Page 5 of Cooper

“Don’t stay too long, honey. She needs to have quiet and rest.” Blythe patted his shoulder and disappeared down the hallway to her next patient.

Coop grabbed her hand, kissing the back of her fingers, rubbing them gently.

“I’m so sorry, Bianca. I’m so very sorry,” he said whispering to her. “I’ll make it up to you. All of it. I swear.”

He was about to stand when her eyes fluttered, the big brown orbs staring back at him with shock at first. He smiled, sitting beside her again, reaching for her hand. But she pulled back, the expression on her face not a happy one.

One loud crack echoed across the facility.

Standing, he stepped into the hallway as Blythe came running.

“What happened?” she asked.

“She woke up and she hates me.”

“I doubt that she hates you,” said Blythe. “I’ll go check on her. Stay here.”

Blythe stepped into the room and looked down at the woman lying in the bed. She had big tears in her eyes, her face flushed red.

“I see that you’re awake,” she smiled. Bianca nodded. “Are you feeling better?”

“I’m not sure,” she said quietly. “I slapped him.”

“You did but I’m sure he did something that deserved it.” She checked her vitals, nodding at her. “Do you feel like eating something?”

“I’m pretty hungry,” she said softly. “Where am I? Am I near home?”

“You’re a long way from home, sweetie. You were brought to our facility to help you and keep you alive. Your village, all of it, was burned by Rodriguez and his men.”

“So, I have nowhere to go. No home. No business. No family. I have nothing,” she whispered.

“You have me,” said Cooper standing in the doorway. “I know you must hate me but I’m here. I’m here to help you and make sure that you have the life you deserve.”

“You can’t bring my family back,” she said looking at him. She swallowed hard, seeing that stunningly handsome face. His chest was wide and muscled beneath the t-shirt, his eyes dark and mysterious. “You can’t change what he did to me.”

“I know,” said Cooper taking another step inside the room. He took the seat beside her again and leaned back. “Are you going to slap me again?”

“I think I’m done for a while,” she said with a sad smile.

“I should have kept you with us but I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought I was keeping you safe. I’m so fucking sorry, Bianca.”

She shook her head, fresh tears coming down her cheeks.

“No. No, it was my fault. You told me to leave and get back to town. I wanted a front row seat to his destruction and I got caught because of it. It was my fault, not yours. Now everything is gone. Everyone. I have no job, nothing.”

“You could work here,” he said reaching for her hand. She seemed to tug back at first, then allowed him to wrap his massive hand around her own. “We own a General Store not far from here. Many of the wives on the property paint, make jewelry, all kinds of things. They do very well. You could sell your things there as well.”

“Maybe,” she said looking from him to Blythe.

“She’s hungry, Cooper and needs to eat some solid food. Maybe take her to the cafeteria. She can be discharged to a cottage after that. I’ll get all the paperwork done while you go eat.” He nodded, standing to get a wheelchair.

“Where’s the man?” They both looked at her and said nothing, just staring at her. “The older man who carried me out of the mansion. He held me the entire way here but I don’t remember much of anything else. He saved me.”

Blythe and Coop both grinned, nodding their heads in understanding.

“I’m sure you’ll see him again at some point,” said Blythe. “For now, there are clothes in the closet over there. Several things to choose from. You get dressed and then Coop can take you for some real food. Nothing too decadent.”

“Yes, ma’am,” she nodded.