“That’s my pickup right over there. I have a jacket you can borrow. You must be freezing.”
It reminded her of Smiley. His face flashed in her mind. She shoved those memories away. “I’m okay.” It was a lie. She’d had sex with a stranger and her entire life had turned upside down in the space of a few hours.
She followed the woman to her pickup and climbed inside the cab. They backed out of the parking space and Vanni turned her head, peering at the gas station. All the doors on the SUV were wide open and one of the guards was frantically throwing his arms around while the other one seemed to be on the phone. They’d discovered she was gone.
“What’s your name, hon?”
Vanni forced a smile, facing her companion. “Vanni.”
“Oh, that’s an odd name but it’s pretty.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m Melinda. Do you like country music?”
“Sure.” She didn’t care what played on the radio. It was impossible to relax until they were on the freeway and she was safely away. No big black SUVs appeared in the side-view mirror.
“Thank you for this.” Vanni hugged her chest tighter.
“You’re welcome. You’re my very first hitchhiker. Well, I guess you’re technically not since your thumb wasn’t up.” Melinda laughed.
Vanni tried to pay attention to the friendly chatter and answer when it was appropriate but her mind kept drifting to Smiley and what they’d done together in the back of that NSO vehicle. Her body was sore, especially between her legs. No stabbing pains jolted through her though, something for which she was grateful. No hot flashes or cold chills struck her. She was going to survive after all. Now it was all about dealing with the consequences.
“Men are jerks. You look so depressed. Don’t be.” Melinda reached over and patted her leg. “You’re young and attractive. You’ll find a better one.”
Vanni just nodded.
“Did your boyfriend cheat on you?”
Vanni hesitated. “He screwed me.”
“Don’t all men.”
The cheating reference hurt. Smiley wasn’t the cheater. She’d have to face Carl. The ring in her pocket would have to be returned. She almost was sorry she’d run from the NSO. They might have been more understanding about what happened than her soon-to-be ex.
* * * * *
Smiley climbed out of the bed at Medical. “They just allowed her to walk away from them? Why weren’t they watching her?”
Fury took a deep breath. “Shane and Ned made a mistake.”
“A mistake? She could be out there in pain. Vulnerable!” Smiley yelled, not caring to lower his tone. “Someone could take advantage of her.”
“Put the ice pack back on your face,” Midnight urged. “Please? Brass really tagged you.”
“I’m going to kill him. He had no right to hit me.”
“You were in pain and exhibiting breeding-drug symptoms. He was afraid you’d go insane and hurt the human.” Fury pushed away from the wall. “Be reasonable. You would have done the same. Do I have to point out what could have happened?”
“I wouldn’t have harmed Vanni.”
Midnight frowned. “She was the only female in the vicinity. You would have mounted her even if she’d been unconscious. It would have damaged your soul. You’re a good male.”
Smiley cringed at the thought. “I was in control.”
“Brass wasn’t certain it would last.”
“We have contacted all the human hospitals and their police to be on the lookout for a female in distress. Tell him, Fury.” Midnight shot him a dirty look.
“We have many agencies working on this. Our teams at the hotel are attempting to identify the female. No one with the name Vanni was registered there.”
“Her full name is Travanni.” Smiley regretted not asking for her last name. Humans had those.
Rusty walked into the room and stared at Smiley. “I heard you were given the breeding drug.” She stepped closer. “What happened to your jaw?”
“Brass put him out,” Midnight answered. “He seems to be doing okay now.”
“Leave us alone.” Rusty unfastened the straps securing her vest over her uniform.
Smiley was grateful to have so many friends and he understood and appreciated Rusty’s offer, but he just wasn’t interested. “I’m fine.”
Her fingers froze and she frowned. “You don’t want to share sex?” Her gaze lowered to the front of his pants. “You’re hard.”
Vanni’s face flashed in his thoughts, the image crystal clear. He wanted to have sex but not with Rusty. It made him feel a little guilty since he liked her and they’d shared sex in the past. He couldn’t deny some of the drug was still in his system, enough so to keep his dick erect.
“You need me.” Rusty’s husky tone and the way she kept staring at his pants made her intent clear. “I’ll take care of you.”
“I can’t.” He didn’t want to hurt her feelings.
“You don’t have to do anything to me with your mouth if your jaw hurts.” She dropped the vest on a chair and reached for the waist of her shirt.
“Stop!” Smiley inwardly winced. “I appreciate that you came here but I have another female’s scent all over me.” That was true. He could smell Vanni on him. They’d rubbed together, skin to skin, covered in sweat and he’d touched her all over. His dick hardened even more, a painful throb in his jeans. Someone had fastened them when he’d been out but he still wore the same pants. “It wouldn’t be right.”
“I know. I could give you a sponge bath or we could shower together. Poor Smiley. Was it horrible having to touch a human against your will? I’ll make you forget about her.”
Horrible? Hell no. Smiley wanted to put his hands on Vanni again. She wasn’t the female standing feet from him, offering to get naked though. That was the problem. Forget Vanni? Never. I want her found and brought to me.
Midnight snagged the discarded vest and stepped between him and Rusty, her back to Smiley. “He’s in pain and agitated. We have to run X-rays on his jaw to make certain Brass didn’t fracture it. You know how tough our males are. They’d never complain. Why don’t you return to the women’s dorm? I’ll call you if you’re needed.”
“He’s my friend and I’m not leaving him in this condition,” Rusty protested.
Midnight growled. “Let me rephrase that. Go to the women’s dorm, or wherever you were when you heard the news, but get out of Medical. I’m running X-rays on his jaw. He isn’t permitted to share sex until he’s cleared.”
“He needs me.” Rusty wasn’t willing to give up yet.
“You stay and you’ll need your own room.” Midnight stepped forward, bumped into the other female and pushed her back. “Do you want to test who is more dominant? I’ll kick your ass.”
“Why are you being this way?” Rusty sounded confused.
“We’re in a crisis and you need to leave. I’ll call you if things change. Go.” She handed the vest to Rusty.
Smiley relaxed a little when Rusty spun on her heel and stomped out of his room. Midnight turned and sighed. Her expression softened when she said, “You’re too nice.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You have an expressive face, Smiley. She was too busy staring at your lower half to see your dismayed reaction when she offered to share sex. She was pretty hot to get you out of those pants. A primate Species on a breeding drug probably is an experience she either wanted to try out or perhaps missed from Mercile days. Would you have agreed to it if I hadn’t made her leave, just to avoid hurting her feelings?”
“No. Maybe.”
“That’s what I figured. Now it’s not an issue.” She put her hands on her hips. “My work here is done. I’ll let you males argue. I have some calls to make so I’ll be in my office.” She left.
Fury’s phone beeped and he withdrew it, reading the screen.
“Is it about Vanni? Has she been found? Is she safe?” Smiley hoped so.
Fury’
s lips compressed into a tight light and he looked up. “That was Brass. The news isn’t good.”
Smiley sat hard on the bed, gripping the edges of the mattress. “She’s dead?” Just saying the words hurt. He didn’t want to believe it.
Fury put his phone back in his pocket and approached. “Her name is Travanni Abris. She wasn’t registered at the hotel because she was a guest of a group that booked an entire floor of rooms.”
“Is she dead?” he repeated, not sure what he’d do if Fury said yes. The meal he’d eaten early in the evening threatened to come up.
“We haven’t located her yet.” Fury paused. “She was with the Woods Church, Smiley.”
He’d heard that name before. It took him a moment to remember where. “The church that came to protest our presence at the conference?”
“Yes. Gregory Woods is a preacher or something, who heads that church. He’s been very vocal in the news concerning his belief that we should never have been created and insists our existence is an insult to his god. He wants Homeland and Reservation shut down and all of us returned to our cells. He refers to Homeland and Reservation as zoos.”
Smiley let the information sink in. “Why would he say that?”
Fury shrugged. “He’s an asshole. I had to watch some of his televised sermons for research purposes. Know your enemies. He compared us to animals that have been trained to talk and dress as if we are humans. He states that wild animals shouldn’t be domesticated and it is a disaster about to happen. He even referenced a few horror movies for what could happen if we aren’t put back in cages and kept in our place. His tactics are to use fear to frighten humans into believing we’ll take over the world and put them in cages instead.”
“He sounds like someone I’d like to lock up.”
Fury flashed a grin. “Exactly.”
Smiley couldn’t find the humor in their exchange. Vanni obviously belonged to a church that hated Species. He reviewed every moment they’d shared. “She didn’t treat me the way humans who think we’re dangerous do. You know how they act as if we’re going to bite them or they talk slowly as if we can’t understand what they say?”
Fury nodded.
“I liked her,” he admitted.
“She drugged you. At least now we know who Drackwood Research sold the formula to. The Woods Church obviously bought the human version of our breeding drug.”
Dr. Harris walked in. “How are you feeling, Smiley?”
“I’m okay. The pain is gone.”
“I see you’re still suffering an erection. I’m going to have to drain the blood if that side effect doesn’t go away within a few hours.”
Smiley reached down and protected his crotch with one hand. “No. I told you that already when you mentioned it the first time.”
“Priapism can cause you to suffer erectile dysfunction in the future, Smiley.”
“What is that?”
“Priapism means long-term erections. Can you ejaculate?”
The memory of being on top of Vanni, inside her and coming flashed through Smiley’s mind. “Yes.”
“We’re not like you,” Fury reminded the younger of the two Harris doctors who worked for the NSO—father and son. “None of us who have taken the breeding drug have trouble getting hard afterward. That was the point when Mercile created it. They wanted to make sure we had sex often when they were attempting to impregnate our females.”
“Do you feel like yourself?” Dr. Harris studied Smiley.
“I’m a bit irritated but I’m fine.” He’d feel better if they located Vanni and brought her to Homeland so he knew she was safe. “The stomach cramps are gone.”
“How are your levels of aggression?”
“Still high.” He wouldn’t lie. The urge to hit something was there but he resisted. The last thing he wanted was to be restrained if they worried he would hurt someone. “It’s manageable.”
“Some of our tests have been confirmed. It is a form of the breeding drug, albeit a milder version. I wish I could send it off to a friend of mine to look at but Justice said no.”
“The last thing we need is to hand another weapon against us over to unknowns.” Fury’s phone beeped. He retrieved it and he glanced at the screen. “I’m with Justice on this. It’s too risky. Hang on. I have to take this.” He rushed out of the room.
“What would the milder version do to a human?”
“I’m not sure. I’d have to examine her. I was told she escaped custody.”
“Is she going to die?”
“I don’t know.”
It infuriated Smiley. “What do you know?”
Dr. Harris backed away. “Calm down.”
“I just keep thinking she woke up in pain and ran away. She’s probably suffering and some male could come across her. He could do anything to her.” His voice took on a gruff sound and his hands fisted. “She’s defenseless.”
“Listen to me,” the doctor urged, “I tested both drinks. The amount of the drug was higher in your drink than in hers. You’re cranky but fine. The pain is gone. You’re just moody as shit. I’m sure she’s probably the same. I read the report. According to her height and approximate weight, I don’t think it was a toxic amount.”
That made him feel better.
“Unless she has health issues. Those are things I can’t factor in.”
He wanted to hit the doctor. “Go.”
“Smiley, I really think I should run a few blood tests on you.”
“Get out before I strike you. I’m about to.”
Dr. Harris left in a hurry. Fury returned.
“Who called? Have they found Vanni?”
Fury hesitated. “Someone responded to the APB the police put out. A witness said he saw a female fitting her description getting into a truck with another female. She appeared to be fine but the witness remembered her because her skirt was ripped near the hem and she wasn’t wearing shoes. He thought she might be homeless.”
“Were they able to track that truck?”
“He didn’t catch the license plate or where it headed. They pulled her driver’s license information and two police officers are parked outside her apartment. No one answered when they knocked. They are watching in case she returns home. We’ll find her, Smiley. The good news is that she’s with a female. No male took her.”
“All right.” He took deep breaths. “I need an outlet for the rage. I’m not in pain but I’m pissed.”
“We’ll go to the training room. I’m sure someone will spar with you.”
He nodded. “Let’s do that.”
“You may wish to shower first.”
Vanni. Her smell was on him. He hesitated, not willing to lose that connection. It wasn’t rational though, he realized. “Okay.”
Fury studied him, worry evident.
“I’ll be fine.”
His friend nodded. “I know.”
Chapter Five
Vanni knew Beth hovered at the bathroom door of their shared apartment because she was worried. They’d been best friends since first grade. “I’m okay.”
“I don’t see how. I still can’t believe what you told me in the car.”
She looked at Beth. “I wish it was a lie but it’s all true. I need a shower.” She began to strip and shoved the skirt down. The engagement ring fell out of the pocket and bounced on the tile flooring. She stared at it, a reminder of her new reality.
“I can almost read your mind. You look so sad, Vanni. This wasn’t your fault. You were drugged.” Beth paused. “You don’t have to tell Carl. I might not like him but I know how much he matters to you. We could say you got a bad case of food poisoning and I came and got you from the hotel.”
She shook her head. “No. It’s over. He lied to me about why we went to the hotel in the first place and became a total jerk. You were right about him.”
“Which part? That he was a selfish son of a bitch or that he was a user?”
Vanni frowned.
“Come on. He ask
s you to marry him and immediately stops touching you? You haven’t had sex with him in four months.”
“He was afraid it would reflect badly on his reputation. I understood that. When our engagement was announced in the papers, they did a story about his dad too. It would have looked terrible to have a preacher’s son having a woman stay late at his house. The reporters suddenly became interested in him and his life.”
“That’s lame. I said that and I stand by it. There’s something off with Carl. You said the sex wasn’t even good and he rarely touched you. He probably has a boyfriend stashed somewhere. He got you to say yes and dried up the affection. It screams to me that he likes guys and he needed you as a front to hide it.”
Vanni wasn’t sure. “Either way, we won’t be getting married now.” She bent, picked up the ring and put it in the drawer so it wouldn’t get lost. “I’ll give that back to him when he returns to town.”
“Tell me more about this New Species. All you said was that you both were drugged and had sex together. Was that any good at least? I mean, you remember it, right?”
“I’ll never forget. I remember it all.” She turned on the water and let it warm then closed the toilet lid to sit so she could look at the bottom of her foot. She hoped it wasn’t cut. She gasped when she sat, aware of being tender.
“Are you okay?”
Vanni examined her sole. “It’s just a bruise. I don’t see any cuts or blood.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about. Did he hurt you?”
Vanni looked up. “No, he didn’t hurt me.” She stood. “I’m just sore.”
“In a good or a bad way?”
“What does that mean?”
Beth arched her eyebrows and smiled. “Was he big? They look big. Is that why you flinched when you sat down?”
“Beth!” Vanni scowled. “Don’t be disgusting.”
“I’m being honest. You should see the way you were walking. It wasn’t just the limp but you’re a bit bowlegged. Was he like Justice North with those gorgeous kitty eyes?”
“No.”
“He’s like Fury? He’s canine and so hot. I envy Ellie. It was so damn sad but dreamy when they were shot at and he just swooped her up to get her to safety. Can you imagine any guy taking a few bullets to protect a woman? That’s loyalty to the extreme.”