“You won’t win,” Hans said as he yanked the pipe from Coop’s grip and threw it away from them. It clattered loudly to the floor and rolled under some machine parts.
Coop threw his fists up and took a boxing stance. “I might not, but I’m not going down that easy.”
He jabbed and moved, his focus not on point. His injuries were fighting against him. When Hans moved in closer, Coop slammed his fist into the man’s jaw and then followed that up with a powerful slam to the man’s chest. He staggered backward from the momentum as Hans doubled over.
“My dad taught me a thing or two,” Coop said. “Now come on over here and take your ass whooping like a good little girl.”
Hans rushed him, and the two battled it out. Coop took too many blows, but he gave a few good ones himself. Unfortunately, they weren’t enough. Hans had given him a few gut shots, and Coop’s wound took him down. He dropped to his knees and pressed his hand to his stomach. When he pulled a hand away, there was a good amount of blood on it.
“This is too damn easy.”
Hans gripped Coop’s hair and yanked his head back. Coop stared into Hans’s cold and lifeless eyes as the man raised his fist to deliver the killing blow.
Coop thought about Olin’s beautiful smile, his precious laugh, and how much he’d wanted to make the little wildcat his. When he’d gone into mating heat, there was no fighting it. He had wanted a relationship with someone he loved, a mating like his mother and father had. It hadn’t always been easy between his parents, but they’d made it work. He knew how deeply in love they were with each other, and Coop had wanted a slice of that type of heaven.
Hans arm flew forward, but he never delivered the blow. Gunshots echoed in the large paper mill. Hans snarled at Coop before he collapsed.
The bastard landed on Coop.
Coop fell backward and grunted when he hit the floor. Hans was a heavy son of a bitch.
“Get him off of me,” Coop shouted.
Zach appeared over him and smiled. “Gee, you could say thanks.”
Coop breathed easier when Zach shoved his foot into Hans’s side and pushed the Imperial Guard away.
“Shit, man.” Zach’s gaze dropped to Coop’s stomach. “What in the hell did he do to you?”
“Tried to make chopped liver of my liver.”
Coop stared up at the ceiling before he rolled to his side and hissed. Zach bent at the waist and hauled Coop to his feet. The rest of the Enforcers arrived. Talyn gazed down at Hans and then nodded at Coop.
“I’ll live,” Coop said. He refused to let anyone know how badly he was hurt. It was a guy-code thing. “But how much trouble do you think we’re in for killing an Imperial Guard?” He wrapped an arm around his midsection as if he could stop his guts from spilling out. It sure as shit felt as if they were trying to do just that.
Talyn shrugged as he kicked at Hans’s boot. The guard didn’t move. “Don’t know because we have no idea what happened to Hans.” The alpha turned to Jake Holliman. “We need to get this body buried where no one will find him.”
“And the contracts?” Coop asked.
God, he really needed to sit down, but there was nowhere he could park his ass. He felt the sweat start to cover his body, and his knees shook slightly. Nope, still too macho to say he was battered and needed help.
“I’m pretty sure the men who kidnapped you and Karidon will spread the word that they got screwed over,” Talyn said as he eyed Cooper. “No one will want to get involved after that.”
Coop wasn’t too sure, but Talyn did make sense. When Coop’s legs finally decided they couldn’t hold him up anymore, he nearly collapsed. Zach caught him and helped him outside to one of the vehicles lining the side of the mill. He spotted Quad standing by his car.
“Get Karidon to Sweeney,” Talyn said to Quad. He looked at Coop. “You need to go as well. You look like shit.”
“Gee, thanks.” Coop started to argue that he was fine. The only place he wanted to be was in his bonded mate’s arms. But he knew his injuries needed tending to. “Tell Olin I’m fine and I’ll be there shortly.”
Talyn nodded. “Just as soon as we get rid of the man who we haven’t seen.”
He clapped his hand on Coop’s shoulder, and Coop nearly snarled from the pain. Bastard did that on purpose. Talyn winked at him, confirming that he’d done that on purpose.
Coop chuckled and then grimaced. “See, sometimes the old way works best. Shoot him and ask questions later. Wish I could have cut his brake lines.”
“Get out of here,” Talyn said with a smile before he turned and walked back inside.