“That’s easy. You’ve obviously forgotten who I am,” Jade said. Her gaze shot to the two cyborg soldiers that held Nightmare in place. “By my authority as MedAct’s CEO, I order you to release him.”
Silence filled the area for two seconds.
Then the two cyborg soldiers reacted.
They moved, backing fast, forcing a surprised Carolyn to move away with them.
“Take the gun and keep her away from us. Protect us,” Jade told the cyborg soldiers.
One of them instantly lunged at Carolyn. He grabbed her hand and pulled the gun from her grip while the other three blocked her way to Jade and Nightmare.
The woman cursed, and a strong fight lit up in her eyes. “What the heck do you think you’re doing?” She glared at the cyborg soldiers, but they ignored her. She couldn’t hurt them.
Nightmare fell to the floor with a loud groan. His body hurt, every muscle ached.
Jade was instantly by his side.
He gave her a tired smile, still happy to see her.
“I’ll never forgive you for following me,” she whispered with a glare.
He only chuckled. “I’ll kiss your anger away until you forgive me,” he whispered back.
She rolled her eyes and helped him stand.
Pain surged through him. Even if he loved her touch, it hurt having her hands on his tender limbs. Hopefully, he wasn’t bleeding internally, but the cyborg soldiers had beaten him effectively. Every muscle ached, his face felt swollen, and the taste of blood was in his mouth.
Jade turned to them with his arm wrapped around her shoulder. “I’m sure you’ve noticed Soul isn’t here anymore. You’ll soon realize why. Once you do, come find us.”
They walked away.
Nightmare groaned. The pain was like a knife in his chest with every step he took, but no way in hell was he staying here just because it hurt.
“You idiots!” Carolyn roared and tried to push through the cyborg soldiers. “Get out of my way, you big buffoons!”
Nightmare only grinned when one of the soldiers lifted his arm in front of Carolyn and pushed her back.
The cyborg didn’t even look at her. His gaze was fixed at them.
So were the other soldiers’ gazes.
There was something in their eyes. Was it … sadness?
It was hard to tell. It was too invisible, but they knew something was going on. Watching their CEO help the enemy had to be a sight, and yet, they didn’t disobey Jade.
“You can’t walk away from me, Zero!” Carolyn yelled. “You’re bound to me. Your heart will always come back to me.”
Nightmare froze, and for a short moment, he stared ahead.
Jade grabbed the hand he held over her shoulder and gently squeezed it.
That tiny gesture made him feel her support, and he badly needed it right now.
Then he whirled around. Pure hatred, disgust, and fury filled every part of his body as he pierced his creator with his glare.
The vile woman twitched and silenced.
Her reaction felt like a small victory, because he didn’t miss the sudden surprise and fear in her eyes.
“The next time we meet will be the time I kill you. Remember that,” Nightmare vowed. He continued walking away with his true bound one by his side, not bothering with giving Carolyn a final look.
CHAPTER 29
Jade didn’t speak as Nightmare guided her to where he’d entered MedAct. She was too angry to open her mouth. Too many harsh words would come out if she tried. Keeping them in was for the best … for now.
Besides, he needed her right now. He was able to walk, but he was leaning forward with agony in his expression. Sweat covered his forehead, and he was shaking in obvious pain.
He let out a groan but didn’t protest.
They kept walking.
She had to examine him, but Jade didn’t dare to stop, and neither did he try. His gaze was focused up ahead.
The long concrete tunnel seemed to go on forever, but eventually, they reached a metal door.
She opened it and helped him out. The lock was broken, and it didn’t take much to figure out how he’d gotten in.
Jade looked around. They were behind the MedAct building, in an open and empty area. There was a motorcycle not far. She led him to it. “I’ll drive.” She grabbed the helmet and handed it to him.
Nightmare frowned.
“There’s only one. Take it,” she said, pushing it to him.
“You’re more fragile. You should have it.”
She narrowed her eyes. “You’re the one who’s hurt.”
He pressed his lips together. “Stop arguing, woman, and put it on. We don’t have time for this.” Her cyborg groaned again, and pain marked his face. Nightmare placed his hand against his chest.
He was right. Arguing was a bad idea.
Jade put the helmet on his head.
“What the—?” He reached for it.
“Don’t you dare,” she hissed. “Do you want people to recognize you?”
He stilled.
“I didn’t think so,” she went on as she sat at the front of the motorcycle. “Now, get on. As you said, we don’t have time for this.”
Nightmare let out a long chant of curse words, but sat behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist with another grunt of discomfort.
She flinched on the inside, almost feeling his pain as her own. She really had to take a look at him, fast.
He could be bleeding internally.
Jade started the motorcycle, and they were off.
They rode through the city in silence.
It would’ve been impossible to talk anyway, because of the wind ruffling her hair and singing in her ears. With each mile, the tension in her body started to lessen.
They’d be safe soon.
Just a little bit longer and they’d be back at the Fighters’ headquarters. She’d be able to take care of her cyborg then.
When they’d finally left the city behind, and entered the countryside, she relaxed. MedAct was far behind, and no one seemed to be following them.
They cyborg soldiers seemed to have understood something was off and had followed her orders. They’d helped. They’d saved them, actually.
They were programmed to follow orders. It was an instinct, almost impossible to ignore, and yet, Soul had ignored it.
Maybe these cyborg soldiers would be able to do that too, but would they be able to leave their bound ones?
Jade bit her lip.
Poor Soul.
What he must’ve gone through. She understood him better now. He must’ve figured everything out. Maybe he even knew Janice was Carolyn.
She’d seen him flinch whenever Janice’s name had been mentioned, but she’d never reflected over it. Cyborgs weren’t meant to dislike their bound ones.
They’re supposed to love them, and yet, Soul hadn’t.
Anger boiled her veins.
What had Janice—no, Carolyn—done to the poor cyborg?
She’d make her regret hurting him.
Determination stirred within Jade. Something told her Soul wasn’t at the Fighters’ headquarters after all. He wasn’t locked up like some of the Fighters.
No, he was out there somewhere, hiding.
She’d make sure he got the help he needed and help bring him home.
To the Fighters.
Home.
Jade smirked.
It was her home now, too. MedAct wasn’t her place anymore.
She’d never be able to go back after what just happened. Who knew what Carolyn would do now, but one thing she was sure of.
The evil woman would go to the Council and tell them about Jade’s betrayal.
She inhaled despite the moving air kissing her cheeks.
She was no longer the CEO of MedAct, and soon, it would be official. Her betrayal would be announced to the world, and people would start believing lies about her, without ever knowing the real story.
There had to be a
way to change that.
MedAct was the bad guy, not the Fighters, like most of the world believed.
Jade didn’t want to imagine what Nightmare had gone through all these years. The truth had been in his hands, but no one had ever listened.
Including her.
In a way, she could put herself in his shoes.
She understood now.
Nightmare pulled at her shirt.
Her attention shot to him. Was something wrong?
His head rested heavily against her back and his arms barely gripped her.
Luckily, the city was far behind them, and they’d just entered the forest.
She found a side road and drove in between the trees. Jade stopped and dismounted the motorcycle.
Nightmare listed forward on the seat, swaying, and his head dangling. He started to slide off.
She grabbed him, her stomach clenching. She held on all she could, but it was pointless.
He was too heavy.
Nightmare landed on the grass on his back. He groaned and remained still.
Jade didn’t hesitate. She took off the helmet and tossed it over her shoulder.
He panted as she opened his shirt.
She studied his torso. Usually, she would’ve enjoyed the sights of his muscular body, but all those dark bruises made her heart stutter, and her fury spiked.
The cyborg soldiers were strong, and this was all Carolyn’s doing.
She’d be the one to pay for this.
Nightmare didn’t move, but he watched her when she pulled her phone out and dialed a number.
“Hello? Jade?” Celise’s worried voice was loud on the other side of the line.
“Celise. Yes, it’s me. Nightmare’s hurt. I need your help. I need you to grab a few Fighters and pick us up. We’re in the middle of the forest, and I can’t move him. It’s too far for him to travel on the motorcycle. I think he’s got a broken rib.”
“Oh, my God! We’re on the way.”
The line went dead.
Jade frowned. “I didn’t get to tell her our location.”
Nightmare’s lips twitched. “Don’t worry. She’ll find us.”
Her frown deepened. “How?”
“Celise invented a program to track down cyborgs through the universal signal that unites us all. That’s how she managed to find Shade several weeks ago. We all felt her use it.” He gasped suddenly, as if surprised, then he relaxed and smiled. “She’s at it right now. I feel it working.”
Her jaw dropped. “I didn’t know.”
He grabbed her hand, gently squeezed it. “You know now.”
She looked away. “I’ll never be able to go back.”
A part of her mourned what she’d lost, but another part was happy that her eyes had been opened.
Nightmare’s grasp on her hand tightened. “You’ll be MedAct’s CEO one day again. I promise you. Once we’ve cleaned up this mess, we’ll turn MedAct into what it is meant to be—a haven for cyborgs.”
“That’s wishful thinking. Janice …” She swallowed hard. “Carolyn … will try to take control now, and she’ll succeed when she tells everyone I’ve changed sides.” Jade shook her head. “I still can’t grasp that … I mean, she’s alive, and …” The words died when she met her cyborg’s gaze.
He didn’t move, only studied her with expressionless eyes. “When I realized who she was, I thought my whole world would collapse again,” Nightmare finally said. “I felt fear and hatred, but after a while … I felt a slight relief.”
Jade winced. “Relief?”
That was the last thing she’d expected him to say.
“Revenge slipped by me about forty years ago. I was furious at her for getting killed so easily, for getting killed by something else than my hands. I won’t fail this time. Besides, Carolyn still believes I’m bound to her. I intend to use that.”
Had she heard him right?
Why wasn’t he in shock?
Why didn’t the knowledge Carolyn was alive scare him?
Carolyn being alive was disturbing to say in the least, but Nightmare was full of determination, a determination so strong it was almost overwhelming.
Funny, but seeing him like this, calmed her too.
“This time, my face will be the last thing she sees as she takes her final breath,” Nightmare’s dark vow was present in every word.
Jade didn’t object.
After what Carolyn had done, she deserved no mercy.
Especially not now, since she’d been hiding in plain sight. Only God knew what she’d done behind Jade’s back.
The thought sent daggers down her spine.
She barely dared to imagine what the vile woman was planning, but from what she’d learned these last few days, it would be far from good.
Jade squeezed Nightmare’s hand and gave him a smile. “And I will stand by your side through it all.”
He smiled back.
The resolve in his eyes faded and made room for sweet emotions. The love and desire in their shining depths made her look away. She cleared her throat and her cheeks heated. “Why’re you looking at me like that?”
“Because I love you.”
She stilled. Unwelcome heaviness settled in her chest. Words she’d always wanted to hear. But they weren’t real. “That’s the bond talking.” Disappointment made her want to close her eyes.
“No, it’s not.”
Jade blinked. “It’s not?”
“I’m sure you’ve wondered why my bond to you got sealed away without reason, and why my eyes flashed without you even touching me. I’m sure you can figure it out, if you just give it a thought.”
Nightmare looked so tired. He had to be in a lot of pain, but there was nothing she could do for him.
Jade had no medical equipment, but nothing pointed her to believe he was bleeding internally. All she could do was keep him company.
His gaze never left her, as she sat by his side and held his hand in hers.
It was almost as if he was expecting something from her.
Jade licked her lips. A pinch of excitement filled her.
He seemed willing to reveal whatever he’d been hiding these last few days.
“Is it because of your old bond?”
Nightmare shook his head with an amused grin.
“Is it because the new bond malfunctioned somehow?” Her cheeks became even warmer when the love in his eyes intensified.
He looked at her as if he’d never seen anything more beautiful, as if she was a part of his soul.
Her cyborg caressed the back of her hand with his thumb and gave her the sweetest smile. “It’s because I fell in love with you.”
Silence fell between them.
The wind blew, and birds sang in the distance, but Jade barely noticed. “You mean … the bond made you fall in love with me?” He couldn’t possibly mean that literally, right?
Nightmare’s smile widened. “No, because I fell in love with you a long time ago on my own, and the bond got locked away … because my heart was already filled with you. That’s also why it didn’t need me to touch you to initiate. It just waited for the right moment, the moment when you told me you loved me.”
Her jaw dropped. Her heart took off, rebounding off her ribs.
“I’ve never known love. Not true love,” he said. “I didn’t understand it, and because of that, I didn’t understand my feelings for you until the bond initiated, instead, I pushed them aside. I ignored them. The love I had for Carolyn was not by my own choice. I hated every second of it, but this is different. This love I choose to embrace, because my heart chose it itself.”
A tear ran down her cheek and she swiped it away. “I don’t know what to say.” She giggled, couldn’t help it.
He grinned. “Just tell me you love me.”
She laughed again. It was delighted, even to her ears. “I do. I really do. I love you.”
Nightmare pulled her over him.
She threw out her hands and stopped hersel
f from falling over his bruised chest. Jade peered into his shining eyes. “I could’ve hurt you.”
“But you didn’t. Now, shut up and kiss me.”
That was a command she couldn’t resist.
CHAPTER 30
Jade stared at the little hard drive in her shaky palm. She hadn’t been this nervous in a long time.
This was the day that was about to change everything.
Everything.
The empty gathering room was huge, but soon, it would be filled with Fighters. Fighters that wanted to know what’d happened.
Nightmare’s arms wrapped around her from behind, and she leaned into his embrace.
It was comforting, filled with love, and support. She could rely on him.
He’d be there for her, and testify to her story, as she’d testify to his.
The Fighters still didn’t completely trust her, even if she’d come back with more than they could’ve ever asked for.
That would hopefully change soon, because soon, they’d know what they were up against.
Soon, they’d known how much had been hidden behind their backs.
Telling them Carolyn was alive would be difficult.
They hadn’t waited long yesterday in the forest for the Fighters to arrive.
Celise and Wind had been with them, but because of Nightmare’s condition, few questions had been answered. The leader had been taken to the infirmary and she’d helped him heal.
Now, they were inside the gathering room, waiting for everyone to arrive.
This was going to be the most difficult talk Jade had ever had.
Nightmare gently kissed her head. “I’m right here, by your side. We’ll do this together.”
She nodded and caressed his arm. Feeling the heat of his skin against her palm calmed her. “You should be the train-wreck, not me.”
“I know. It’s strange, but I’m not. Knowing she’s alive gives me some kind of weird inner peace. Now, I can finally get my revenge.”
Jade wouldn’t stop him. The betrayal she felt was nothing compared to his.
Finding out Carolyn had been disguised as Janice, hit her hard. She still felt the effect from the shock and the surprise. It was unbelievable.
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