I Won't Give Up

by Sophie Monroe

  “We’ve reached a decision. I’ll let you stay with your little girlfriend but you’re going to fight for me Cooper. Tonight.” Wait fight? He’ll get hurt, he can’t fight these guys…can he? Panic rose I felt like throwing up. This must be why he was such an awesome fighter. He fought for the freaking mob.

  “Do we have a deal?” Giovanni purred. He knew Cooper would agree. I was horrified. I watched as Cooper nodded. Oh my God he was really going to do it. I tried to speak but nothing came out. I wanted to tell him not to.

  “But only on one condition.”

  “Name it.” Giovanni said.

  “Fiona stays with Carl during the fight.” It was obvious he trusted this Carl guy.

  “Done. We’re going to hold the both of you until we receive the ransom. Until then you’re staying here. I think it would be best if Ms. Prescott calls her father to light a fire under his ass and let him know who he’s messing with here.” He handed his cell phone to Cooper and I gave him my dad’s number. I held the phone to my ear.

  “Hello.” My dad answered. I wanted to cry. I’d been so mean to him but the thought of never seeing him again put things in perspective for me. Life’s too short.

  “Fiona is that you?”

  “Yes.” I cried.

  “Where are you? Are you okay?” His voice was frantic.

  “I’m okay, I don’t know where I am.”

  “Everything’s gonna be okay honey. I’m taking care of it.” He said softly.

  Giovanni put his hand out and put the phone on speaker.

  “Mr. Prescott do you have the demanded ransom?”

  “I’m working on it, it’s hard being that it’s the weekend.”

  “Well work a little harder, especially if you’d like to see your daughter again.” Then he hung up the phone.

  “Take them to the loft and hold them there until I say.”

  Cooper scooped me up and headed upstairs.

  “Don’t try anything we’ll be right outside the door.” He locked the door as soon as it was shut. He placed me carefully on the bed kissing my forehead. I curled up in the fetal position, I was freaking out on the inside. He cradled me in his arms and just held me. Finally I found my voice.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Shhh.”

  “No, please let me explain. I should have given us a chance after Levittown. I was too scared to let you in. I didn’t think I was capable of loving you. But I love you Cooper, so much, I think I loved you before our last night together but that night I heard you say you loved me in your sleep. That’s when I really realized I was in love with you. I was so scared. I was afraid, afraid you’d be just like the others.” She admitted. “Then I found out about Riley and it really hit me but I...I thought it was too late.” I was in hysterics. “I was too busy trying to protect myself I didn’t see the danger lurking right in front of me.”

  “Garrett has quite a way with words, he can be very convincing.” Cooper shook his head.

  “I thought he was helping me, we spent a lot of time together, I thought I might have even been falling for him. I see now that there’s only ever been you Cooper, I’ll only ever want you.” I meant every word.

  “Stop. I love you too and we’ll have plenty of time for you to get used to how it’s going to be when we get out of here. I promise I’ll never hurt you Fiona.” He was so sincere I don’t know how I’d ever doubted him. “Does this mean you’ll be my girlfriend?”

  “Yes.”

  “Okay I’ve had enough talking for now.” His lips met mine and I forgot everything else.

  “What’s going to happen tonight?” I asked when he pulled away.

  “I’m going to fight.”

  “Is that why you’re such a good fighter? Did you used to fight for him? He seemed like he knew you.”

  There was a knock at the door and I knew I wasn’t going to get answers yet.

  “It’s time.” He handed Cooper a bag. “For Fiona. I won’t let anything happen to her. Promise.” Cooper handed me the bag and I put the clothes on not even bothering to look at what they were. They put us in a waiting car. I sat as close to Cooper as I could get. Carl was next to me he would occasionally look over and give a small smile and I knew he was one of the good guys. When we arrived at the fight location that’s when I finally got a good idea of what was going on. There was a boxing ring set up in the middle of an old warehouse, a bunch of people were in seated around the ring and some standing in the back of the room against the wall. It was loud. I was feeling absolutely exhausted, the only things keeping me upright were adrenalin and Cooper. Cooper kept kissing the top of my head and rubbing my back until he was summoned to the ring. Him and Carl had some silent exchange and Carl put his arm around my waist hopefully insuring my safety. Giovanni whispered something in Cooper’s ear before his hopped in the ring. I watched him take his shirt off the sight of him shirtless was better and I remembered, something magnificent even with all this stress. I watched the guy he was fighting enter. I couldn’t believe this was actually happening I started shaking. Cooper looked at me for a split second before turning his focus back to the task at hand.

  “Who’s he fighting?” I asked Carl.

  “Chris Venture.”

  “Who’s he?” He looked to be about the same size as Cooper but blonde. I’d hoped it was at least an even match.

  “He’s been in the Storm for a while.” I looked at him confused. “That’s what they call the underground fight circle. He’s good but Cooper’s a wild one, one of the best that I’ve ever seen. It’s starting.” He pointed to the ring.

  “Gentleman you know the rules. There are none.”

  I watched Cooper move, he looked graceful. I saw Chris go in for a hit, I braced myself, but Cooper saw it coming. It was almost like watching a game of cat and mouse. One of Chris’ hits grazed Cooper and Cooper returned the shot. Chris got a kick to Coopers ribs making him flinch then they were back at it. Finally Cooper went in for the kill. He was pummeling his face relentlessly. He’s going to kill him, literally.

  I started screaming. He stopped instantly. The ref held his hand up deeming him the winner. I was relieved but scared I’d never seen anyone so ruthless, he was an animal out there. As soon as I saw him I started crying.

  “Hey Crash you okay?”

  “You’ve done this kind of thing before.” It wasn’t a question but what Carl had said hadn’t prepared me for what I witnessed he was sooo good. Embarrassingly it turned me on.

  “This was my life before you. I didn’t want you to find out like this.” I could tell he was embarrassed.

  “Is he dead?” I pointed to Chris.

  “No but he’s going to have one hell of a headache when he wakes up.”

  “Will you tell me about it now?” I wanted to know about his involvement with Giovanni and I told myself no matter what he said I wouldn’t look at him any differently.

  “Another time okay?”

  “Okay.” I smiled at his beautiful face and he kissed me desperately. He pulled away when Giovanni approached.

  “I see you haven’t lost your touch. Marco’s been wanting this to happen for a while, it was supposed to be Garrett but I think I would have lost then.” I wished it was Garrett he deserved to get his ass kicked seven ways to Sunday.

  “Very well. Carl will see to it that you get back to the house. I have some business to attend to.”

  Once the adrenaline wore off I was utterly exhausted. I didn’t even remember getting into the house. As soon as Cooper shut the door I allowed myself to slightly relax. I took a deep breath but all I smelled was Garrett, a smell that once relaxed me was now sending me into a full-blown panic attack. I knew I needed to remain even tempered since we’d both been through the ringer today.

  “I’m going to take a shower. Please with me.” I took off my loaner clothes and headed to the shower. I needed him close to me, I never wanted to away from him again. Cooper came in to the bathroom behind me gloriously naked I grab
bed his hand and pulled him in with me.

  “All I can smell is him. Wash him off me. Please.” I pleaded. He reached for the body wash creating a lather in his hands and slowly working his way around my entire body. His hands erasing the bad memories replacing them with his touch. He stood up running his fingers through my hair.

  “Better?” He looked at me through his long lashes, his wet hair on his forehead.

  “Much, thank you.” I wanted him but now was not the time or place hanky panky. I felt his excitement to which was most likely due to a natural response and not lust but made it even harder to control the urge to throw myself at him. I turned around and pulled his head down until our lips met. He kissed me sweetly until I felt like I couldn’t take one more second before I unwillingly pulled away.

  “Come on. It’s late, we’re both exhausted let’s go to bed.” He wrapped us both in towels and headed towards the bedroom. I climbed into bed and snuggled up next to him. Exhaustion set in and I fell into a deep sleep.

  I felt Cooper shaking me but I was so comfortable I didn’t want to wake up. Then he started tickling, when I sat up and he handed me his t-shirt I didn’t want the stupid shirt I needed him. I moved so I was straddling him, I felt “little Cooper” press up against me but there was nothing little about it. We were skin to skin, our lips met and tongues grazed. I needed him.

  “Now’s not the time baby.” I gave him the saddest face I could muster and hoped he would give in. I noticed he had a hard time saying no to anything that made me happy and I loved him for that.

  “I don’t care, please. I love you. I need you.” I pleaded.

  He rolled me onto my back and started kissing me all over stopping at my chest, sucking and admiring making me moan he moved his hand down my stomach before reaching my core, massaging me gently. I wanted him so bad and as always he knew my needs better than I knew them. He sat up easing himself into me. I felt my impending orgasm ready for detonation almost as soon as he filled me then he leaned in whispered “I love you” and I was done, he gently picked up the pace before finding his own release making me find mine again at the same time. He picked up his shirt and pulled it over my head then held out his boxers for me before rolling them a few times to make them like shorts. I sat on the bed and looked at his new tattoo.

  “I can’t believe you did this.” I laughed.

  “Well you know what they say about love, it makes you do stupid things. Though I wouldn’t call this stupid.”

  “Well I’m glad I get to be stupid with you.” He leaned in an kissed my nose. He pulled me close and I just enjoyed the moment, the closeness. The love.

  When I heard a knock at the door my heart went into overdrive it was almost too easy to forget what was really going on when it was just the two of us. They told Cooper that they were moving us. We walked hand in hand down the corridors down to the front door where Garrett’s black Tahoe was waiting. He was in the driver’s seat with a smug look on his face I wanted nothing more than to smack that look off his face, he really was a sick twisted fuck.

  “No way, we are not going anywhere with him.” Cooper shouted.

  “Boss’ orders.” Captain Ugly said grabbing hold of my forearm.

  “I don’t give two shits whose orders they are. He’s gonna try and kill us.” They were pulling us towards the SUV when I heard a loud pop and Captain Ugly fell to the ground. The others started looking around to where the shot came from when another one went off I didn’t see it hit anything but it was enough to make them take cover. Cooper moved me behind him to keep me safe and started swinging. I saw a black Range Rover come barreling through the gate. It was Luke.

  “Get in.” He shouted. Cooper pushed me into the backseat and I was trying to pull him with me when Garrett appeared. Another loud pop went off. Cooper started bleeding on his side.

  “Oh my God.” I screamed. Luke stepped on the gas with the door wide-open flying out of the driveway. He stopped at the corner and picked up Carl. He was the one that must’ve been firing the shots. He winked at me before realizing that Cooper was shot.

  “He’s bleeding do something.” I cried holding pressure to the wound, he kept trying to mumble things but I couldn’t make out what he way saying.

  “Hold on.” Luke said.

 

  CHAPTER NINE

  Bleeding Out

  I sat in the back seat of Luke’s Range Rover rubbing Cooper’s head softly trying to keep him conscious, I was using my other hand to keep pressure on the wound. He was still mumbling but wasn’t making much sense. Scenery was flying by at warp speed until finally we arrived at Mercy General thankfully the trip only took a few minutes. Carl scooped Cooper up and ran him through the Emergency Entrance doors, I clambered in behind them still in shock. There was so much blood.

  “What happened?” Someone in blue scrubs asked.

  “He’s been shot.” Carl said.

  The doctor started shouting orders as a team arrived they brought a gurney over Carl placed him on the bed. I looked at Carl who was now covered in Cooper’s bed. I was doing my best to not break down. I needed to be strong for him.

  “We need to get him to the OR immediately. He’s already lost a lot of blood.”

  I kissed him quickly. Please don’t leave me.

  “I love you.” I couldn’t hold back any more, tears started streaming down my face.

  “Love you more.” I could make that out. My legs went out as I watched them round the corner. I felt arms around me before I hit the ground.

  “Honey, are you okay?” The voice was full of concern. It was my dad. Where did he come from? I shook my head no. I’ve never been less okay in my life.

  Several Federal agents surrounded him.

  “He has to be okay.” I cried.

  “They’re going to do everything they can.” He picked me up like he used to when I was a little girl. A nurse came and directed us to a private waiting area. The room was small, the walls were pale blue and it reeked of disinfectant, my stomach rolled. There were four chairs on the window wall with a small rectangular coffee table covered in magazines in front of them. I struggled to get down.

  “Fiona, we need to know what happened.” My dad said placing me on my feet and gestured to the agents.

  “Dad! My boyfriend just got shot, I haven’t eaten all day. I’m scared and exhausted! I need to call his dad. I just need a fucking minute.” I yelled and started crying again. Luke came in the middle of my tirade. He ordered the agents outside and told them they could stand by the door. He pulled me into his special brother hug making me sob even harder. My dad stood there looking helpless.

  “I’m going to call your mom. I’ll get you something to eat. Anything special?”

  “Anything is fine, soup maybe?” I was hungry but my stomach was in knots.

  “I’ll be right back.” He leaned in to kiss my forehead before leaving the room.

  “He’s going to be okay.” Luke said sitting and pulling me onto his lap. I put my head on his shoulder with tears falling like Niagara Falls.

  “I need to call Kurt.” Luke reached in his pocket and handed me his cell. I punched in Cooper’s home number and prayed I got an answer.

  It rang three times.

  “Hello.”

  “Kurt.” I sobbed.

  “Fiona is that you?”

  “Y-Yes.”

  “Where are you? Are you okay? It’s been all over the news.”

  “I’m ok-k-ay.” I choked. Luke took the phone from my hand.

  “Mr. Kinley, it’s Luke Prescott, we’re in Delaney there’s been a bit of an incident, Cooper’s been shot.” Hearing those words made me feel like I was dying. “We’re at Mercy General, they’ve taken him into surgery. Yes sir, I’ll keep you posted.” He hung up and put the phone back in his pocket. “He’s on his way.”

  “If only I’d given him a chance the first time around I would have never even met Garrett. None of this would have happened, it’s all my f
ault.”

  “Fiona. Stop.” Luke said rubbing my back trying his best to soothe me.

  “I love him so much Luke. If anything happens to him, I can’t even think about it.”

  “He’s strong Fi and you guys are finally together that’s what he wanted he’s going to be fine but you need to talk to the police. They need to get your statement so they can make arrests. They’re outside.” I nodded reluctantly.

  My dad came back with my soup. I forced a couple spoonfuls down to calm my angry stomach.

  “Mom’s on her way.” My poor mom was probably freaking out.

  “How’d you know where I was?” I asked Luke.

  “Cooper.” I looked at him to elaborate. “He ended up at the lake house on Friday hoping to talk to you and when you didn’t answer any of his messages he called me. He said ‘she texts me back even if she’s pissed at me’” I laughed knowing that was true, I would at least send him a K or something so he’d leave me alone. “We didn’t know at the time but by then someone had already made contact with dad about the ransom. The police showed up at the house and started asking questions when I called Cooper back he said that you were dating someone.” He gave me a stern look and I noted his disapproval especially since we didn’t keep secrets from one another. “Cooper said he knew him and his background. He figured he might have been stupid enough to bring you to Delaney. He was right. Then they never took his phone, he texted me letting me know what was going on. I was expecting to hear something else from him but I assumed his battery probably died. Later that night we got a call from Carl who said they were planning on moving you guys in the morning. We planned an ambush and now we’re here.” I took a few moments to comprehend the information. “Can you give your statement now?”

  I nodded. I felt like part of me was missing probably because it was on the operating table. My dad opened the door to tell the detectives to come in. Two detectives sat on the coffee table in front of me.

  “Ms. Prescott we have a few questions we’d like you to answer if possible.” I nodded.

  “I’m Detective Marc Espinosa and this is my partner Detective Jackie Rey.” The one named Jackie pulled out a small note pad. Marc Espinosa was a tall man with a medium build, he had a shaved head and brown eyes and skin the color of caramel his voice was soothing speaking to me as if I were a small child.