Cora pinched her lips together and watched the men leave. Cora kept her spine straight and waved them goodbye. How many times had she stood like this and waved her parents goodbye? Wondering if they would ever come back. She had done the same with Liam before and yet for some reason, this time felt different. There were no more barriers between them. This was a new beginning for them. Liam would come back to her. He couldn’t leave now that they were just getting back together.
“It never gets any easier,” Hannah said absently.
“No, but they need you to be strong for them anyway. It gives them strength.”
After the car turned out of the driveway and disappeared, Hannah turned to face Cora. “Do you want to talk about you and Liam?” She asked wiggling her eyebrows.
Cora wasn’t ready to dive right in but knew her friend wouldn’t give her any reprieve unless she did. Cora turned to face Hannah and saw a great shadow next to her. It was Bulldog scowling down at her.
“You shouldn’t remain out here. You make for an easier target.”
Cora found herself looking out the perimeter wall for any sign of danger then felt foolish. The guy was obviously just over paranoid.
“Thank you, Charlie, for the warning,” Hannah said sweetly to him and pulled Cora back into the house.
“You know him?” Cora asked.
“Of course,” Hannah said with a quizzical brow. “He was there when I was rescued. He and a few of his teammates got here yesterday. I’m so glad they could be here. I feel so much better about having them here while Ben is gone.”
“Is he always so straightforward like that?”
“You mean his short brisk tone? Yeah, but you get used to it. Charlie has been in the Army most of his life and grew up in a military family like you. He sees danger everywhere.”
“Well, you’ve certainly gotten to know him.”
Hannah shrugged. “He did save my life and what else has there been to do around here? Ben and the guys have been planning war and keep the little lady out of the way. I needed someone to talk to. “
Because Charlie screamed come talk to me.
Cora did feel guilty she hadn’t stayed in contact with Hannah since she had to leave Ben’s home. The woman had been through more than Cora had and yet she stayed so positive. “I’m sorry I haven’t called you more.”
Hannah waved her apology away. “Cora, you have a life. A job, a home. I don’t have any of that yet. I have been on the move so much lately, I haven’t had a chance to relax and just breathe. And with another threat from Alejandro-” Hannah paused to shudder. “I don’t think I’ll feel truly relaxed until we know where he is and is gone for good.”
Cora’s guilt tripled. “Hannah there’s something I have to tell you about Alejandro.”
Hannah cocked her head waiting for Cora to continue. “I swear I didn’t know at the time, but I’ve been working with Alejandro. He contacted me a week ago to help set up security for his accounts. I had no idea who he was. I hadn’t even met him. Liam explained who he was and your connection. I promise I’m going to cancel my contract with him and we are going to find him once and for all.” Hannah just stared at her blankly. That didn’t bode well for her at all. “Are you mad at me?” Cora expected her anger. She deserved it. Cora had aided a criminal. A criminal who did unspeakable horrors to Hannah. Cora didn’t think she could ever forgive herself.
“I’m not mad, Cora.” She couldn’t have heard Hannah right. She forgave her that easily?
“You’re not?”
Hannah shook her head. Her hair swung with the motion. “Ben had already told me after we stopped at your house. At first, I was confused, but I knew you would never work with someone like that knowingly.”
A weight seemed to lift off her shoulders. “Never,”
“Then there’s nothing to forgive. The guys will find Alejandro, and we can finally put all of this behind us.”
Hannah led Cora up to her room. “I can’t wait.” Cora smiled at Hannah feeling at ease.
“Perfect, now I want to hear about you and Liam.” Hannah squeezed her arm and laughed at Cora’s groan.
~
The next four days flew by. During the day, Cora and Hannah would walk the property, with an escort and have picnics or just enjoy the outdoors. Cora would get some work done in between while one of Charlie’s teammates monitored all the security cameras. She had been trying to locate Alejandro through his accounts, but he must have his own IT guy because she wasn’t getting anywhere except for firewalls. She was having as much luck as Aaron had. Her house remained quiet which she was thankful for but Ortiz “Oreo”, one of Charlie’s teammates, told her that it could always mean someone had been watching the house and knew no one was there now. That didn’t make Cora feel any safer.
That night Cora couldn’t sleep. She had this terrible feeling in the pit of her stomach that something was going to happen and soon. She had no idea when Liam was going to come home, and she knew she couldn’t tell Hannah and make her worry for no reason. Hannah had already had one flashback since Cora’s staying there. Hannah wanted to see the base psychologist, but Charlie told her that she was restricted to the base until Midas and his team got back. Charlie had only brought two of his teammates with him and they couldn’t properly monitor the computers, and take her to base. Cora figured they could if they wanted to, but he wanted to keep them close to the house and weapons. It wasn’t like they could go on base heavily armed. Cora had
