But that feeling didn’t last, as she thought of all the things threatening them—the Milano Foundation, the police, not to mention various government agencies that would kill to get an alien in custody.
“If that’s true, why come here? Earth can’t be the most welcoming planet you could find. There have to be better places out there to look for wives.” Elle didn’t want to admit how much she was already falling for him. Feelings rarely paid attention to logic. But there was no way this would work. She couldn’t leave Earth. She wasn’t brave enough to take that kind of journey. And Ice shouldn’t stay. It wasn’t safe for him. “What is Sintaz like?”
She’d like to picture him there, at home with his family, happy. One thing was for sure, she would never look at the stars the same way again.
He smiled, and she thought she saw longing in his expression.
“You miss it, don’t you?” Hunger gnawed at her stomach, and she desperately wanted to eat and sleep. She was tempted to find a hotel, any hotel so that she could crash face first on a mattress.
“I miss the quiet. Earth is full of noise.” He glanced around the abandoned sidewalk as they continued past old brick buildings. “Like now.”
“I don’t hear anything.” She tried to detect the same sound he did.
“The lights hum.” He pointed to an industrial light that had been left on. If she concentrated, she could hear a little bit of an electrical hum. “It is a constant. Earth is full of engines, and beeps, and clicks as people walk. My home world is quiet, more so now that my people have left the planet for other star systems.” He stopped walking. “I wish to bring you there, but I do not think you will survive.”
“The flight there?” Elle furrowed her brow in confusion. “Is it dangerous?”
“I’m talking about the weather. Sintazian nights are colder than the refrigerator truck. After seeing your reaction, I don’t think you would survive the temperatures.” This conclusion appeared to sadden him. “I worry that I would not be able to warm you as often as you would need.”
The nerves in her stomach did a little jump of anticipation as she recalled how he had kept her from freezing to death. Even now she wanted him. She pushed down the desire. Ice needed her to think. He clearly wasn’t ready for Earth life. He trusted all the wrong people.
Elle didn’t want to leave for another planet. She’d miss her parents and her brother. She might not see them too often, but it was nice knowing they were there. Still, his certainty that they couldn’t be together stung. She wasn’t ready to end whatever was happening between them.
She resigned herself to the truth. There was no use protesting. He was an alien. She was a human. This relationship had been doomed even before it started.
“I don’t understand why you came here for brides if you’re not able to stay with them.” Elle wasn’t sure why she asked. It wasn’t like she wanted to get married. That would be beyond insane, right?
Right?
“My brothers were excited to meet women, and Galaxy Alien Mail Order Brides corporation made promises they should not have.” Ice’s steps slowed, and she noticed his shoulders slump forward.
“Just your brothers?”
“I didn’t dare hope that I would find someone on such a journey. I thought they promised more than they could deliver, but I did not think they would abandon us here.” His breathing deepened. “How did you know where to find us? Did Galaxy Brides set us up?”
“I was told where to be.” Elle didn’t have a better answer for him.
A dot of rain hit his lips, and they both looked up. Another drop hit under her eye. The cold moisture stung and when she brought her face down, it rolled over her cheek like a tear. Flashing lights and the rumble of thunder warned them of a coming storm.
“My guess is Foundation scientists found a way to track the ship—” A loud crack cut off her words. The sound jolted her a little.
Ice became rigid.
“Under there.” Elle motioned that they should duck into shelter to get out of the rain, but when she tried to lift her foot, it wouldn’t move. Pain shot along her body, and she inhaled sharply. Moisture gathered on her side, sticking her shirt to her skin. Stunned, she reached for it. Her fingers slipped in blood. She touched it again, pushing her fingers into the wound. “I…I think someone shot me.”
Elle fell toward Ice, unable to control her body.
He lifted her into his arms. “What do I do?”
“Run.”
“I see you, blue tattoo!” The strange man with the smelly breath popped out of an inlet as Ice ran with Elle down the sidewalk toward the box house encampment. “I see you!”
Two armed fighters in black clothing appeared next to the man, shoving the shouting man out of their way. The larger one he knew from the facility. Luther liked to taunt and kick him when he’d been tied up. The men charged toward Ice, carrying handguns.
“Don’t move,” they warned. “Put her down and come with us.”
“Run,” Elle mumbled again.
