Cryostorm (31 page)

The doors creaked open behind us. “Ashcroft.”

I stepped to the side. “Here. One minute.” I faced Nate again. “I get you the whole ceremony. So, let’s make it last a while. I want to look into your eyes for as long as possible without any red flickering to life.”

“How’d you get him to agree to this?”

“Told him it was ‘no deal’ if he was near. He agreed so quickly.”

“Because he’s confident GEM won’t find anything and he’ll get you.”

“How can he think that GEM will ever let him go if Robo Nate stays in control?”

Nate combed his fingers through my hair, then brushed his thumb beneath my lip. “Because he knows you will never imprison him or keep him comatose because he’s me.”

I nodded. “He’s right, Nate. We’ll figure this out.”

“It’s time.” A woman with big red hair stood before a set of propped open double doors.

A red carpet lined the small aisle to the altar. At the end stood a man, holding a thin black book open in the palm of his hand. I pushed up to my tiptoes and kissed Nate. “I love you with my entire heart and soul. I can’t wait to be Mrs. Nate Ashcroft.”

Nate grabbed my hand and we took the first step onto the red carpet. “Let’s get married.”

Chapter 44

“
Y
ou may kiss the bride.”

Nate wove one arm around my waist and cupped my cheek with his free hand. “I love you, Mrs. Ashcroft.”

“Love you, too, Mr. Ashcroft,” I said as I leaned into his touch.

Soft lips met mine, and I pushed up to my toes for more. Curling my arms around his neck I hugged him tight, taking the kiss deeper.

I was Nate’s wife. Legally bound to the man I loved with all my heart. A man who would soon disappear until we got to Colorado. So I’d better enjoy this kiss.

Clapping brought me back to the moment. Wow, the chapel even provided a little crowd to add to the excitement.

Nate grabbed my hand and kissed my ring finger. Robo Nate had arranged wedding bands for both of us to be present. He’d not forgotten a detail. That was how I knew this was the right decision. Not only because it bound me to Nate, but that Robo Nate would have been ready for anything I might have tried otherwise.

I glanced down the short aisle, not wanting to start the walk, because I knew the red glow would come back as soon as we got to the SUV. If not before.

But, the next couple was waiting.

Nate hoisted me into his arms, and I let out a squeal. “I’m carrying you now, until I can officially carry you across the threshold.” He kissed the tip of my nose. “Love you.”

I hugged him tight as he slowly made his way toward the exit. Seemed he wanted to take his time, too. Knew his minutes with me were numbered.

“You know, I heard when you questioned Robo Nate on the authenticity of my feelings for you and how we met.” He kissed my temple. “He was right to call my love organic.”

“Nate.”

“Our meeting might have been planned or orchestrated somehow. But they—The Center, GenCorp, even Robo Nate—they didn’t control how hard and fast I fell for you. That was one hundred percent me.”

“Thank you.” I needed to hear that so much more than I realized.

The door that led outside loomed, and Nate slowed. “I don’t want to go, Mandy. I want to stay here with you.”

“Forever.” I kissed him hard and long, memorizing his taste. His scent. His feel.

“I’ll stay close to the surface. As much and as long as I can.”

“I love you.”

He opened the door, still carrying me. With each step he took toward the SUV at the end of the walkway, I feared that red light would flare.

“Let me get her to the car,” Nate whispered. His jaw clenched. “Please.”

Tears stung, and I held onto him harder. He could take it. He was so strong. I nuzzled my face in his neck and inhaled.
My Nate.

Finally to the SUV, he grunted as he set me on the hood. I wrapped my legs around him and tugged him in for a kiss.

Another grunt had me opening my eyes.

The red glow was back.

Chapter 45

T
all pine trees lined the road as the SUV revved its engine to make it over another mountain pass. Banks of snow hemmed us in the plowed road, and a subtle shade of gray claimed the sky as the morning hours approached.

“The next exit,” Robo Nate said as if answering my unspoken question.

At least he’d been quiet most of the ride, allowing me to sit with my eyes closed, focusing on the memory of my quickie wedding to Nate. His eyes. His kisses.

Robo Nate steered the massive SUV up the winding drive. No wonder the road had been closed for so long back before Robo Nate kidnapped me. It was narrow and totally in the woods. I wondered how he figured out where the turn was. Any type of snow would render this place completely isolated.

My insides churned with excitement. I’d phoned Georgia an hour earlier from a throwaway cell phone when we stopped at a gas station. I think my ear was still bleeding from her loud squeal. She threw question after question, but Robo Nate allowed only thirty seconds for me to tell her we were coming and to describe the car that would be approaching.

I barely got a goodbye in before he ripped it from my hand, destroyed it, and flushed it down the toilet.

We approached a wrought iron gate that had a check-in booth to the left. A man, dressed in head-to-toe black, stepped from the white painted structure, his hand resting on the pistol at his hip. Cameras sat on every other tip of the wrought iron. Each moved, scanning us it seemed.

Robo Nate pressed the button and the whirl of the window descending into the door sounded. The Rambo guy stepped forward, but out of arm’s reach.

“What can I do for you?” The guy’s voice was raspy. A thin mustache dusted his upper lip. Piercing blue eyes analyzed every inch of the SUV, then fastened onto Robo Nate.

“We are Nate Ashcroft and Amanda Hillman.”

At least he hadn’t spilled the beans about my new last name. Hadn’t quite had time to tell Georgia about that.

The security guy nodded, then stepped back from the vehicle. He reached into the room and within seconds the gate separating me from my family jerked, then in a fluid, slow motion rolled backward. A long driveway lay before us.

“Drive ahead, please.”

Robo Nate nodded, pressed the window button again, and rolled forward. From outside my window, I saw a Jeep zooming toward us. Two guys in front, another standing in back, aiming a long rifle over the top of the truck at us.

“What the hell?”

“Our guides, I guess,” Robo Nate said, his voice monotone.

Another appeared on his side. The one aiming at Robo Nate’s side waved the weapon, urging him forward. Our truck jostled onward over the snow-packed driveway.

Each minute that passed my heart crashed against my ribs that much harder.

The driveway had to be wide enough for three cars to be side-by-side, but snow piles more than five or six feet lining the way made it feel claustrophobic. All I could see were trees looming, like we were in a tunnel.

The last of the evening sun couldn’t filter through the thick woods and that added to my unease. Had Robo Nate taken me to the right place? He had to have. They had our names. Were expecting us.

I flicked him a quick look. He reached out to me and curled his fingers around my fist, which was resting on my thigh.

“We’re safe. I will never let any harm come to you.”

I believed that. He wouldn’t allow anyone to hurt the mother of his children. I shook my head. Yeah, that would sound weird for—well—forever!

Finally, we crested the small, inclined driveway, and a sprawling mansion came into view. Looked like one of those estates from
Cribs
. Brick, tall pillars, and windows that went on and on and on. Hope there weren’t chores here for the students, because I wouldn’t want to get stuck washing those.

The driveway veered to the right, then began curving into a circle drive. At the top of the circle was the front door. Double-wide, black, and propped open. There stood Georgia, Tim, Jasmine, Scott, Martin, Lois, and Zach.

Tears instantly sprung into my eyes. I cranked on the doorknob. It didn’t unhitch the door. I tried again and pushed. Oh, the lock. With shaking fingers I pressed the unlock button and cranked the handle.

The door flew open, and I hopped out, truck still moving. I nearly toppled to the side from the momentum, but I didn’t care. I had to get to Georgia and Scott.

“Amanda!” The SUV stopped with a jerk, but I kept running. Thought for a minute there I had superspeed for how fast I moved.

“Mandy!” Georgia yelled. The rest of the gang fell in behind her. Even Jasmine, but she didn’t turn on her superspeed, which was okay.

Scott ran to me, and I saw the tears streaming down his face already. I collided with Georgia, and her warmth wrapped around me like a familiar blanket. Scott reached me next.

“Mandy,” he said.

I kept one arm around Georgia’s neck while I reached for Scott with my other hand. He hugged me tight, touching kisses up and down my cheek and hair and forehead. “Mandy. You’re okay.”

The sobs robbed me of any ability to talk. Thick throat, runny eyes, and snotty nose but I didn’t care. I was with my brother and sister. I was safe.

Car doors slamming and guns clicking rang out like gongs. I tensed and pulled my head from Scott’s neck. Seven army dudes surrounded Robo Nate, pointing their cocked and ready rifles at him.

He could have plowed through them with his speed before they knew what hit them, but he didn’t. He only watched me through their human wall. His head was cocked to the side, and his stare fastened on me.

Georgia petting my hair brought me back to her and the gang. “Are you okay? Did they hurt you? You’ve been gone so long. How—”

“Georgia, breathe,” Jasmine said. “Welcome back, Mandy. See you brought the drone with you.”

“What’s wrong with his eye?” Georgia asked.

“It’s the chip. Robo Nate is in control.” I slid my sweatshirt sleeve beneath my nose. “My Nate’s trapped in there.”

“Shit.” Jasmine slapped Tim. “Thought you scanned him.”

“Son of a bitch,” he said.

“Why isn’t he attacking?” Georgia whispered.

“I’ll tell you everything. But can we go inside? It’s cold out here.”

She yanked me into a hug that warmed me all the way to my toes. She gave the best hugs even without the heat, but the heat was good, too.

They started herding me in with them.

“Amanda,” Robo Nate called out.

Would he go bonkers if we upset him? There were seven guns pointed at him, would they shoot to kill if he tried anything?

“Amanda?” Georgia whispered.

“He needs to stay with me, or he’ll get a bit anxious.”

She arched an eyebrow, which I noticed was pierced now. “Your eyebrow.”

“Jasmine did it. Now what’s going on with Nate?” She clasped my hand to pull me toward the door.

A whirlwind sent her hair shifting across her forehead, and I felt a presence beside me, followed by a hand around my elbow. A painfully tight grip, too.

“We stay together,” Robo Nate said. “Or we leave.”

“I know,” I said. “Georgia, remember? He agrees to—”

“Screw this,” Scott said. “Someone tranq this asshole.” He lunged at Robo Nate.

Before I could register what was happening, Jasmine was in front of Scott, grabbing Robo Nate’s wrists. Her strength was no match for his, though, and with one crank, she was on her knees.

But then suddenly Robo Nate flinched. Once, twice, then again.

His free hand went to his neck. In a flash I was in his arms, and he was speeding to the gate. His movements got sluggish, though, and he stumbled forward. I landed on the asphalt driveway right on my butt, and paint jolted through my tailbone like a bolt of lightning.

Robo Nate toppled sideways and landed against the snowbank. Slouched against it, his head tilted to the side. Two darts stuck out from his neck and another in his shoulder, sticking out from the thick sweatshirt he wore.

On all fours I scrambled toward him. I cupped his face and turned it to me. His lids hung heavy over his eyes.

“I’m sorry, Nate. I didn’t plan this. They’re just…scared. I’ll make this all right.”

“See you soon,” Robo Nate said, and his eyes shut.

“Nate. I’ll see My Nate soon.” I pressed kisses all over his face. Every inch I could see. His lips were last, and I touched a light kiss on them, too.

His eyes flickered open, fully brown and amber-flecked. “Mandy,” he gasped, then sagged against the snowbank, unconscious.

“Nate!” I knew he was only sleeping, but that last glimpse of him and gasp… I yanked out the darts and tossed them to the ground. I threw my arms around him and hugged him tight, rocking back and forth.

Jasmine arrived in her usual whirlwind. “It’s okay, hon. He’s just tranquilized.”

“I know.”

“He’ll be okay. We’ll figure this out. Why the hell did he bring you back? He had to have known this would happen.”

“It’s a long story.” Tears stung. “I told Georgia he’d cooperate. Why’d… why’d you do this?”

“Can’t trust him,” Jasmine said.

Didn’t matter anyway. He was out, and the next time I’d see him awake, he’d be My Nate again.

Chapter 46

G
eorgia held my hand so tight I thought she’d break it soon. But I wouldn’t have asked her to let go for anything in the world. We paced outside the medical unit doors. They’d just wheeled Nate’s limp body in from the driveway.

“He’ll be okay. He’ll be okay.” Georgia repeated for the fifteenth time. I wasn’t sure if she believed it, but it felt good to hear. Scott joined us and grabbed my other hand. Zach, Tim, and Martin watched from the seats while Jasmine talked with some army dude.

“He didn’t hurt you, did he?” Scott asked.

“Just a little. In the beginning. When he was total Robot Nate.”

“He changed?”

I nodded. “Started gathering intel. It’s like one of those super smart artificial intelligence robots. Well, not robot, but the chip is.” I cleared my throat, fighting the tears. Felt like everything was going to collapse around me any second. “He learned things. Nate, when he came through Robo Nate’s hold, said Robo Nate liked me. Would protect me and keep me safe.”