and kissed him. “Sounds good to me. Maybe I’ll keep you after all.”
“You’ll keep me?” His grin split across his face at her wording. “You know, that’s a great idea.”
“You think so?” She studied him suspiciously. “Why is that?”
“Because I always aspired to be part of The Keepers.” He took a moment to explain how the group of SEALs earned the nickname.
She blinked at him in surprise then understood. Her laughter peeled out, filling the room with sunshine. “You are now a bona fide member.”
He tugged her down and kissed her.
And knew he was the luckiest man in the world.
This concludes Book 6 of SEALs of Honor: Shadow.
Shadow: SEALs of Honor, Book 5
Cooper: SEALs of Honor, Book 6
Markus: SEALs of Honor, Book 7
Brett: SEALs of Honor, Book 10
Thank you for reading Cooper: SEALs of Honor, Book 6! If you enjoyed the book, please take a moment and leave a short review
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