Chapter 3 - THE RACE AGAINST FROSTBITE
"Hey... hey, look at me," Nathan said softly, his voice trembling as he stripped off his heavy cashmere coat. "My name is Nathan. What’s your name?"
"Mia..." the girl whimpered, her teeth chattering so hard they clicked. "And this is Leo. He's my brother. He stopped crying an hour ago. Please... make him warm."
"I will, Mia. I promise."
Without hesitation, Nathan wrapped his warm cashmere coat around Mia and the baby, pulling them both into his arms. The tiny infant felt alarmingly light and ice-cold to the touch. Nathan unbuttoned his suit jacket, pressing the baby directly against his chest beneath his shirt to share his own body heat, just as he had read in survival manuals years ago.
He stood up, carrying both children, and sprinted down the street toward where his car was idling.
"Paul!" Nathan roared into the quiet night.
Paul, who had been waiting patiently near the black sedan, leaped out of the driver's seat. His eyes widened in shock as he saw his employer—usually reserved, immaculate, and calm—running full speed with a ragged child in his arms and a baby strapped to his chest.
"Turn the heat to maximum! Now!" Nathan ordered, sliding into the back seat and pulling Mia close.
Paul didn't ask questions. He blasted the heater, threw the car into drive, and sped toward St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, running two red lights along the empty avenue.
May you like
Inside the warm cabin, Mia began to thaw, tears finally spilling down her dirty cheeks. "Are we going to get thrown away?" she asked softly.
"Never," Nathan whispered, holding her tiny hand. "You're safe now."
