Copper Read Online Free PDF Page B

tension in the room. It would only make Marla uneasy if she regained consciousness anytime soon.
    Natalie stopped pacing and threw her hands up in the air.  “The waiting around is driving me insane. It goes against my nature to do nothing. I feel like I’m letting my sister down if I’m not doing something to help her.  I’m going to the apartment to pick up a few things for Marla and me. We’re going to need a change of clothes and toiletries, having her own stuff around will make her feel better.  I’ll be back in an hour or less,” she promised, walking toward the door.
    Copper was still fixated on the little glimmer into Marla’s psyche that Natalie unwittingly revealed with her information.  It was a relief to know that Marla’s standoffish behavior was based on an outside force that didn’t have anything to do with him or the other Metal Cowboys.  He knew Chrome was more than capable of taking care of Natalie, so he left her for the other man to handle.
    Chrome didn’t disappoint, stepping up to the plate and taking over.  He grunted at Natalie’s declaration. “Hold it right there, Natalie Taylor!  I hope you don’t think you’re going to a dark and empty apartment by yourself.”
    Natalie turned on her heel to stare at Chrome. “I’m not the one who was used as target practice,” she reminded the overbearing biker.  She put her hand on her hips and stared him down. 
    “Doesn’t matter.”  Then he played dirty. “How do you think your sister will feel if you are attacked too?”
    Natalie frowned.  “She’d blame herself.  You’ve got a point,” she reluctantly agreed. “I can’t add to her trauma. Fine, you can come with me, but we’re taking my car.” 
    Chrome gave her a steely eyed stare.  “Fine, but I’m driving,” he snapped. 
    “Really?  Working hours are over, Chrome. You don’t get to boss me around just because you want to,” Natalie insisted. “It’s my car, and I’m the one that’s going to do the driving.”
    “Really?” he mimicked, raising a questioning brow.  “Are you trained in tactical driving maneuvers?” he asked with a smug look on his face. 
    “I’m pretty sure you already know the answer to that,” she sharply replied.  “Just to be clear for you, the answer is no!”
    “Then I’m sure you’ll agree that we should be prepared for any scenario. That means I’m driving you to and from your destination.”  He held out his hands and waited until she handed over the set of keys.  They left the room, trading barbs as they went.
    Copper let out a small sigh of relief.  His bedroom suite was large, but there were too many people in it, and he hated being crowded.  He looked at Mercury. “I didn’t want to get down to the nitty-gritty in front of Natalie.  Did you find any clues at all in Marla’s car?”
    His brother tightened his lips and shook his head. “Not really. Two bullet holes in the body of the car and several smudges of blood, probably from where she tried to staunch the bleeding and drive at the same time.”
    That pronouncement made Copper growl.  He couldn’t begin to imagine how afraid Marla must have been when the bullets started flying.  She wasn’t used to dodging bullets.  The pain, the blood, the thought of being hunted, all of it, would terrify a gentle woman like Marla.  He was going to find the person who made her suffer.  And he was going to return the pain and terror tenfold. 
    “If someone is looking for her, it’s doubtful they’ll end up here.”  Copper thought if he said the words out loud they would sound reassuring.  It didn’t work.
    “But we shouldn’t risk it,” Mercury guessed.
    “Hide her car in the garage.  The property is secure, but there’s no need to court trouble.  Then I need you to trail Chrome and Natalie, just in case they run into any problems.  Marla’s been traumatized enough for one day.  She doesn’t need anything to happen to her sister on top of