Page 13 of Deserving Cora
“And we aren’t in the military anymore. We’re civilians. We can’t exactly use guns, grenades, and the might of the government to break laws.”
“I know that too. I’m not asking you to do that. All I’m asking is for you to use the tactics you’ve learned to help me get in to see my friend, and possibly get her out of a bad situation.”
“And you’re sure she’sina bad situation?” Pipe asked.
Thankful he didn’t sound skeptical, just curious, Cora nodded firmly. “One hundred percent.”
When he didn’t respond, Cora said a little desperately, “And I still have my six thousand dollars. It’s all yours to use for flights or supplies or whatever you need.”
“If we decide to help you, we aren’t taking your money,” Pipe said firmly.
Cora wasn’t certain how to respond to that. He had no idea what she’d done to come up with that amount of money. The fact that he’d let her keep it meant the world to her. She could use it to get Lara counseling, to move them to another city…whatever it took to make sure her friend was okay after whatever she’d been through.
And that was the most terrifying thing—Cora had no ideawhatwas happening to Lara. She might be fine. Might be perfectly safe and being treated kindly.
She mentally snorted. She didn’t believe that for a moment. Whatever her friend was experiencing, it wasn’t good. Cora had no doubts about that.
The sound of footsteps startled her, and she turned toward the entrance to the restaurant. She half expected an employee to be standing there frowning, but instead, the man she’d seen earlier that night, Owl, was walking toward them.
“He really does look a little like Ed Sheeran,” she mused.
“If you want to get on his good side, whatever you do, don’t bring that up,” Pipe said before standing and greeting his friend.
Owl pulled a chair out from one of the empty sides of the square table and nodded at her. “So you’re Cora.”
“And you’re Owl,” she returned.
He grinned. “That’s me.” He turned to Pipe. “You didn’t miss much. The MC was a little peeved that you weren’t there, but since they raised over a hundred thousand for veterans, he’ll get over it.”
“And the bitch?”
“Ran off with her equally bitchy friends,” Owl said with a shrug.
“You made it clear that I wasn’t taking her to dinner?” he asked.
Owl smirked. “I don’t think that was ever a part of her plan.”
“Right. What was it she said?” Pipe asked, looking at Cora. “‘No way would I sully my reputation by being seen out and about with someone who looks like a gang member.’Right?”
“I don’t remember every word, but that sounds right,” Cora said. It was a lie. She remembered exactly what Eleanor had said as she’d insulted Pipe. His memory was spot on.
She once more doubted his claim that he wasn’t a good planner. Anyone with that good of a memory had to be an asset when planning some top-secret op.
“Anyway, she left, I paid her bid, all’s good,” Owl said. “Now…what’s up?”
Pipe looked at Cora. Having both sets of eyes on her was a little disconcerting, but she did what she always did. Straightened her shoulders and refused to show that she was intimidated.
“My friend Lara was kidnapped by her so-called boyfriend, and I need help breaking her out and bringing her home.”
CHAPTERFIVE
Pipe wasn’t completely surprised at Cora’s pronouncement. He’d had a feeling it was something like this from the little she’d said earlier. “Go on,” he encouraged.
He was impressed with the woman sitting across from him. The accusation she was making was serious, and he supposed if there was proof of what she was saying, the police would’ve acted by now. But despite the lack of such proof, instead of giving up, going home and getting on with her life, she was digging in her heels. It was more than obvious she truly believed what she was saying.
“About three months ago, Lara met this guy. To me, it seemed a little too coincidental. They bumped into each other at the coffee shop she goes to every morning. I’ve told her more than once that she needs to change up her routine every now and then. You know, not go to the same place at the same time every day, not take the same route home, stop going to the grocery store every single Sunday at ten in the morning, that kind of thing. But Lara’s always been a little naïve.
“Anyway, she came to work all excited about the tall, dark, and handsome guy she’d met. Within just days, she was spending all her free time with him. He said all the right things and apparently was very generous. He showered her with gifts, which she loved. Her family is rich, and she grew up having everything she wanted. Not that she’s spoiled, far from it, but she’s never really known hardship. I think having this guy give her little presents because he supposedly cared about her was very flattering for her.”
