“Got a call from the NSF today. They want me to head up rebuilding and research at the station. I’ll have access to—I’m going back.” He tightened his lips. Was that supposed to be a happy expression? “And you’ll be running the kitchen of your dreams. Which is what you deserve. Entirely.”
Was it? Even if it wasn’t what she wanted anymore? “What if—”
“The ice is where I belong.” He nodded once, his expression stubborn, tight. Who was he working so hard to convince? Her or himself? “Heading back as soon as the weather clears.”
“Sure. Clean, simple environment where you’re in control, right?” This obsession with control drove her crazy. Especially when she’d seen him the other way—out of control. Wild. Real. The man behind the ice.
Somewhere outside, tires screeched.
“Exactly.” The forbidding voice, the austere expression, and even in a damned hospital bed, that rigid spine. The eyes. Those inhumanly cold eyes. The Ice Man was back. She wanted to scream, to rail, to beg him to see her.Her. Them.
“I call bullshit.” When had the first tear fallen? Her cheeks were soaking now, her mouth full of salt, but there was no relief from breaking the seal and letting them flow. “I callfear. You’re scared of life, Ford. Of this.” She flapped her hand between them.
“Not scared. Just not interested.”
A yell sounded from not too far off.
Not interested.Those words hurt as deeply as a slap across the face. Deeper. As if he’d taken one of her blades and slid it straight into her already-bruised heart. But they also served to straighten her back and stop the ridiculous tears. She wouldn’t cry over him. Wouldn’t mourn the loss of another unfeeling asshole. No way.
“Okay then.” One last cleansing breath. “Take care.”
She’d just put her hand on the door when the window smashed.
Chapter 52
An explosion, followed by absolute silence.
Coop blinked, the movement slow, pushed himself out of bed, swayed, and dropped to his ass again.
The door swung open.
Von’s lips moved as he said something, gesticulating.Now!Was that it?Move now!
This time, Ford stayed standing, though his skull almost cracked from the pressure.
Ans rushed in, weapon drawn, ran to the window, pulled back the tattered blinds, and dove out into the night.
Where was Angel? Had she been hurt?
Was Von talking to him? Coop couldn’t hear a fucking thing.
“Where is she?” he yelled. His voice didn’t reach his own ears.
His heart beat loudly, the only sound in this strange, silent world. Rhythmic and muted like the far-off chugging of a train. “Dammit! Angel?”
He spun. Couldn’t find her. Spun again, fear climbing from his belly to his chest, where it ballooned before sliding into his throat to choke him.
The building shook, smoke poured in from the hallway. Hands grabbed at Ford. He shoved them off. Oh shit. It was Von.
He turned away. “Angel!” he couldn’t hear himself. Took a choked breath. “Angel!” This time, his roar burst the bubble, letting in an unbearable cacophony.
Christ, he’d break in half if anything happened to her. Worse than that: he’d tear the world apart. Where was she? Von pulled him, struggling and half-blind, up and out the door.
The noise was deafening. Screaming, gunshots, people dashing around, just vague shapes, flashing red lights. Sprinklers. The deafening shriek of an alarm. Smoke, acrid and thick as fog, made him hack. Absolute mayhem.
“Stairs!” Von led the way through the fiery hellscape, through a door, and down a set of steps. Shit. Coop’s chest was tight, his lungs a mess.Not gonna make it.
Was that Ans and Angel up ahead?
