“You messed up bad, Tonto,” Oreo told him as Doc helped him up. It wasn’t the first time Liam had been called a fool.
“Why did you let her on the roof?” Liam snapped giving into his anger. It was a better emotion than grief right now. He would deal with Cora after he saw to Oreo. She needed time to cool and see reason. Right now, her adrenaline was running and she wouldn’t listen to anything he had to say. Because he had to wait he was giving into his anger and Oreo made for an easy target.
“Like any of us could stop her? We couldn’t very well tell her no, that you and your team were waiting out in the trees and we had it. She saved lives, Liam. You can’t deny that.” Oreo told him calmly. If Liam was hoping for a fight it wasn’t going to be with him.
He couldn’t deny it. She had been incredible. He watched from the trees the shooter had perfect accuracy. Because he thought it was a fellow Delta he hadn’t thought much of it. Now that he knew that it had been Cora, he was floored. He knew her parents had taught her to shoot but once she started her own company, she didn’t have time to shoot anymore. He thought she forgot all about the skill. The lessons had obviously paid off. He should apologize to her. She had risked her life to protect them. He owed her his thanks, not a reprimand. “Thank you for keeping her safe.” His anger gone as quickly as it came. If not for Oreo, Cora may not have fared as well as she had.
Ortiz inclined his head. None of them were good at saying thank you. They were all brothers. And brothers watched each other’s backs there were no thanks required. “Is it really over?”
“I hope so. We cleared everyone out. The team is sweeping through the bodies hoping to ID Alejandro. Only then will we know that it’s truly over.” Cut off the head of the snake, and the body dies. If Alejandro was still alive, this thing was far from over.
“Well then what are we waiting for? Let’s get this over with.” Ortiz stood up and grabbed his rifle. He winced at the pull on his shoulder and just switched hands. He started to reach into his pocket and started cursing in Spanish.
“What now?” Doc asked him, concerned there might be another wound he had missed.
“I can’t reach my Oreos without pulling on my shoulder. Those bastards are going to pay for that.” He muttered before heading downstairs.
“Crazy bastard,” Doc said, feeling bad if any of Alejandro’s men were still alive because they wouldn’t be for long. Few things upset Oreo and keeping him from his cookies was one of them. Doc had never seen the aftermath before but had heard about it.
“At least he’s on our side and stationed at another base.” Liam pointed out. Lucky Fort Sam.
“Good point. Talk to Cora.”
He planned to. After he helped look for Alejandro’s body. “I will.”
“Now,” Doc told him pointedly then walked away. With no other recourse, Liam headed down the hall that Cora had gone down. He was not looking forward to this conversation at all.
~
Liam found Cora’s room easily. She had been muttering to herself rather loudly, and throwing things around. Even a rookie tracker could find her. She had worked herself up into a pretty good fit. He had no doubt there was about to be a lot of yelling. Cora was a passionate person in love or anger, and she had no problem telling you how she felt. What he hadn’t been expecting was to see her packing. She had told Doc and Oreo she was leaving but he hadn’t thought she was serious about leaving this very second. He knew she would miss home, but he didn’t think she would be ready to go the second that the fighting was over. He was exhausted from their latest mission, and they had come straight here after they had debriefed. He hadn’t slept in two days. Not that he couldn’t function on less but still. As soon as they arrived, they had snuck onto Hound’s property and waited for Alejandro’s men to advance. He had been hoping once the fight was over he could get a shower, maybe make love to Cora, and pass out for a few hours, before he took her home. He knew she would be angry at him for keeping his arrival a secret, but he didn’t think that she would be angry enough to try and run back home the first second, she could. This wouldn’t do at all.
“Cora,” he said as he walked into the room and closed the door. No point in having an audience for this.
Cora stiffened when she heard him but kept packing and ignored him. That wouldn’t do. Liam closed the distance between them and turned her around to face him. He expected to see tears in her eyes at his earlier outburst, but she just stared at him in, the only word that came to mind was hatred. She couldn’t hate him for what he had done. “Cora, talk to me.” He couldn’t lose her. Not now. Not after she learned about his family and accepted it. He couldn’t lose her again. He’d never survive it.
“I’m leaving.” Never had two words devastated him more. It was like being hit in the chest by an onslaught of bullets. The first time she said it five months ago he accepted it, but now it crushed him. What was worst being that she had said it so calmly. There was no anger in her tone just acceptance.
“No, not like this. We can talk.” He said frantically trying to think of all the reasons for her to stay with him. They couldn’t break up over something so simple.
Cora shook her head
