So Far Gone in You(Primal Heat 2)(43)

He slid his finger over the cool glass, uncaring that he was answering Syn’s phone. Syn didn’t stop him. “Hello?”

The other side was silent for a moment, and then Coop said in a low and gravely tone, “I’m coming home, baby.”

That was the final straw, and the floodgates opened. Olin sat there and wept as he clung to the phone as though it was a lifeline between him and Coop. He was crying so hard that he couldn’t speak. He handed the phone to Syn.

Dane walked into the kitchen just then, appearing as if he was still sleepy. He blinked, gazed at Olin, and then hurried over, wrapping his arms around Olin in a tight hug.

Olin didn’t stop him.

Syn took the phone from Olin. “Hello?” He paused. “No, he’s fine. It’s just been very stressful for him.” Syn listened and then said, “You know I’ll guard him with my life.”



* * * *



Coop set Talyn’s phone aside. Hans had taken off, and the other men had given chase. He’d stayed behind with Karidon and Quad.

“Put these on.” Quad tossed Coop his pajama pants. “I’ll carry Karidon outside.”

“No.” Coop grabbed the pants and slid them on. It felt damn good to have his body covered again, even if it was just a thin pair of pants. “I got him.”

“You’re barely standing,” Quad pointed out. “Do you want to explain to Karidon why you dropped him?”

As much as it pained Coop to admit his weakness, Quad was right. He still didn’t feel fully himself. He stepped aside and allowed Quad to pick Karidon off the floor. His best friend groaned, his long hair nearly touching the ground as the two walked toward the large open bay door.

“Shit,” Coop said as he stopped and glanced behind him. “I left Talyn’s phone.” He turned back toward Quad. “Get Karidon to the car. I’ll be right behind you.”

“All right, but don’t take too long.” Quad glanced around the old building. “Hans is still on the loose.”

“He’s probably long gone by now,” Coop said. “He’s strong, but I doubt he can take on all of Talyn’s Enforcers and win.”

“Not all of them,” Quad reminded him.

“Still, there are eight men and the alpha hunting for him. He doesn’t stand a chance if they catch up to him. He’d be a damn fool to linger.”

“He’s insane, Coop. He put a contract on your head and Karidon’s. There’s no telling how deep his crazy well goes.”

“Stop jabbering and get him to the car. I’ll just be a sec.”

Quad nodded and walked out as Coop went back for the phone. His back was killing him. That metal frame hadn’t been easy on his body, but he refused to slow down. Karidon needed help, and Coop was anxious to get back to Olin. They’d been bonded only a few hours, and Coop’s leopard was going batty being separated from his little wildcat.

He was a bit slow-moving, but Coop retrieved the phone. He grabbed it from the ground and then straightened and turned.

Hans stood right there, a sardonic smile on his face. “I’ve been waiting to pay you back for almost killing me, Coop.”

Coop glanced around but didn’t see any of the Enforcers. He was on his own. He let his arm fall to the side and then slid his finger over the call button. Coop turned as if he were running away so he could look at the contacts and dial Zach.

“I knew you were a damn coward.”

Hans grabbed Coop and spun him around, throwing a left hook at Coop. He dodged it, but the guy followed up with a kick to Coop’s injured gut. The air came out in a whoosh as he flew backward and then skidded across the floor.

A sharp pain exploded in his stomach, and he scented blood. His wound had reopened. Hans stalked toward him, his face a mask of rage.

“I’m going to finish what you started,” Hans spat at him. “When I’m done, your own mother won’t recognize you.”

“It’s a good thing we have plenty of space in this open main floor,” Coop said with the phone close-by and then dropped it in favor of picking up a pipe lying next to him. He jumped to his feet and swayed, pipe in hand.

He was not at his best and had a feeling that the Imperial Guard was about to wipe the floor with him. Hopefully Zach had heard him, and the Enforcers were on their way back here.

Coop gripped the pipe tightly with both hands and swung. The pain in his back intensified, as did the wound in his gut. He gritted his teeth in order not to succumb to the agony as the pipe connected with Hans’s raised arm.

Hans used that moment to kick Coop in the gut again. Okay, maybe he could live without a few of his organs because Hans was abusing the shit out of them.