The Last Mission of the Living (The Last Bastion #2)(114)

“But you don’t think we’ll make it, do you?”

Snuggling into his side, she tucked her head under his chin. “No, no, I don’t, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to just give up.”

“Neither am I.”

Lindsey was lost without her pad, active wristlet, and computers, but her brain was still spinning out possibilities for survival. None of them were feasible.

When Dr. Curran stepped out of the sanitation station, her face and hair were a little damp. Maybe she was feeling overwhelmed, too. Lindsey still didn’t want to feel sympathy for her. Pointedly ignoring the couple, Curran lay on the bed furthest from them and faced the wall. The light on her wristlet turned off.

Lindsey and Torran followed suit and the room was filled with darkness.

Since apparently they weren’t going to be secured to the bedframes again, Lindsey and Torran stretched out on one of the medbeds. It was cold inside the building without any heat, and their black jumpers didn’t provide the warmth their armor would have. Burrowing under the covers, the couple snuggled together for warmth.

“Much better,” Torran whispered against her ear.

Resting her hands on his arm wrapped about her, she couldn’t help but smile just a little. “I agree.”

“I have a confession to make,” Torran said in a low voice.

“Oh?”

“I can understand the allure of the modified virus. We wouldn’t have to be trapped here, and we could venture out and see the world.”

“Where would you choose to go?”

“Scotland. Back to my family’s homestead. I’ve seen photos and heard stories about it all my life. You?”

Lindsey pondered the question. “I’d go there. With you. You’re my home, Torran.” Rolling her head to the side, she kissed the tip of his nose.

“You’re the only thing I believe in anymore,” Torran confessed.

“Then I’ll do my best to not let you down.”

“You never could,” Torran assured her. “Ever.”



*



Hours later, Lindsey was dragged out of a nightmare by the sound of the tiltrotor lifting off. The entire room trembled around her. It took several seconds to realize she was no longer curled up next to Torran, but strapped to a bed. Both her hands and feet were secured and she couldn’t move.

“Torran,” she rasped.

“Bloody hell,” he grunted. “Did they hit us with the electroshock rifles again while we were sleeping?”

Trying to lift her head, Lindsey grunted. “Ugh! It feels like it.”

“Shit,” Torran muttered.

“I really hate them. So much.” Tilting her head to one side, she saw the third bed was empty and the sanitation station was open. “They took Curran.”

“They’re getting the virus.”

“Yeah.” Lindsey jerked her hands, trying to wrestle them free of the restraints. “We need to get free of these damn beds and attack them when they come to get us.”

“Agreed.”

It was nearly two hours later when the tiltrotor returned, and neither of them had even managed to free one limb. Solomon entered the room with Yates and Carter soon after. The former commanding officer noted Lindsey and Torran’s raw wrists from their escape attempts and smiled with amusement.

“Not trusting our agreement?” she asked.

“I have this great aversion to being tied up,” Torran answered.

“Unless it’s by me,” Lindsey added.

“True,” Torran said with a grin.

“Charming.” Solomon motioned for her prisoners to be released. “Our mission was a success. Carter was able to disable the security and we retrieved all the samples.”

Lindsey raised her eyes to stare at Carter. His beefy body and vacant look had deceived her. She never would have pegged him as a hacker. It made her a little angry that she’d been fooled by so many.

Yates dragged Lindsey to her feet while Carter did the same with Torran. This time they left their ankles unshackled, but bound their wrists.

“Dr. Curran is looking over the samples we retrieved. She should be able to confirm whether or not we have the modified virus or not,” Solomon said.

“You didn’t take her with you?” Lindsey was a little surprised by this revelation.

“She was overseeing the setup of her new lab,” Solomon answered. “She’s earned a certain degree of our trust.”

“So once the virus is confirmed, you’ll see about returning us, right?” Torran queried.

“Of course,” Solomon answered.

And Lindsey knew she was lying.



*



Without a doubt Torran knew they were about to die. It was a feeling unlike any he’d had before. Whenever facing the Scrags, there had been the hope of survival. But not now. Looking into the hardened faces of the Cultists escorting him and Lindsey through the dimly-lit corridor, Torran was certain that each one of them was more than willing to kill him and Lindsey. Meeting Lindsey’s gaze, he saw that she’d come to the same conclusion as well. He supposed it was a solace that they’d had one more night sleeping in each other’s arms. Anger and sorrow filled him when he considered the loss of a future together. A small, encouraging smile flitted across Lindsey’s lips and he tried to return it, but it was hard.