Cosmos' Promise: Cosmos' Gateway Book 4 (17 page)

“What is the meaning of this?” Teriff demanded as the warriors stopped just inside the door.

Core scowled at Teriff. “I was told to report to your office as were the others. I think I have the right to demand what the meaning of this is more so than you,” he growled out.

Terra’s soft gasp echoed throughout the room drawing everyone’s attention to the middle of the room where a glowing shape was slowly forming. The apparition was fuzzy at first before it slowly became almost solid looking.

“Holy shit, it’s a ghost!” Tansy said moving instinctively in front of Mak in an effort to protect him.

Mak snarled and picked Tansy up gently by the waist and set her behind him. He glared at her for a fraction of a second before he turned and positioned himself in front of her. Tansy grimaced when he snapped at her to stay put when she tried to get around him so she could see the figure better.

“What?” She retorted. “It’s a habit to be up front.”

“Well, break it!” Mak bit out in frustration. “I protect you, not the other way around from now on.”

“Whatever!” Tansy snorted as her eyes widened as the figure became clearer. “Holy hell. It’s Grandma Bell come back to haunt us!”

“Mom?” Angus whispered pushing his glasses up onto his nose as he stared at the apparition of his mother.

The peal of husky laughter echoed in the room. “No honey. It’s me, RITA2,” the figure said as it turned to look at Cosmos with a mischievous grin. “I called the boys in. RITA and I wanted to make sure you had some kick-ass help. I saw what they did at the fortress. These bad boys have enough muscle to take on half of Hong Kong.”

Chapter 17

After the uproar and subsequent fascination of finding out RITA2 had discovered a way to create a three-dimensional holographic image of herself, the meeting progressed fairly quickly. Core and the other warriors quickly sobered when they were given the information about what was happening. The knowledge that the man was also responsible for Merrick’s disappearance and probably knew of his location helped.

Core explained briefly that they were able to rescue five women that were taken. Hendrik then spoke up, explaining that three of the women had discovered their bond mates among the men who had taken them. The other men were turned over to their clans for discipline.

“What of the other skimmer that my men were pursuing?” Cosmos asked, concerned with the lack of information about Rico and Garrett.

RITA2’s lush figure turned drawing the attention of all the men. It didn’t help that she was wearing a 1920’s flapper dress that swirled with beads and showed off ample breasts and a set of stunning legs.

“Down boys, I’m just an image,” RITA2 giggled.

“But what an image,” Brawn muttered as his eyes flickered back and forth, watching the fringed hem giving out peeks of slender thighs.

Angus cleared his throat. “That is my mom – I mean – oh hell. Couldn’t you have picked a different image?” He grumbled. “This brings back memories of all my friends wanting a date with my ‘sister’! Do you know what it was like having to explain it was my mom they were eyeing?”

RITA2 chuckled. “You poor baby. It was either this or Tilly and RITA is working on that one. Now, to answer your question, Cosmos, I lost contact with Garrett and Rico about ten hours ago. The MFVs power was depleted. The solar cells should be charging now. They had landed in a sparsely covered tundra to the north. It’s a good thing those damn suits you created are environmentally controlled or they would be freezing their asses off.”

Hendrik grimaced. “Those responsible must be from my clan then. It will be difficult for your men to survive where my clan lives. It is best to forget the female. The warriors who took her will not release her. They will kill your men first before they do that.”

Cosmos’ mouth tightened. “My men will not leave her. They are more adaptable than you realize. Why would your men kidnap a defenseless woman?” He asked, his heart wrenching as he thought of his own mother’s terror right now.

Hendrik shook his head in remorse. “My people are getting desperate. There are few females in my clan. Few can tolerate the ice and snow for long periods of time. The men grow restless as they become more desperate.”

“Его люди должны посетить Россию в течение зимы, не так ли Наташа? Женщины там не только показать ему, как жить в холодную погоду, но удар их высокомерным ослов думая, что они не могли справиться с этим.”
His men need to visit Russia during the winter, isn’t that right, Natasha?
The women there would not only show him how to live in cold weather, but kick their arrogant asses for thinking they couldn’t handle it,
Helene said dryly to her sister.

A ghost of a smile curved Natasha’s lips as she looked at her sister. “да,”
Yes.
Natasha answered softly.

“English,” Brock growled out in frustration as he rubbed Helene’s shoulder. “Please.”

“She was just pointing out that Hendrik’s men were looking in the wrong place if they wanted women who could handle their climate. They need to visit a few of the northern climates on Earth. Russia, Norway, Iceland, Greenland, Canada, and Alaska are just a few. From my readings of the planet, it isn’t that much different. Hell, even the scientists living in Antarctica live in a harsher environment than Hendrik’s clan,” RITA2 replied looking at her nails that were switching through a variety of brilliant colors and nail designs.

Hendrik’s eyes widened then narrowed as he looked at Helene with a speculative look. Brock moved out from where he was standing behind Helene and emitted a low, challenging growl at the look. His hand moved to the short laser sword at his side.

“She is mine,” he warned the huge Northern clan leader.

“But there are others?” Hendrik asked with a grim smile.

“Brock – Hendrik!” Teriff’s sharp voice broke through the tense standoff between the two men. “Hendrik, I will discuss ways to help your clan after we rescue Cosmos’ mother and get Merrick back,” he paused a moment before he placed his hand over his heart. “You have my word.”

Hendrik broke eye contact with Brock so he could look at Teriff. The Prime Leader’s face showed no hint of deception. Hendrik took a step back and bowed his head in acknowledgement.

“Agreed,” he said heavily before he turned to look at Cosmos. “What is your plan of attack on this human? And do I get to kill?” He asked with a sharp-tooth grin. “I am feeling my own frustrations at not having a mate and need to work off some of it.”

Cosmos straightened up and looked around the room. “There are two situations going down. Avilov, who is in Hong Kong, has murdered my… father and has my mother as a hostage. According to the preliminary information I have, he has almost forty men with him at the warehouse where he has taken my parents. I want to bring both of them home,” he said heavily looking around at the men listening. “The second situation is the warehouse I call home and where I have my labs. Avilov has a team ready to infiltrate it the moment I leave. He wants not only my equipment but he wants Terra as well.”

Teriff’s eyes flashed in fury at the mention of the man wanting to harm his daughter. “Bullet and Gant will take those approaching your warehouse while the rest of us go after your parents.”

Cosmos shook his head. “I have a team that can take care of my place. The problem is getting them there in time. I have less than sixteen hours to be in Hong Kong and I need Avilov to think I’m en-route so his people need to see me leave the warehouse. I’ll use the Gateway to transport back to here then to Hong Kong so I can get a better idea and plan of attack. I want the team coming after me to see Terra sending me off. The moment I leave, she will transport back here and wait for me. RITA and my team can handle Avilov’s team in Maine. They will be good but I guarantee not as dangerous as the group in Hong Kong. I think it best if we have all the warriors we can there,” he explained quietly. “Avilov has a man named Afon Dolinski. He is extremely dangerous. He would keep his best, most dangerous men close to his boss.”

“I will go to your warehouse to help your men,” Derik said quietly from the corner where he had been standing. “It is best to have at least one Prime warrior there. We cannot take a chance of your team failing and Avilov taking possession of the Gateway.”

Teriff looked at his youngest son. He had become quieter, more withdrawn, yet focused over the past few months. He had confronted him about what happened that night at the warehouse but all Derik would say was that he had killed two of the men in the alley but the third person he was chasing had escaped.

“Agreed,” Teriff said with a reluctant nod. His son was no longer a boy but a warrior.

Cosmos turned to look at Derik with a nod of thanks before looking back at Teriff. “I need to use the Gateway to bring my team in, otherwise they won’t make it in time.”

“They can be trusted?” Teriff asked with a frown at the idea of so many human males in his world at one time. It was bad enough that he had two of them here without his knowledge until just a few minutes ago. “I do not want them to have a portable device.”

“They won’t and they can be trusted,” Cosmos assured him. He turned and looked at Terra who had been standing silently beside him, his island of strength in the storm that was threatening to consume him. “Let’s get going. I want to bring my family home.”

Teriff stepped out from around the desk he had been standing behind. He placed his hand on Cosmos’ shoulder and squeezed it. Cosmos looked in the flaming eyes and saw the resolve in them.

“Your mother will be brought here,” Teriff ordered quietly. “She will not be without family.”

Cosmos’ throat closed up at the solemn promise. “Thank you,” he replied quietly before turning toward the door. “RITA2, lock on Jason’s position.”

“All set, honey,” RITA2 replied. “Good luck and be safe.”

Chapter 18

“I think that went better than you were expecting,” Terra said softly as she watched Jason and Derik talking quietly while Jason pointed out where his men would set up in preparation for the attack on the warehouse.

They were making the final arrangements before they left for Baade then Hong Kong. Cosmos, Terra, and Derik had appeared in the staging room in the New York compound a little less than an hour ago. To say they had startled the shit out of Jason and his men would be an understatement. It was only the fact that Jason was well versed in Cosmos’ penchant for inventions that stopped him from opening fire. That didn’t mean that the three of them weren’t greeted with enough firepower to start World War III.

It had taken several minutes before the men relaxed their guard. The fact that both Derik and Terra had flaming silver eyes blazing and were trying to protect Cosmos, Derik better than Terra as Cosmos kept pushing her behind him, didn’t help much until Cosmos barked out an order to lower their arms.

“Don’t you ever stand between me and a gun again,” Cosmos said sternly before he brushed a kiss to soften his words. “You scared the hell out of me. I thought you were going to rip Jason a new one.”

“He should not point things at you that can hurt you then,” she responded looking back over at the handsome man.

“Handsome?” Cosmos asked with a raised eyebrow. “You think he’s handsome?”

Terra flushed and looked up into the dark burning eyes glowering down at her. “You are not jealous, are you?” She asked in surprise. “He is handsome but I am only observing that because it is true, not because I have any desire to be with him.”

Cosmos glared at one of the soldiers walking by who was studying Terra with more than a little interest. He pulled her down the corridor toward his bedroom. Too much had happened and he needed a moment alone with her. Shutting the door to his room, he pulled her close to him.

He buried his face in her neck, holding her tightly against his taut length. “I can’t deal with them looking at you like that right now and I definitely can’t deal with you looking back, even in curiosity. I’m terrified of losing you, Terra. You should be back on your world with your mom and Tilly and the others, not in the middle of a firefight that is guaranteed to be nasty,” he said hoarsely, pulling back to look back down at her. “I can’t stand the thought that something could happen to you.”

Terra pressed her lips briefly against his. “Then think about what we are going to do when this is over. Think only of being safe so we can try to make that baby you promised me. Think of settling your mother into my world. Think only about staying safe for me. I will not come in until it is safe. I have promised you that. RITA will let me know what is going on. She will monitor the sensors that you deploy. I will be there if you need me, to help remove your mother and provide medical attention.”

“You promise?” Cosmos asked as indecision scorched his insides.

“I promise to remain safe until I am needed,” Terra said. “Believe it or not, Mak did a very good job of training me to defend myself. I am also stronger and faster than you.”

“Really?” Cosmos said skeptically.

Terra grinned and moved so fast Cosmos was left startled as he felt his feet leave the ground where they had been standing by the door. His breath left him when he found himself lying on his back in the middle of his bed with Terra straddling him. He was still trying to catch his breath as she leaned over him.

“Really,” she assured him.

“Damn!” Cosmos muttered. “When were you going to tell me you could do that?”

“On our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary,” she responded leaning over him and brushing a kiss tenderly across his lips. “Tilly said men get intimidated by women who are stronger than they are until they have more confidence in their relationship.”

Cosmos slid his hands up under Terra’s arms and rolled suddenly so that she was lying under him. “I think I’ll take my chances,” he murmured sealing his lips over hers.

Neither one heard the knock on the door or it slowly opening. Jason poked his head inside and shook his head. He hated breaking the two love birds up but time was short. RITA had informed him a few seconds before that the warehouse was surrounded. Unless they wanted to risk civilians getting hurt, they needed to get their plan moving.