Cryostorm by Lynn Rush Read Free Book Online Page A

the rope tied around her wrists had another strand down to her ankles. Cinched tight, her ankles were together, feet bare.
    A red handkerchief encircled her throat, fastening her to the headrest, keeping her immobile.
    Georgia and I sat on the coffee table facing her, a few feet out of reach. Tim stood next to Georgia, and Nate next to me. He nibbled his fingernail, again, something he never did.
    Okay, something was going on with him and her. Did he know her? It was driving me nuts. Already she’d gotten an eyeful of him down at the pool, but now she was in his room getting another eyeful. Up close and personal. I so wasn’t okay with that.
    I reached out for his hand, but as soon as my fingers made contact he retracted and stepped forward.
    “What’s your full name?” Nate asked.
    She clenched her jaw, staring straight ahead, but seemingly at nothing. Her big, blue eyes narrowed.
    “Melanie, what?” Nate went on.
    More silence.
    “You work for The Center.” Nate stepped to the side and picked up the cartridge of darts they’d removed from her thigh. Hell, the table was covered with stars, darts, three guns, taser, and some things I didn’t have a clue what they were.
    She eyed him that time, but her gaze shifted down slightly. Maybe to his lips? Wait, no, his chest.
    “You know me. How?” Nate said.
    Okay, that took me by surprise. She knew him? Was that what he was yelling at her about when we’d come up on them? Had she said something to him?
    “All of us know of you.”
    “Of me?” Nate’s finger went to his mouth again. He paced to the side, toward the bedroom door, then back. “What does this mean?”
    “Josiah Mirius. Created ten years ago. Conceived in a test tube, implanted in a human womb. Enhanced, cleansed DNA.” She pinned Nate with a stare. “Property of The Center.”
    Property. Did The Center think they owned everything?
    Okay, stupid question.
    “Go on.” Nate stopped in front of her, blocking my view. “You saw me in the pool and didn’t act.”
    She slouched into her chair. “Was just looking for a guy to hook up with. Didn’t know it was you—Josiah—until your hussy girlfriend got your shirt all wet and I saw your ID.”
    Hussy? Did she call me a hussy?
    I turned on the cold, focusing on her face. Her eyes snapped wide, then glared at me.
    “You’re a freak,” she hissed. “You all are.”
    “You have no powers, yet you face us, who do. We could kill you and you hurl insults?” Nate paced again. “Why are you here?”
    Oh yeah. He was in full-on protector mode. His language always got… older when he was focused.
    Her jaw tensed again, as if she had already said too much.
    Nate stepped forward, glowering down at her. I couldn’t see his face because he was too much in front of me, but her eyes went wide as silver dollars. “You will answer me.” His voice sounded like he had sandpaper in his throat.
    Melanie’s nostrils flared. She looked away, but with blurring speed, Nate grabbed her neck. I nearly jumped for fear of him snapping it with his strength. He couldn’t outright kill someone like that, could he?
    His thumb pressed against her jaw, turning her head. “Tim, where’s her key?”
    Tim’s eyes flashed red. “Back left pocket.”
    Nate’s free hand reached toward her waist. He made contact, then slid around her backside. My heart hammered. I knew he was getting the key, but why did it bother me so much that he did that? And what was with the voice?
    Melanie’s breaths came hard and scratchy. Tiny gasps, like Nate was withholding too much air. Finally, after several painstakingly slow seconds, Nate’s hand returned to sight, holding the white key card.
    “What room?”
    She coughed.
    “I’ll have Tim find out anyway, so you might as well tell me.”
    She tensed, but said nothing.
    Nate, never taking his focus or grip from Melanie, held the card out to the side. “Tim. Work your magic. Go get anything she has in her room that might help us.