Brawn

  “What is your name?”

  Becca opened her mouth but then closed it. “Just call me Screwed.”

  The woman blinked, her smile faded and her gaze dropped to Becca’s round stomach. “You certainly were at one point, to get in that condition.”

  Becca suddenly laughed, unable to help it and liked the woman instantly. “Yeah. In so many ways. I’m sorry. That was rude of me. I’m just in a world of trouble and having a really bad day.”

  “You’re safe here.” Pink smiled again. “No one is going to hurt you. You and your baby are welcome at the NSO and are considered family. Your baby is New Species and you are considered as such, as the mother.”

  “Thank you. I mean that.” It touched her that strangers were trying to be so kind. She really wished they’d just let her go. That would be the best thing of all but it wasn’t going to happen. “Where are we going?”

  “The Medical Center,” Flame answered as he waited for Pink to open a back door so he could place Becca in the seat. “Doctor Trisha is waiting for you.”

  Becca turned her head to glance at the open terrain with tons of grass and a lot of trees in the distance. She’d never been to Reservation. No pictures of it were ever released and all helicopters and airplanes were banned from flying over it. The NSO guarded their home territories with relish.

  Pink walked around the SUV to drive while Flame climbed in the backseat with Becca as if he worried she’d try to flee. It wouldn’t have done any good. She knew security walls totally enclosed the vast property of Reservation and she’d never get away. They drove slowly away, toward buildings that were within view.

  Becca studied the two-story building they parked in front of. It didn’t have a wall of glass at the front like the Medical Center at Homeland. This building had small, blacked-out windows that were high above the ground. Flame opened the door of the SUV and slid out, holding out his hand to help her. His cat eyes stared at her grimly.

  “Should I carry you or will you walk on your own?”

  She hesitated. “Do you have a gun?”

  He blinked. “It’s holstered at my ankle but you won’t be able to take it from me.”

  “Could you just shoot me? Trust me. We’d all be better off.”

  Pink laughed as she rounded the front of the SUV. “She’s Screwed.”

  Becca nodded. “That’s exactly what I am.”

  Flame wasn’t amused as he sighed and reached for Becca. She slapped at his hands. “I’m going. I can walk on my own.”

  Flame kept close as Becca slid off the seat and stood. Pink kept a few feet away but the New Species remained on each side of her, probably worried she’d bolt. They had reason to worry, Becca admitted, and was tempted to try. Reality set in though and she lifted her chin. There was no way to avoid facing what awaited inside. She took a hesitant step and then another, feeling like a condemned person.

  Flame opened the door and ushered her inside. Becca stepped out of the sunshine into an air-conditioned, large waiting room. It was totally empty, silence greeted her and it felt a little eerie.

  “Trisha had everyone leave,” Pink informed her softly. “She cleared out the human and New Species staff. She wanted you to feel safe. We are taking you to an exam room where she can make sure you are well and plans to look with her machines at the baby. She said this will be good for you to get to see your child on the monitor.”

  Becca’s legs felt like they were filled with sand as she took every step through reception and down a hallway. She caught a glimpse of the doctor. Trisha’s back was to Becca, her blonde hair in a ponytail and she spoke to a tall New Species male with streaked hair. He was smiling at Trisha and he leaned down to plant a kiss on the doctor that was a lot more than friendly.

  Flame cleared his throat. “Sorry to interrupt you lovebirds but here she is. She won’t give her name and she resisted coming.”

  The New Species male released Trisha and she slowly turned. Becca met her gaze and watched recognition register as the doctor’s eyes widened. She instantly turned to the male she’d been kissing.

  “You better call Justice and tell him to get here right now. Lock down the Medical Center and tell him shit has hit the fan. No one goes in or out, Slade. No humans near her, period. None. And especially not the task team.”

  He frowned and glanced at Becca. “Why?”

  Trisha stared at Becca. “This is my husband, Slade. Slade, meet Rebecca Oberto. She’s Tim Oberto’s only daughter, the one he brags about. The one who is in Europe. He showed me the postcard he got from her two weeks ago. Call Justice, damn it. We’ve got a bigger problem than we thought.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Becca managed to stay on her feet but her knees felt a little shaky. Her secret was out, at least to the people in the room and she blinked back tears. No words came at first. She just stood there trying not to be sick. Her stomach churned from nervousness and fear.

  Slade frowned while studying Becca grimly. “She doesn’t seem to be in Europe.”

  “Nope,” Trisha agreed. “You should have told us right away, Rebecca. How did you send your dad postcards anyway?”

  “My late husband has family over there and I asked a few favors.” Becca blinked back tears. “Just let me leave. I have money and can disappear again. My father…” She paused, pleading with Trisha with her eyes. “He can’t find out about this. He is going to go ballistic and he won’t let this go. He is going to be out for blood and we know whose he’s going to want. He’ll blame him for touching me regardless of it being consensual. He’s never reasonable when it comes to me. Just let me go and let’s end this right now before it’s a full-blown nightmare.”

  “We can’t, Rebecca. That baby is going to need to be here where you’re safe. Did Flame tell you anything about what to expect from the pregnancy? A full-term New Species baby develops in about twenty weeks. You’re what? Eight weeks along?” Trisha took a step closer.

  “Nine.”

  “You’re almost halfway through your pregnancy. It’s why you are showing and can feel the baby move. I have a son with Slade. The New Species’ altered genetics are strong and override everything so the baby will be male and he will have the New Species physical traits. You can’t just have this baby and hide it. Your dad is going to have to find out at some point unless you were going to lie and say you were staying in Europe forever.”

  “I sometimes fantasize about making up something about a car crash and possibly faking my death.”

  Trisha’s eyebrows arched. Becca shrugged.

  “I didn’t have all that planned out. I’ve been kind of trying to live day by day to avoid the stress.” Her hand rubbed her distended belly. “I think about it and yeah, stress. I know that’s not good for the baby.”

  “We have to inform the father of the baby, Rebecca.”

  “No.” Becca shook her head. “It’s my baby.”

  “We have to. Your dad will find out at some point and you know that. He’ll go after him. You said so yourself. He needs to be warned at the very least. Would you like us to bring him here to give you the opportunity to tell him in person?”

  Becca shook her head firmly again. “We have nothing to say to each other. I can’t stop you from telling him but if you do, I don’t want anything from him except to stay away from me.”

  “You blame him for what happened?” Trisha’s face paled. “He was a victim too.”

  “I know that and that’s not why I don’t want to see him. Just tell him I don’t want anything from him but for him to stay away. I was stripped of the choice to come here or not. Please don’t force me to see him too. Please?” Becca hated that tears filled her eyes. Hormones and the fear of what would happen were making her highly emotional and taking their toll. “Don’t I have enough to deal with already?”

  Trisha hesitated, looked uncertain, but then blew out a breath. “Let’s go look at the baby and check you out. We’ll worry about that first and the rest later. Why don’t you go
inside and strip everything off? I’ll be there in a minute.”

  Becca nodded grimly and stepped into the exam room. She shut the door the second she was alone, leaned against it and closed her eyes. They were going to tell Brawn and her father the truth. The thing she’d worked so hard to avoid was a total bust. As in I got busted. Damn. Damn. Damn. She put her hands over her stomach and rubbed. The baby moved and she knew at least one thing was right in her world.

  Flame frowned. “You know who the father of her child is?” He peered at Trisha, waiting for an answer.

  She nodded. “Don’t tell anyone who the father is until he is informed first. Hell, this information is considered completely classified so he’s the only one you tell. You heard her. She won’t tell him herself. I need you to do it, Flame.” She glanced at Pink. “Not a word to anyone about this. We’re the only ones who will know besides Justice when Slade calls him.”

  Pink nodded.

  Flame hesitated, looking grim. “Who am I going to go give the happy and shocking news to?”

  Trisha glanced at her husband before addressing the Species male. “Find Brawn. He was forced to share a cage with her when he was kidnapped and they shared sex. This is going to be…” Trisha sighed, at a loss for words.

  Slade put his arm around her. “Difficult for all.”

  “Son of a bitch,” Flame cursed. “I think I know where he is. I heard some of the females discussing something this morning at breakfast, before I left for my work shift. I’ll go now.” He spun, noticed Pink’s shocked expression and totally understood that emotion. He stormed toward the doors.

  * * * * *

  Brawn danced closer to one of the females, happy to be distracted. He’d spent another sleepless night, a day with too much paperwork and hoped he’d wear his body down enough to rest. Breeze grinned at him, bumped her hip against his and her hand curled around his arm.

  “Thank you.”

  “For what?” He spun her, dipped her body until her hair nearly reached the floor and yanked her upright.

  “For agreeing to come with me. Isn’t this fun?”

  He had to admit it beat staring at walls. “Yes.”

  “You’re taking me to dinner later.”

  He hesitated.

  “You are. I learned a new saying. All work and no play makes males boring.” She chuckled. “Or dull. Either way you need to have fun. You are grumpy and snarl at everyone.” She leaned into his chest and peered into his eyes. All humor fled. “I worry about you. We’re friends. You’d do the same for me.”

  He couldn’t refute her words. He nodded. “I am aware.”

  “Do you have nightmares?”

  He forced his gaze from hers. He dreamed but he wouldn’t admit about what. He inched back so space was between their bodies.

  “You’re not sleeping well.” She patted his chest through his shirt. “I will help you tonight.”

  He tensed. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  “You’ve avoided everyone since you were rescued.” Her chin lifted and her dark eyes narrowed with determination. “I owe you.”

  “Not that.”

  She cocked her head. “Just take me out to dinner and allow me to care for you. You need a friend and I’m a good one.”

  “You are.”

  “Stop talking and dance.”

  He pushed his thoughts back and grabbed her hand, spun her and smiled at the way she giggled. To see her experience such joy at such a little thing brightened his day. She was one of his, from his testing facility, and it was his job to keep her happy.

  Motion drew his attention as Flame waved his arms from across the room. He stood by the bar, staring directly into Brawn’s gaze. The male had a grim look on his face and he knew instantly that something was wrong. He stopped dancing and released Breeze. Flame walked in his direction, paused ten feet away and all doubt left that the male had something to say to him. Brawn glanced at Breeze.

  “I’ll be back.”

  “Doubtful,” Flame muttered.

  Brawn heard him and shot him a confused look. “Has something bad happened? Has a council meeting been called?”

  “No.” Flame backed up to the bar and waved to motion Hound over. “Give me two more please.”

  Breeze fisted his shirt. “You will pick me up at six, Brawn. Don’t make me hunt for you.”

  He forced a smile and nodded. She released him and he edged around dancers to reach the male. Flame lifted two small glasses that contained dark liquid from the bar where Hound had set them. He met Brawn’s gaze and jerked his head toward the door.

  Whatever had happened was bad enough to need privacy. Brawn’s shoulders straightened and he hoped that no Species were hurt. He followed Flame out of the bar. The male kept going, led him through the lobby of the hotel and stayed far ahead of him until they reached the outside. Confusion at Flame’s odd behavior kept him trailing behind him until they walked a good hundred free from the hotel to the grassy area in front of it.

  Flame spun and held out one of the glasses. “Drink this.”

  Brawn tried to sniff to determine what it was but Flame stood upwind of him. He glanced at the murky drink, raised his gaze and frowned. “What is it?”

  “Whiskey. I took two big gulps of it already before you saw me trying to get your attention.”

  “I don’t drink that stuff.”

  “I don’t usually either but today is the exception. Trust me. Swallow. You’re going to need it.” Flame drank his down fast, snarled softly and fisted the empty glass.

  “Just tell me the bad news. I assume something horrible has happened.”

  “You want the news?” Flame shoved the drink at him again. “Down that first and then I will tell you.”

  Irritation flashed for a second before outright dread. Someone had died. It must be someone he knew. He accepted the tiny drink. He gave it a dirty look but lifted it to his parted lips, forced his hand to raise and the horrible taste plowed through his mouth as he swallowed.

  “Ugh. That is terrible.” He wiped his mouth to glare at Flame. “Tell me.”

  The male hesitated.

  “Get it out. Don’t torture me with the unknown.”

  “You should sit down on that bench to your right.”

  Brawn growled at him. “Don’t give me orders and stop stalling.”

  “Please, sit. We have a serious situation happening at Medical.”

  Brawn sat, just to prevent the male from dragging it out anymore and didn’t want to beat the information from him. He was tempted though. “What is going on?”

  Flame inched backward to put a few more feet between them. “We have a human female at medical who is pregnant with a Species baby. We had to track her and bring her in against her will. She refused to come on her own.”

  “I heard something about that. I was told some human female had contacted Homeland saying she had gotten pregnant by one of our males but refused our protection. I’m glad she was located. Did you find the father?”

  “That’s the problem.” Flame stared at Brawn. “The woman refused to tell him herself and hell, she said she doesn’t want to see him.”

  Brawn didn’t like that news. “Do you want the council to hold a meeting and try to determine who the father is by asking our people? Do you have a photo of her? It would help. We’ll show her to the males and find the father if she won’t reveal his name.”

  “Trisha recognized the female and knows who the father is. The pregnant female has requested he be kept away from her.”

  “What is the problem? Keep him away. Hers and the baby’s welfare comes first. You bothered me for this? It sounds as if everything is already handled.”

  “I’m glad you said that. It will make things easier.”

  Brawn cocked his head, more than a little confused and irritated. Flame was speaking in riddles, not making sense. “I don’t understand.”

  “The woman is Rebecca Oberto.” Flame stared at him sympathetically. “Ring a
ny bells, daddy?”

  The glass in Brawn’s finger slipped to the ground. He was glad he sat as shock ripped through his system. He stared at Flame, unable to even form words, as his brain tried to assimilate the information. Becca was the female? Pregnant? His heart exploded in a thunderous pounding and blood rushed to his ears.

  Flame nodded. “She tried to run and hide. She told her father she was in Europe. She’s definitely pregnant and it’s Species. I smelled her myself.”

  Brawn suddenly inhaled. He closed his eyes and a vicious growl tore from his throat. He lunged and grabbed Flame.

  He couldn’t believe it. It had to be a lie. Becca couldn’t be pregnant. The doctor had given her pills. Surely she had to have been taking birth control. She would have told him if they’d created life. The male stumbled to get out of his way but he was faster. His fists gripped Flame’s shoulders, his face lowered and he took a deep breath. The scents assaulted his senses as he tried to take it all in.

  “You touched her! You have her scent all over you and I smell her fear,” Brawn roared, totally losing all control.

  Flame’s body flew airborne before he could leash his rage. The male cried out as he hit the grass on his back a good six feet away, rolled a little as he struck and came up on all fours when he stopped. Brawn’s body tensed, ready to attack and he crouched. Another roar tore from his throat.

  “Easy, damn it!” Flame panted. “I didn’t hurt her, Brawn. She refused to come in. She was living in some cabin fifteen miles from here and I had to carry her onto the helicopter. Should I have left her there alone and unprotected? She’s at Medical and she’s safe!”

  The words penetrated his haze of rage, but barely. He snarled.

  “What is wrong?” Two officers rushed to the area, both putting themselves between the males. The one who spoke addressed Brawn.

  Flame slowly rose to his feet. “Nothing. We’re fine. This is a private matter. I had to give Brawn some upsetting news. Please leave us. We won’t fight.”

  Brawn gave a sharp jerk of his head, straightened up from the fighting position and clenched his teeth. The officers glanced between them before they left. Brawn watched the other male brush grass off his clothes and finally Flame met his gaze.