Page 37 of Cooper’s Promise

Dammit, she should have taken the phone. It had a GPS. She was so stupid. Tears started to form.

“Get up.”

“No.”

He tried to yank her to her feet. “If you don’t get up, I’ll cut that man’s throat. I only wounded him. He’s not dead yet. Do you want me to kill him?” Toby was alive! She scrambled to her feet.

“You always cared about everybody else but me. I should kill him just for that.”

“No. If you kill him, I’ll make you kill me.”

Josiah stopped and stared at her. He had crazy eyes. Please Cooper, save me, she thought. She took a deep breath. She could do this. She’d stay alive, somehow. She’d get through this. Think, Brenna.

“Now move. We have to leave.”

“I need shoes.”

“You said you couldn’t find them.”

“I have other shoes,” she said pointing to the closet.

“Get them.”

She hustled and found a pair of wedges. She fumbled on purpose getting them on.

“Hurry up, we have to go.” He pulled her sore arm, and she stumbled, this time on accident. “Quit fucking with me.”

“I’m not.” She regained her footing and went in front of him down the hallway. She saw Toby lying on the floor.

“What did you do to him?”

Josiah pulled out a taser from his pocket. “These are amazing. I tased the pizza delivery guy, too. He’s in the trunk of his car. Come on, we don’t have much more time. I have plans for you.” They walked past Toby. As they did, Toby reached out and grabbed Josiah’s foot and sent him sprawling. Brenna fell down too. She saw the taser a few feet away from Josiah’s hands, but he still had ahold of the knife.

Josiah lunged towards Toby.

She scrambled for the taser, praying she could get to it in time. She heard a crash, and her name being yelled.

She looked up and saw a large shadow, then Josiah was thrown across the room, but there was blood.

“Cooper!”

“Brenna!”

She looked, and saw Toby struggling to sit up, blood streaming down his shoulder. She wanted Cooper. She heard a crack, and saw Cooper hit Josiah, his head jerked back against the wall, and he slid down it, unconscious. Cooper rushed over to her, skidding on the carpet.

“God, baby, are you okay? Talk to me.” He cupped her face.

“You came.”

“Of course I came.”

Brenna turned head and looked at Toby, then she heard a siren. She tried to get out of Cooper’s arms so she could get to Toby.

“I’m fine,” Toby said waving her off.

“No, you’re not.”

“Nobody move!” a policeman shouted as he came through the door, his gun drawn. Brenna slumped into Cooper’s arms. It was over.