by Lynn Rush
“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
Tall 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 pulle
d 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
Georgia 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.”
“Yeah, because he wants to knock you up,” Georgia said.
“I can’t believe The Center. They made a man for you? Then threw a chip in there that triggered into motion once you said I love you? Sick. They’re sick sons of bitches,” Scott said.
“Because they knew that if you loved him you couldn’t just kill him. You might give in or something,” Georgia said.
“Whatever. I don’t know what we’ll find out about them, other than what we already know. They’re sick bastards and evil and have ruined our lives. Is Brandon’s team going to strike?”
“They’ve been gathering information while searching for you two. Now that you’re here you can tell them everything. And when Nate is back, he can tell them everything, too. Tim already told him the main location. GEM is formulating a plan of attack there.”
“Plan?”
“They have a lot of political connections, Mandy. Might really be able to get in there and shut it down,” Scott said. “If not, then they’ll have the private sector strike and neutralize the threat.”
“Bev’s operation, on the other hand, they don’t have much info. That’s where you and Nate come in again. You were there. You’ll tell them everything you remember.”
“Nate sped us out of there so fast, I don’t know where it was other than really deep in the desert. He ran us all the way to the California-Nevada border.”
“That helps. We can talk to Jas and see about how far he could maybe run, holding you, if he went straight until the border like that. She ran, alone, to Nebraska pretty fast,” Scott said.
“Oh. Congrats on the engagement.” I threw my arms around his neck.
“I’m so glad you’re alive. I really thought you were gone. Both of you.” He yanked Georgia close and we had a good, long group hug.
“Where are they taking Nate?” I asked Scott.
“Down to their surgical ward.” He glanced in the direction they’d wheeled him.
“You mean he’s going to be sedated until surgeons come here?”
“Jas is talking to them now. She’ll know when they’ll be here.”
“Can I at least sit with him?” I asked Scott.
“I’ll go find out.” He kissed my cheek and peeled out from my embrace.
Jasmine met Scott before he made it to the nurse on duty and they both turned toward me.
“They’re flying in some uber-specialist. He’ll be here in a few hours.”
“Can I go sit with him?” I asked. “He’s all alone down there.”
“Oh, he’s not alone. There are five guards in there with him standing by with trigger happy fingers.” Jasmine shook her head. “No chances with Josiah—er—Nate.”
“I wish everyone would quit calling him Josiah. Bev wouldn’t stop doing that either. I hate that name. He’s not Josiah. He’s Nate. Nate Ashcroft!” I
turned and stomped toward the swinging doors. I pushed through them and started looking in each room I passed.
The last one on the left was jackpot, had to be, because a guard stood outside. He tensed when I neared.
“I’m going in.”
The guy’s gaze went past my shoulder, toward the nurse type person at the station I hadn’t even realized I passed. Tunnel vision for My Nate I guess. She nodded and I moved on in.
Nate lay there, hand cuffed to the guard rails, head tilted to the side, and mouth slightly ajar. His face was smooth from deep sleep, and his body was covered with a sheet up to his waist. They’d cut off his shirt so his brands showed. I rested my palm over them, and the heat of his body warmed me to my core.
I thought I’d been through so much. Complained as often as I could about it, too. Yet he, someone who’d been through so much more than me, well, not more, just different and more dramatic things, never complained.
He’d accepted he was created from a concoction The Center had made up. Grew at miraculous rates and even had a hand in killing my parents with the missions he designed.
But yet he never complained. Only looked out for others. Saw freedom as a chance to do good things with the powers The Center gave him. And then gave it all up to protect me and Georgia by killing us off and watching over us while trying to figure things out.
Then we finally got close enough to one another to utter the three magical words—well I uttered them—and this was our reward. I leaned over him and pressed a kiss on his left eye. It would soon flicker with My Nate’s amber-flecked brown color. No red. We’d remove that chip and I’d get my boyfriend—er—husband back.
God that sounded so weird but totally amazing.
Tears stung at the thought of surgery not working. What would GEM do? What would I do? I wasn’t sure I could be with Robo Nate if that was only option. Could I learn to love him?
Warmth slid down my face. Robo Nate had called me his soulmate, said he was made for me. While he literally was, I was starting to think I was made only for My Nate.
So, maybe we really were soulmates. Destined to be together. Because the thought of being without any version of Nate hurt my heart so much I couldn’t breathe. I glanced around the room and other than the IV drip of the drug keeping him asleep, nothing else was in the room. TV up on the wall, a chair beside the bed, but that was it.