Cyborg Nation Kaitlyn O'Connor (books to get back into reading TXT) 📖

blessedly, consciousness. Unfortunately, she was only unconscious for a handful of seconds. She came to as he pulled her from the seat, groaning at the pain that cut through her with each step he took. Dizziness swept through her and a sense of falling. Her back settled on a hard surface.

When she opened her eyes she saw that all three men were bent over her, their expressions grim as they tore her uniform off of her. “’s alright,” she murmured. “Doesn’t hurt much … least I got contracted first,” she added, trying to infuse a little humor into the situation. “Do not talk,” Gideon said harshly. “Save your strength.”

What strength, she thought tiredly? It was an effort even to breathe. She discovered that was partly because Gabriel was leaning against her, pressing her belly so tightly it felt as if he was going to shove her stomach through her back.

“We need to get the bleeding stopped.”

Gideon glanced up at Jerico. “Find whatever you can in the wreckage.” His hand was shaking as he brushed it along her cheek. “This is going to hurt like hell, Bronte.”

She opened her eyes and discovered he had one of the laser pistols in his hand.

Gabriel caught his wrist even as he lifted it and tried to steady the sight. “This is too clumsy.”

Gideon jerked his head up to stare at Gabriel. “She will bleed to death if I do not stop the bleeding. This will cauterize the wound.”

Reluctantly, Gabriel released his grip.

Gideon rubbed an arm across his face and for the first time Bronte noticed his hair was matted with blood. He focused on her stomach. She saw the barrel of the pistol waver. Abruptly, he tossed it aside. Glancing around, he snatched up a jagged piece of metal. Bronte sucked in her breath as he slashed it across his arm. Blood spurted from the artery he’d severed. “Gideon!”

Ignoring her cry, he leaned over her, squeezing the arm he had sliced so hard the muscles in his arm stood out, shook as his blood flowed over her. “The nanos,” he said harshly, glancing at Gabriel.

Nodding, Gabriel glanced around until he found another jagged piece of metal and sliced his own open.

They were going to die, too, Bronte thought, so distressed she felt tears well in her eyes, gather at the corners and then run down into her hair.

“I have found the med case,” Jerico said, racing up to them. He stopped abruptly when he saw what they were doing. Dropping the case he’d brought, he moved around to her legs. It was the last thing Bronte remembered clearly. Darkness descended over her. It lifted and fell, not like a curtain so much as waves as if she was sleeping and surfacing near consciousness and then drifting down again.

Burning pain brought her more fully awake for a handful of minutes, just long enough to be thoroughly disoriented by the hands pulling at her, rocking her. Something soft tightened across the burning pain in her stomach and then they left her in peace for a few moments.

“Now—while she is unconscious.”

Dread filled her when she heard Gideon’s words but she didn’t have time to brace for what she knew was coming—more pain. She screamed as they pulled on her leg, trying to tear off. Why wouldn’t they just leave her alone? she thought wearily when she could think at all again.

Thankfully, either they stopped torturing her or she lost any sense of pain. She sighed tiredly and drifted off again. She woke freezing, her teeth chattering so badly she couldn’t seem to make them stop. It was dark—or she was blind—she discovered when she opened her eyes. Slowly, her eyes focused and she saw stars winking above her.

Closing her eyes again, she searched for the pain and discovered that she hurt all over, that it was impossible to localize the pain, but it was duller, not the sharp, cutting pain that had taken her breath before. A shadow had fallen over her when she opened her eyes again. She stared hard, trying to pierce the darkness.

“Drink.” It was Jerico’s voice. His hand settled beneath her head, lifted it. She opened her mouth when she felt the edge of a glass, or something cylindrical. Icy water cascaded into her mouth. She gulped and then choked and the water overflowed, running down her chin and then her neck.

The coughing brought the pain up to a new level and she struggled to suppress the cough and the shivers that added to her misery.

“She is cold.”

Two more shadows moved close. She heard a faint rustle as they crouched beside her. “What happened?” she asked through chattering teeth.

A hand settled on her forehead and then stroked her face lightly. “The nanos stopped the bleeding, but we could not give you many. They are designed to speed to the area most damaged and close off the artery as quickly as possible to prevent death by blood loss. Since you do not have many, it will take a while for them to repair the damage from the crash.” He paused. “Jerico, keep watch. We will keep her warm for now.”

Bronte hadn’t realized she’d been covered until Gabriel and Gideon lifted the cover on either side of her, allowing a frigid breeze to blow across her bare skin. Then they settled the cover again and pressed lightly against her on either side. Their skin was nearly as chilled as hers at first, but after a few moments she began to feel them grow warm. Grateful for even a small amount of warmth, Bronte tried to roll closer and gasped as the movement sent a jolt of pain through her stomach and another through her leg.

“Be still. You will only cause yourself more pain.”

“I know,” she gasped. “I’m still cold.”

A hand moved over her shaking shoulder. “I will lift you. Just relax and do not try to help,” Gideon said quietly.

It was impossible to lay completely passive, but the moment she tensed her stomach muscles the