Say You Won't Let Go Google(36)

Confliction paints Brookes’s face. He drops the gun slightly, and I feel a tinge of hope.

Cooper’s hands fall, he pushes my hip to the side, and we move so I now have a clear way to the door. He’s sadly mistaken if he thinks I’m going anywhere without him.

“Tell me, have you known Emily long?” Cooper urges.

“Long enough to know we’re meant to be.”

“When you know, you know, right?”

“I’m done with this conversation. She either leaves or I end this with her here,” Brookes warns.

“Em,” Coop says. “You need to go outside.”

I dig my nails in his back and tears pool. “Please don’t do this, Brookes. Please!” I plead. “If you love me, you won’t hurt me like this. You won’t make me live with knowing I’m responsible.”

I can’t move my legs. I can’t do this. I don’t know what the hell Cooper is thinking, but Wade should be back any minute. He’ll know what to do.

Brookes looks at me as the tears fall freely. I’m not pretending anymore, I’m truly terrified and broken by the idea of walking out that door.

He sighs, drops his hand more, and before I have a chance to blink, Cooper lunges.





Chapter Nineteen


Emily



Time doesn’t slow when you think you’re going to die. I don’t know who the hell says they’re hyper aware because nothing is registering right now. I can’t see whose hands are where. I can’t decipher who is making what noises. All I see are limbs moving and punches landing. Brookes and Cooper battle. I stand in horror, not knowing if Cooper is hurt or where the gun is.

I hear Cooper grunt, and the sound of cracking turns my stomach. “Cooper!” Tears fill my vision as I see his head fall to the side.

“Go, Emily! Run!” he yells, but I can’t walk away from him.

“I’m not leaving you!” I cry out.

I have to help him. Brookes lands another punch, but Cooper fights back.

Where the fuck is Wade?

Then I remember my panic button.

I turn and dive for it. I press the red button, knowing the alarm will blare out to the whole security team.

Sure enough, Brookes’s radio shrieks.

“Fuck you!” Brookes says as he hits Coop again.

“I’ll fucking kill you for touchin’ her!” Cooper replies, and my eyes catch the reflection off the shiny metal barrel that was lost in the scuffle.

I move forward and grip the handle. “Stop!” I scream pointing the gun at them. “Stop moving or I’ll shoot!”

Both men go still.

Brookes looks up and fear fills his gaze. “Baby.”

“I’m not your baby. I don’t even know you, but you’ve tormented me for weeks. You’ve made my life miserable, and now you tried to kill the man I love. So don’t you dare speak to me. Get up!” I nudge the muzzle upward, indicating he needs to stand.

He obeys, and then Cooper lands a punch on his face, blood sprays, and I scream.

He hits him again and again, until Brookes’s body goes limp.

My gun is still pointed, and my hands begin to shake. I’m standing here, but emotionally, I’m gone.

Then he’s in front of me, his skin warm as his fingers gently wrap around my wrist, slowly lowering the weapon.

“Em?” His voice is soft.

My eyes meet his, but I still don’t speak.

“Darlin’, I need you to go get Wade,” Cooper instructs me. “I’ll hold him.”

I stand, looking at Cooper with blood on his shirt.

“I’m okay, Emily. It’s over now.”

Will this ever really be over?

Before I can even breathe, the door opens, and Wade is the first person through, gun raised. He grabs me, pushing me behind him. A different bodyguard lifts me and pivots to take me down the steps, but as soon as I can’t see Cooper, I snap. My arms flail as I fight against his hold. “Let me go!” I claw my way out of his arms.

I don’t trust any of these people. Strength I never knew I had flows through me, and I manage to push my way out of his grasp. “Cooper! Wade!” I scream and move toward them.

“It’s fine, let her go.” Wade holsters his weapon, and I position myself behind him. “Are you okay?” he asks.

“Yes. No. I don’t really know.”

He turns to Cooper, and his voice is hard. “What the fuck? Brookes? Are you... Un-fucking-real,” Wade says as he crouches down.

“A little help?” Cooper huffs as he shifts his weight and Brookes starts to wake.

“Man, you get all the fun.” Wade huffs and drops to his knees to secure Brookes’s wrists in a set of handcuffs.

Cooper shakes his head and laughs. “Nice of you to show up.”

“Next time, don’t start the party early. It’s not my fault I was out looking for the guy while you were supposed to be keeping her occupied.”

“I was trying until your psycho friend came in with a gun.”

Wade brushes his dark hair back and scratches his neck. “Cock blocked by your girl’s stalker. Bad timing.”

“Are you two serious?” I ask in complete shock. I can’t believe these two are joking about a party when two minutes ago Cooper was being attacked and had a gun to his head—literally.