Cosmos' Promise: Cosmos' Gateway Book 4 (16 page)

“SHIT! That bastard has had someone casing the warehouse all this time,” Cosmos cursed under his breath. “RITA, I need you to contact Avery. Tell her I need an advance assault team STAT! That bastard is going to attack the warehouse and try to take Terra and the Gateway while I’m gone.”

“That would explain the unusual activity,” RITA said. “But, why not try to take you too?”

Cosmos shook his head at the man’s audacity. “Because he wants me alive and the last group he sent in to kill me missed. He knows I have help and I’ll fight. If he can bring me to him by using my mother than he controls the situation and he believes it will leave Terra and the warehouse defenseless.”

RITA snorted. “That just shows how stupid he is then if he thinks you wouldn’t have one of the most advanced security systems in the world in place,” she responded. “Avery has alerted Jason. His team is the closest to you. I’m sending him the information now. It will take them four hours to get here though. Oh, and she wanted me to let you know Runt has disappeared again. She said quote ‘I’m going to wring that scrawny brat’s neck when I catch her again’.”

Cosmos closed his eyes as he realized the fastest way to get them here was to use the Gateway. It would mean more people knowing about it. Jason was relatively new to his team but he was a good man. Garrett had vouched for him and Garrett never vouched for anyone. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that there was a faint similarity between Garrett and Jason. Hell, the last thing he needed was things getting more complicated. If that similarity meant they were related he didn’t want to think what would happen when Jason realized Garrett was off chasing bogies on an alien planet.

“RITA, tell Jason to get prepared but not to deploy until I give him the command,” Cosmos ordered opening his eyes.

Cosmos gathered the prototype suit he had used to save Terra. He draped it over his arm. He couldn’t afford to take much else. He could deactivate the suit remotely using the contact lenses he wore to control it if it became evident he would not make it out alive. It would take years for anyone to re-engineer the material and it would still be worthless without RITA and the technology of the contact lenses. He gathered his utility belt that contained a few cleverly engineered hooks, explosives, and blades before he reached for the small box of sensors. He would deploy the bug sensors to give him more intel inside the warehouse and help pinpoint the location of his mother – and his father’s body. He would not leave his father’s body behind.

Turning, he headed back upstairs calling out an order to RITA to open the hidden elevator. Stepping into the small circular tube, he reached out to Terra. She was waiting patiently for him. He smiled when she opened to him and he realized that she was aware of everything he had been doing, including his conversation with RITA.

I can’t keep any secrets from you, can I?
He teased before sobering.
I want you to stay with your mom and Tilly when I go after Avilov.

I know but you also know that is not possible. If you are injured, I can help. I will be there for your mother as well,
she responded in a tone that said there would be no arguing.

Have I ever told you that you are one stubborn female?
Cosmos responded lightly.

That is a good thing, my mate. You need someone who is as stubborn as you are. I will meet you back in the lab.

Cosmos’ head fell back against the wall of the elevator briefly as he brought up memories of his last conversation with his father. They had only talked for a few minutes but it was the words that they both said that pulled at him. They had talked business; his father had shared the excitement of their newest discovery and how their presentation in Japan had gone over so well that they had been invited to Hong Kong. The conversation was normal except for his dad’s last words. He hadn’t thought too much about it until now. Rerunning that conversation now in his head shook him. It was almost like his dad had known that it might be their last conversation.

“You know, Cosmos, I don’t tell you as often as I should but I want you to know that I am very proud of you and the work you do. I know you think I don’t pay attention but what you are doing is making a huge difference to the world and I’m not talking about the charities that you support or your inventions. I’m talking about the people you help and the things that you do that no one but a handful of people know about,” Adam Raines had said quietly. “I want you to know I’m proud to call you my son and that I love you very much. I always have. You have been a blessing to your mother and me. I know if anything ever happened to me you would be there for her.”

Cosmos remembered his chuckle of embarrassment at his dad’s words. “Hell, dad, you’re still young. You and mom have another fifty years to go. How about I fly out to Hong Kong in a couple of weeks and we get together for dinner? I have a few things that I’m working on but I should be able to hop over.”

“I’d like that, son. It’s been a while since we’ve seen you,” his dad had responded hesitantly. “I miss you, son.”

“I miss you too. Give mom a kiss and hug for me. I’ll contact you in a week or so to let you know exactly when I will be there,” Cosmos had replied absently as he had been working on new information that he had just received from Avery. “Talk to you later.”

“Love you, son,” his father had said before they had ended the call.

Cosmos’ eyes glittered with tears as he stared blankly at the light in the elevator. “I love you too, dad,” he whispered as the door to the elevator slid open.

Chapter 16

Cosmos followed Terra and Brock down the long corridor to her father’s office. He could feel Terra’s unease as they got closer as her memory of the last time she was in the room surfaced. He slid his arm around her waist and gave her a gentle squeeze.

You are not the only one who cannot keep anything secret,
she sent out to him with a wave of warmth that showed her appreciation for his touch.

I think your father has finally accepted me. If not, his new grandbabies have kept him too busy to fret,
Cosmos responded.

Brock told me Tansy is pregnant as well and Hannah is due any day,
Terra said with a small smile.
He said my father is enjoying being a ‘Grand’ father to Tink and J’kar’s twins. He can barely keep his hands off them. Brock said he is threatening every warrior he comes across to keep their sons away from the girls. They are just now learning how to crawl!

Once this is done, I hope they won’t be the only ones he has trouble keeping his hands off of,
Cosmos replied.

“What?” Terra asked startled, tripping slightly as his words sunk in.

Cosmos nodded briefly at Brock who turned to look at them with an inquisitive expression when they stopped suddenly in the corridor outside of the office. He turned to look back at Terra who was staring up at him with wide eyes. He tenderly brushed her hair back from her face.

“I want us to try to have a child if it is possible,” Cosmos said quietly. “When this is over, I want to see if we can recreate the mating chemical – that is, if that is what you want,” he added with a sudden look of uncertainty.

Terra’s eyes glimmered with unshed tears. She threw her arms around his neck, holding him close as her body shook with emotion. When she felt like she was a little more in control, she pulled back far enough to brush a soft kiss across his lips.

“I love you, Cosmos Raines,” she murmured. “There is nothing more in the world that would make me happier than to have your child.”

Cosmos’ eyes softened as he stared down at the incredible woman standing in front of him. “Have I ever told you how much I love you?”

Terra raised her hand and caressed his cheek. “How about you show me how much later?”

Cosmos turned his head and pressed a kiss into her palm. “With pleasure.”

The sound of a throat clearing brought them both back to reality. Turning, Cosmos nodded solemnly to the huge warrior. Brock’s lips curved up at the corner to indicate he understood the situation. He had already informed both of them that RITA2 had notified them of the situation back on Earth and recognized the pain etched in Cosmos’ face.

Turning, Brock nodded to the two Prime warriors standing guard outside of Teriff’s office. One of the guards spoke briefly into his comlink before he opened the door. Brock stepped through, followed by Cosmos and Terra.

A dark scowl crossed Brock’s face at the same time as he muttered an even darker oath. “What the hell do you think you are doing here?” He demanded when he saw the petite female with short blond hair streaked with blue sitting in a plush chair near the window.

“Что это похоже, дорогая? Я здесь, чтобы поддержать космоса. Он спас моих родителей и моих братьев. Я не покинет его в случае необходимости.”
What does it look like, sweetheart? I am here to support Cosmos. He saved my parents and my brothers. I will not desert him in his time of need.
Helene responded with a raised eyebrow.

“English,” Brock growled. “You know my translator is not set for your language yet.”

Helene laughed in delight. “I know. But, I also know that it drives you nuts, so how can I resist?” She responded with a mischievous grin. “I will go. I owe Cosmos much for what he has done for my family.”

Brock clenched his fists at his side. The crazy Russian female was going to drive him insane. She was always doing things she shouldn’t. He glared at her as she smiled innocently at him, as if she was unaware of the conflicted feelings coursing through him. His eyes jerked to her sister, Natasha, who was sitting back on the couch. Lan stood protectively over her with his hand on her shoulder. Even with the sunlight shining through the window, he could see how pale and thin she was. Her captivity had taken a lot out of the slender woman. Natasha’s eyes dropped to where her hands were folded on her lap. Lan leaned over and murmured softly in her ear. Natasha looked at him briefly before she shook her head and looked out the window instead.

Cosmos watched as Brock walked over to stand behind the chair where Helene was sitting before turning to look at the others in the room. His throat closed as he took in Terra’s father and brothers standing ready along with Helene and Brock. His eyes widened when he paused on the much smaller figure standing near the window. Angus Bell looked at Cosmos for a moment before he straightened his shoulders, crossed his arms, and gave Cosmos a brief nod. The look of determination on the face of the normally placid husband, father, and writer showed he was not going to stand aside while Ava Raines was in trouble.

*.*.*

Teriff looked at those gathered in his office. His eyes dwelled briefly on his daughter’s face. Her eyes shimmered with love, grief, and hope. He bowed his head just enough to let her know that he heard her unspoken plea for help. His heart was heavy as he thought of Ava Raines’ loss. He had listened to the Bell women talk of Cosmos over the past several months and his respect for the male had grown the more he learned about him. All he had to do was look at Terra to know his daughter was happy.

Cosmos stood next to her with a protective arm wrapped around her waist. The male looked pale but composed. There was a cold calm that spoke of a true warrior under the deceptively boyish appearance.

“It is time to declare war on the human male who has caused so much grief,” Teriff announced. “The man has taken Cosmos parents, killing his father and leaving his mother not only without her mate for protection but threatening to kill her as well.”

“I have already demanded the Right of Justice against him for his attack on my mate,” Mak said straightening up from where he was leaning against the back wall.

“Mak,” Tansy said, laying her hand on the huge warrior’s arm. “I don’t give a damn about justice. I just want the asshole dead.”

Mak glared at his mate before his eyes softened. “I will not allow you to go on this mission with us,” he said quietly.

Tansy rolled her eyes. “You couldn’t stop me if I wanted to go,” she said dryly, ignoring his soft growl of protest. “That said – no, I will not be going. I still tire easily, I’m pregnant, and I would be a weak link to all of you as you would spend more time trying to protect me than attacking Avilov and his men. But, that does not mean I can’t be a part of the planning or know what is going on. I know Avilov better than anyone. I was his ‘girlfriend’ after all before I tried to kill him,” she added, drawing another menacing growl from her mate.

Borj nodded. “That is true, Mak. With respect, Tansy, I would be beholden to you if you would stay close to my mate while we are gone,” he asked quietly. “Tilly and mother will be with her but I would like for someone of your experience to also be close by.”

“No problem, Borj,” Tansy said with a smile. “I’ve been protecting my big sis for a long time and don’t plan on stopping now,” she added, ignoring Mak’s muttered threats to tie her up when he got her back home again.

J’kar stood next to his father with his arms crossed over his massive chest. “Tink said she was heading over to your and Hannah’s home with Tilly and mother when I talked to her earlier,” he told Borj. “She will take the girls there. I have assigned extra guards to protect them during our absence.”

Teriff nodded and turned to look at Cosmos who had been quietly listening to everything. “You have information about the area? There will be eight – nine of us,” Teriff corrected with a frown of disapproval as he looked at Terra. “Lan, you will remain and have a team ready in case something goes wrong. I will…” Teriff broke off when the comlink on his desk signaled an incoming message. The guard outside the door alerted him that there were additional visitors at the door.

Everyone turned to watch as the door opened. Core, Hendrik, Brawn, Bullet, and Gant walked through it followed by Derik who looked tired as he quietly slipped behind Cosmos and Terra. Core’s face was dark as his eyes swept around the room, noting all the warriors gathered before turning to look suspiciously at Teriff.