Copper Read Online Free PDF

closely for the next two or three days to make sure the wound doesn’t get infected.”  He turned his attention back to the first aid kit, packing up the unused items and making note of what needed to be replaced.
    “All right,” Natalie said in a shaky voice.  “I’d like to take her back to our apartment as soon as I can.”
    “No!” Copper and Chrome both shouted at the same time.  Natalie jumped and backed away from the domineering men.  She looked at them with eyes so wide they seemed to take up her whole face.
    Steel, ever the mediator of the group, gave the two men a hard look before clearing his throat. He tried to put Natalie at ease. “Like I said before, Marla’s progress should be monitored closely for a couple of days.  A hospital would be a logistical nightmare as far as guarding her and keeping her safe.  She’s better off here where everyone can keep a close and protective eye on her.”  He glanced at his older brother when he made the last statement.
    Copper was glad Steel spoke with the voice of reason, because he was far from feeling reasonable.  He most certainly wasn’t used to having to explain himself over and over again that was for sure.  “Marla stays here until she’s no longer in danger.”  He calmly issued the ultimatum to everyone in the room. They could argue all they wanted but in this matter, he was not backing down.
    “Well, you can expect two house guests then.  I can’t abandon my sister to a houseful of strangers.”
    “We’re hardly strangers,” Copper felt compelled to point out.  “After all, you’ve been working for us for almost four years now.”  She was their first local hire.  And an excellent one as it turned out.  She helped keep the growing pains of a burgeoning business manageable.  He didn’t know what the Metal Cowboys would do without their very efficient personal assistant.
    “You’re strangers to Marla,” she reminded the men in the room.  Surely you’ve noticed how wary she is around all of you.  There’s a reason for her reticence, a very good one, which I’m not going to talk about,” Natalie said when she noticed the inquisitive stares she was receiving.  “Marla’s already going to be scared and upset when she wakes up. Being in a strange place, with someone she doesn’t know very well, is only going to traumatize her more.” 
    Natalie ran a shaky hand through her tousled hair.  “I can’t believe someone tried to kill her!” She sighed and started pacing back in forth in the confines of the bedroom.  “What is wrong with people? This just doesn’t make any sense!”
    Copper ignored the part about someone trying to kill Marla.  He focused instead on the first half of her statement.  “What reason would she have to be scared of us?  We’ve never done anything in her presence that she could misconstrue as threatening,” he said in a gruff voice.  Unless of course you counted his attempted seduction while they danced together last week.
    “It’s not my story to tell,” Natalie insisted.  “I will say this much.  It’s deeply personal and traumatic.  It’s also something only Marla should share with other people.”
    It felt like a door was being slammed shut in his face. He didn’t like the feeling at all.  Copper hated the feeling of being on the outside. He wasn’t going to let it slide.  “If whatever you’re hiding can be connected to her attack in anyway, you better start talking,” he ordered. “Keeping silent to protect Marla’s delicate sensibilities does her no good if she winds up dead.”
    Natalie gave him a hurt look but conceded the point. “I believe you. I would tell you if I thought it might be relative, but it happened eight years ago.  I just can’t see a connection, so I’m not going to give you any of the sordid details.” She straightened her back and stared Copper down.
    “Fair enough,” he finally said, backing down only to ease some of the escalating