Her smile died when a bright light slashed across the screen, and the roof of the house blew up. “Oh my god, Cora,” Hannah screamed at the screen. She had never felt so useless right now. She stared at the roof thinking there would be movement or something to alleviate her fears but knew that hope was in vain. There was fire and smoke covering every inch of the roof. Hannah fell back into the seat and shook her head in denial. No, it couldn’t be. Cora couldn’t be dead or Ortiz. “My fault, my fault, my fault.” It was all her fault. If she hadn’t been rescued and helped Ben and his team find the informant none of this would have ever happened. They were dead because of her. Hannah pulled her knees to her chest and dropped her head down on them. "I am Hannah Grace O'Connell. I’m in love with Benjamin Grant. My newest best friend…was Cora St. James. And I am the cause of her death.” Another friend died because of her. She was in the same position when someone came racing down the stairs.
“Hannah,” a deep voice called out.
Hannah looked up as Ben ran to her and took her in his arms. “Are you okay, baby? Why are you crying? Are you hurt?”
“They're dead,” Hannah croaked. “They're dead because of me. Cora was on the roof with Ortiz and…it-” Hannah couldn’t finish. She buried her head in his shoulder.
“Goldilocks, stop.” Ben pulled her back up to face him. “She’s fine. They’re both fine. I just saw Cora upstairs.” Hannah sagged back against Ben’s chest in relief. They were alive.
“Everyone is okay? No one died because of me?”
“No, silly. Everyone is fine. I told you before. It would take a lot more than these floozies to take me down or any of these guys.” They had gone upstairs in time to see Cora run up to her room.
Hannah knocked on the door and only had to wait a moment to hear Cora call out. “Who is it?”
“It’s Hannah. Can I come in?”
Hannah heard foot shuffles before the door opened fully. Cora looked around to make sure it was only Hannah before ushering her in.
“You want to talk about it?” Hannah asked her as she closed the door behind her.
“What is there to talk about?” Cora flopped back on her bed.
“You’re obviously upset with Liam.”
Cora scuffed. “That’s putting it mildly.”
“You didn’t seem so upset with him before you risked your life.”
“Liam and his team got back early yesterday. Charlie warned them that Alejandro’s army was moving in and they waited for them and didn’t tell anyone. Just sat in the trees waiting to attack.” When Hannah’s features remained passive, Cora became angry and jumped up. “You knew? Did everyone know but me?”
“Cora, please calm down,” Hannah said gently and placed a hand on Cora’s arm. “I didn’t know they came back early. I saw it on the computer screens as they came out of the trees.”
Cora forgot about the security cameras throughout the property. “Why aren’t you mad that Ben came home early and didn’t tell you?”
“Because his mind was focused on a mission. If he had told me he was here I would have gone looking for him or worry, then he would have been worried about me and could have endangered himself. He knew that I would be safe here in the house, and trust Charlie and his team to keep us safe. I can’t be angry about that.” Hannah made it sound so simple.
“So, you’re saying I’m overreacting?”
“I never said that. All I’m saying is you taught me that I must trust Ben to come home, and not to let him see my worry, because then he’ll lose focus on the mission. Think what it would have been like for him knowing you were on the roof firing a gun and almost blown up.”
Cora remembered Liam’s face when he found out. He had been furious. If he had known she had been up there, he never would have been focused on his job. He would have tried to get to the house, to get to her, and could have cost someone their life. He has to stay focused on the mission. She had told Hannah that. Cora had been so worried about her own feelings, she hadn’t thought what it had been like for Liam. She was overreacting.
“I’m going to guess by the look on your face that you’re no longer angry at Liam.”
Cora smiled and hugged Hannah. “No, thank you for coming to talk to me.” She needed to go apologize to him. Hopefully, he hadn’t gone to sleep yet.
“I’m glad I could help. And again, I’m so sorry for getting you involved in my problems.”
“Think nothing of it. If it hadn’t been for you, Liam and I might not have ever gotten back together.”
“And are you? Together that is?” Hannah gave her a teasing smile.
“If he’ll have me.” She had a lot of apologizing to do.
“Oh, I have no doubt that he will.” They sat on the bed and talked for a while until Hannah excused herself, so she could spend some time with Ben. Cora made her own plans to see Liam. He was most likely tired after getting home from a mission and fighting another battle he was probably already asleep, but she needed to talk to him. She had to make this right now.
Chapter Seventeen
After having to hunt down Aaron in his computer room, she found out where Liam was staying. Instead of knocking on the door and risk him sending her away, she twisted the
