Ellie parked the golf cart in front of the dorm and climbed out. She rubbed her aching arms and hurried toward the front doors. She had nearly reached them when the hair on the back of her neck prickled. She stilled after she pulled out her ID card and slowly peered over her shoulder.
A man lurked under the shadow of a tree across the street, just a dim outline of a figure, but Ellie sensed him watching her. She knew it had to be Fury. She stood there staring at him. She held her ground and he held his while neither of them moved.
Ellie bit her lip, wondering if she should approach him. She could apologize again for what she’d done to him and maybe explain in more detail until he understand her actions fully that day inside his cell. Indecision kept her in place while she struggled with the need to talk to him and the fear that he hadn’t calmed down.
He didn’t move and she couldn’t make her legs respond to go to him. The memory of his rage, of his hands squeezing her flesh, changed her mind about talking to him at that moment. Fear motivated her to face the door, swipe her key card, and hurry inside the dorm. She made sure the locks slid into place before dashing for the elevator.
An eerie silence settled into the dorm late at night. She entered the elevator with the sensation of being watched. With walls of glass, she knew he could see her from where he stood outside. The doors shut firmly to put her out of view of the street and Ellie sagged against the wall. Would he let it go? She didn’t know but now he knew where she lived. He also worked at Homeland and probably lived in one of the housing units built just blocks away for the council and high-ranking members of the New Species.
Damn.
The elevator dinged when it opened on the third floor where she currently was the only resident. Once more women were transferred to the dorm, the rooms would fill up until the building would be full of life on every level. She suddenly minded being alone up there a lot.
The building was secure, she reminded herself. The only people who had access to the building were the women living there and the security guards assigned to guard it. Not even a member of the council had access. Fury wouldn’t be able to get in. She unlocked her door.
She’d left the lights on inside her small apartment and her balcony doors still stood wide open. She moved toward them quickly to close the doors firmly and locked them for the first time. No one could reach her balcony but she didn’t care about logic. She looked down at her arms after she undressed—verifying both were red and bruised from Fury’s hands—and then stepped into her bathroom to shower.
Fury survived! That thought kept circling inside her mind. Hot tears spilled down her cheeks. If that day had never happened she would have had a chance to get to know him. He may have…Her eyes closed in pain. What? Fallen in love with me the way I’ve fallen for him? It was insane to even consider that possibility. They didn’t really know each other but she wanted to change that. He hates me. That had been clear when he’d slammed her onto the table and rage had poured off him.
Ellie reached up and wiped at her tears. What she’d done to him couldn’t have been avoided. She could only hope that one day he’d forgive her for leaving him inside the cell to take the blame for her crime. Then maybe…
“Damn it, don’t do this to yourself,” she whispered aloud, shaking her head.
Chapter Three
Ellie watched the New Species women with frustration. She knew making friends with them would be a difficult task but she’d had no idea how hard a time they planned to give her. Not one of them had been friendly toward her. They were a tight group but not with Ellie. She hoped she hid her hurt feelings. Helping them had become her mission in life, her sole purpose, and they had refused to allow it so far.
“Would any of you like to learn how to cook? I can teach you or I’ve acquired a ton of cooking DVD’s to show you.” She glanced from one face to another. “I’m sure some of you are tired of the meals provided by the main NSO cafeteria. I enjoy cooking. It’s good to learn and everyone loves food.”
No one spoke as three dozen pairs of eyes watched her. Ellie sighed. “I swear, I’m not the enemy. I’m here to help you learn living skills and to help you integrate into society. I want to help you in any way you need. I really wish you would allow me to do that.”
Their silence stretched to an uncomfortable length. Ellie’s shoulders slumped in momentary defeat. “Fine. Maybe you need more time to get to know me. If you need anything, please just let me know. That’s why I’m here. Oh, I baked a few cakes I put inside the fridge so please eat them.”
Ellie fled the room before she allowed them to see her depression. As soon as she moved out of sight she heard female voices, reinforcing her urge to cry. Everyone became silent when she walked into a room but conversation returned as soon as she left. She couldn’t ignore the possibility they might hate her. They refused to talk with her except when they had to and they didn’t seem to want her help. She’d had to hold mandatory class sessions just to teach them basics such as how to use the appliances in the house. The questions were few but then again, she’d noticed that some of them had amazing memories. They would retain the information and then help the other women who struggled.
She’d considered quitting but she’d been assured by one of the council members that the women would shun anyone holding the position. She was an outsider, it was that simple, and being just plain ole human made the New Species not trust her. She’d been advised to give it time and reminded that it had only been two weeks.
Two weeks of hell, she silently grumbled, and headed for her apartment. If she left though, she had nowhere to go, no life to go back to, after cutting all ties with her past. The very idea of asking her parents to live with one of them until she got back on her feet threatened to give her a migraine.
Her parents argued about everything, regardless of living apart, and then asked her to referee their asinine fights. Both of them had been bitterly opposed to Ellie’s own divorce, the only thing they agreed on, and they remained in contact with her ex-husband. They’d make her spend time with him with their misguided and annoying attempts to get them back together. She’d rather jump into a pit of snakes than ever return to the life she’d once had. She didn’t call home for a reason and she sure didn’t want to go back to it. Both her parents were angry at her, which meant they finally gave her peace, something she hadn’t had from the pair since their divorce when she was ten.
Her new life consisted of moving forward and helping people with real problems, two things she wanted to do with the New Species. They were important to her and they needed people who cared on their side. She definitely cared.
Ellie changed quickly, put on a pair of sweats, a tank top, and running shoes. She needed fresh air and time away from the dorm, certain she wouldn’t be missed. She tried not to feel self-pity. She’d assumed the job would have kept her busier and maybe have been rewarding. Instead she suffered loneliness and depression. She tucked her MP3 player into the front of her bra and shoved her ID card there too since she didn’t have pockets. She left her room and started to jog in place while she waited for the elevator.
Ellie glanced at her watch when she left the dorm building and took note of the dark sky outside with only a few stars twinkling above. She turned and faced the windows to peer inside at the women who sat on couches laughing together in the living room area. She couldn’t hear what they said but the dozen women she spied on seemed happy.
Happy I’m not there, she thought grimly. She muttered a curse as she turned her back on the sight. She’d never been a jogger until she’d moved into Homeland. Physical activity helped her deal with her boredom. She broke into a slow run along the sidewalk. The park-like area extended for a great distance along the guarded walls.
Ellie reached into her bra to turn up the volume on her MP3 player until music pounded in her ears. She went through phases with types of music and recently she’d been into heavy metal to fit her mood. She traveled steadily along as the path turned away fr
om the walls and toward the park that contained a large pond. She enjoyed running next to the water.
Ellie slowed to a fast walk for a good block when she started to tire until she reached the pond. She stopped to stretch, bent over to touch her toes, and then straightened. She saw movement from the corner of her eye. She turned, expecting to see another jogger appear but she saw no one. She frowned. She could have sworn she’d seen someone.
Ellie shook her head and dismissed it. She figured the wind moving the treetops had drawn her attention. She stretched her arms upward and twisted her body in various positions to loosen muscles. Her body ached when she jogged but she wanted to get into shape. At twenty-nine it seemed to be a good time to do it.
She smirked, knowing her ex-husband would drop from a heart attack if he got an eyeful of her now. She’d once been more than a little overweight. She had almost totally become a different person after her bitter divorce from a cheating, verbally abusive ass who believed her pathetic enough to take whatever he dished out. He’d been wrong. She wasn’t a doormat, would never stay with someone who didn’t know how to love, and had ended the marriage despite Jeff’s protests.
She’d completely turned her life around after she’d witnessed suffering firsthand while working at the testing facility. Forty pounds lighter and free of her ex, she had a much happier outlook. She chuckled. She’d actually lost two hundred forty pounds of unwanted weight since Jeff had accounted for two hundred of them. Her final cut from her past had been escaping her parents after they’d tried to guilt her into taking Jeff back. Hell hasn’t frozen over yet, she thought with a smirk.
The hair on the back of her neck suddenly prickled. Her limbs froze while just her gaze darted around the park. Landscapers had planted lots of trees, turning the area into a mini forest area surrounding the water. A few park benches had been strategically placed and the buildings were located on the outer edges of the park. She could just make out the tops of them from where she stood. She studied the darkness once more, the sense of being watched growing.
Ellie reached down the front of her shirt to grip her MP3 player and pushed the “off” button as she removed it. She listened intently but didn’t hear anything out of place. She started to turn the music back on but a soft growl made her jump. A dog? She looked over her shoulder to scan the surroundings again.
There were a few guard dogs patrolling Homeland but their handlers were always a leash away. Security guards would be in view if one of the canine units were in the vicinity. A sudden urge to return to the dorm gripped her.
Ellie took a few steps but heard another growl, closer this time. Her body tensed with alarm. She scanned the area again to search for the source while she shoved her headphones down to her neck and held her music player in a tightfisted grip. She hoped one of the dogs hadn’t gotten loose. They were large, mean animals, and well trained in defending the property. They’d treat her as if she were an intruder.
“Hello?” Her voice rose. She hoped a security guard would answer. “Is anyone there?”
Fury had been watching the women’s dorm where Ellie lived and had caught many glimpses of her through the first-floor glass windows. She worked with his women and he’d been proud when they gave the human the cold shoulder until he’d seen the sadness on Ellie’s face. It tore at him to witness her pain. He shouldn’t care but he did.
He had been stunned when he’d seen her leave the secure building alone, jogging away from safety. Didn’t she realize the danger he posed? That he’d be watching her? Didn’t her survival instincts scream out that he’d be close?
Obviously not since he’d easily followed her and watched her slowly run into the park where the secluded area nearly begged for him to approach her. Then she stopped as if she were waiting for him. He inhaled her scent on the wind and groaned as his body reacted. He wanted to be closer to her more than his next breath and it really angered him. She was his enemy.
He snarled as he battled the beast that lurked inside him for control. His human side knew she was off limits. She’d been an informant, had helped his people. It was the reason she’d been at his testing facility, but the animal side of him wanted to draw closer to touch and to claim her. That truth startled him.
He balked at following his instincts. She had betrayed him after he’d trusted her to never do anything that would harm him. Regardless of her reasons working for Mercile, it didn’t excuse what she’d done to him, or the anger he lived with, knowing the price her actions had cost him.
He trained his males to keep their animal instincts on a tight leash and he needed to do the same, set an example, and stay in control. He had responsibilities to Species to show them life existed outside the testing facilities and that they weren’t just animals created by Mercile, who had drilled insults into their heads all their lives. Ellie was living proof, though, that he had a weakness―her.
She peered around her in the darkness, as if she could sense him. His animal howled inside his soul to go to her, to take her, and to touch her. He fought the urge but then he moved toward her regardless of his wishes. Once again he’d lost control when it came to her. He just couldn’t resist her scent, the strong desire to look into her eyes and hear her voice.
Rage boiled through his human side while his animal reveled in pure lust at the sound of her sweet, taunting voice. He battled himself once again when he inhaled her fear, wanted to protect her, but also needed to terrify her to send her as far from him as she could get.
Movement once again caught Ellie’s attention. She gasped when Fury stepped from behind a tree twenty feet away. Her entire body reacted to the sight of the tall, attractive male, and the sensation of danger radiating off him. She swallowed, her breathing increased and fear jolted through her when the shock wore off. She hadn’t heard a dog at all—the growl had come from him. Fury had made that scary sound.
His long silky hair cascaded down over his shoulders and chest, as free and unrestrained as he appeared to be at that moment. The black clothing he wore hugged his broad shoulders, impressive muscular arms, and outlined his trim waist. An air of danger emanated from him when his dark gaze seemed to fasten on her, swept down her entire body slowly, and a soft growl grumbled deep within his throat. His jaw clenched, the muscles tensing, apparent even in the dim light.
He took a step forward, more of a predatory motion than the way a man would move, advancing on her slowly. Her gaze lowered to his muscular thighs, outlined in his tight black pants, all the way down to his black shoes. He radiated strength and sex appeal and she swallowed hard. Her heart speeded up, her breathing increased, and her body became aware of him as a purely male being.
No one had ever affected her the way he did. He advanced another stalking step, the fluid motion nearly seductive and she realized he dressed to blend into the darkness, as if he’d intended to hide, but had allowed her to see him by stepping into just enough light to reveal his presence to her alone.
Fury regarded her silently now, his gaze trained on her face, and as she studied him, she swore she saw a hungry look on his handsome features. His tongue darted out to wet his lower lip, the pink tip a taunt of something forbidden but tempting, and his dark eyes narrowed as if he could read her mind. She wanted to kiss him, longed to know how it would feel to have him touch her again but this time, not in anger. Of course that wouldn’t happen. He hated her.
“Oh crap,” she whispered but then spoke louder. “Hello, uh, Fury. Nice night for a jog, isn’t it?”
He said nothing but took another step closer before he stopped. Her terror built. They were alone and he’d sworn to kill her. She couldn’t call to the guards on patrol for help—they weren’t within sight.
A low snarl passed his parted lips as he took another step in her direction. The urge to flee increased for Ellie but she held still, having read reports that the New Species were really fast. Their altered DNA, depending on what animal it had been combined with, accounted for that. Fury obviously had been mi
xed with canine and could certainly run her down if she fled. She wasn’t sure if she should scream, attempt to talk her way out of the frightening situation, or just hope he meant no harm. He moved closer.
“Do you know what they trained us to do in order to show us off to their investors?” His voice came out harsh, cold and scary.
She had to clear her throat, which wanted to close with fear. “Not really. Most of the files were destroyed when the testing facilities at Mercile Industries were breached. I wasn’t allowed access to that information when I worked there.”
“Hunt,” he growled. “I excelled at that training. I was the best of the prototypes. They taught us how to do things to sell their drugs, to show living examples of what humans could become if they bought their stupid shots and pills.”
Ellie realized her future seemed questionable at that moment. Fury hated her and he spoke in a way she knew could turn deadly. She couldn’t find the right words, didn’t know how to defuse the situation. He took another step toward her. Shit, double shit, she thought frantically. He would reach her with just a few more steps.
“I didn’t have a choice that day,” she blurted. “I killed Jacob to protect you but if they’d known I did it, they wouldn’t have allowed me to leave. I just wanted to save you. I didn’t even mean to kill him.”
“Did you tell anyone what he did to me or how you allowed me to suffer for what you’d done?”