The Jeep was speeding at them and she recognized the driver instantly. Tiger’s streaked hair was easy to spot and so was his enraged expression as tires locked up on the pavement when he hit the brakes. The vehicle came to a screeching halt by the curb. He was out of it the second the engine cut off.
“This is Tiger,” Smiley stated, as if she didn’t know who stormed around the front of the vehicle to reach them. “Hello, Tiger. I take it you heard what happened. She is well. How did it go with Vengeance?”
“Give us a moment alone,” Tiger snarled, his gaze locked on Zandy. “I need to speak to her. Take a walk.”
Smiley gawked but backed away. He spun on his heel and went to the end of the building. He’d seemed pretty shocked at Tiger’s abrupt dismissal and she could relate, stunned a little herself. Tiger waited until the other man had moved away before he stepped closer. He ran his gaze down her body before meeting her eyes again. His hand lifted and he gently gripped her jaw, forcing her head to tilt a little to get a better look at the cut on her face.
“Why did you leave Reservation and who were you with? Are you all right? Who did this to you?”
She wasn’t sure which question to answer first. “I’m okay. Richard and I went shopping for his wife on our lunch break and the protesters attacked while we were in line to get back inside the gates.”
A deep growl rumbled from his throat. “Where are your clothes?”
“They threw them away. The shirt was history and the pants were bloody.”
He sniffed and another growl came from him, the second one deeper and almost scary. Rage narrowed his eyes and she hoped it wasn’t directed at her. His touch remained gentle where he held her jaw.
“I still smell blood.”
“I’m okay. I got a few scratches. My—”
“Where?”
She paused. “My knee got the worst of it. I have a scratch on my chest and you can see my face. I didn’t get a good look at the men who tried to grab me but they thought I was someone else.”
His other hand gripped her hip. “I heard the attackers thought you were Jessie. I can’t believe they thought you were her. Your hair is much lighter and shorter than hers. Humans are stupid. You shouldn’t have used the front gates. Didn’t you realize it would be dangerous?”
She let that one slide since he was obviously upset and didn’t she really want to be lumped into the same category as the protesters at that moment by reminding him she was human. His words made her feel a little defensive though.
“I guess we missed the news conference last night when Justice North announced he’d gotten married to the woman they mistook me for. I had no idea it wasn’t safe to leave the front gates. I take it that you know her?”
He nodded. “I know her very well and you two look nothing alike.” He took a deep breath. “I am agitated. I’m sorry. I should have called your office the moment I found out Justice had to tell the press about his mate and warned you it would antagonize the protesters.”
Zandy studied him and a hint of jealousy struck. How well did Tiger know the other redhead? It was going to bug her if she didn’t ask. “Did you ever date this Jessie?”
His mouth tensed. “No. She is Justice’s mate. I’ve never mounted her. Why would you ask that?”
She hated the fact that she was glad he’d never slept with the woman she’d been mistaken for. The idea of being a replacement version of a woman he’d lost to another man had set her on edge. “Curiosity, since some people think we look so much alike. Never mind. It’s been a stressful day.”
He caressed her cheek before dropping his hand. “I don’t want you leaving Reservation. It’s not safe. The protesters are out in full force and some have even shown up at the gate you use. That’s a long stretch of road I don’t want you traveling and someone could follow you home. They already attacked you once, thinking you were Justice’s mate. I insist you stay here for a few days until things calm.”
Disappointment hit her that he wasn’t inviting her to stay at his place. Smiley had offered to take her home and he didn’t even know her. It was a painful reminder that Tiger didn’t want anything long-term between them. It was what they’d agreed on and she’d made her bed. Sleeping in it suddenly seemed really lonely and painful.
“Okay.”
“There is space open in human housing. It’s similar to your apartment buildings. I’ll assign officers to guard you. Some of the protesters have tried to breach our walls and I want to make sure you’re safe. I will try to check on you but I’m not sure how late my shift will end. It’s going to be a long day and worse night. We’ve learned that they tend to think just because the sun goes down that it will be easier to sneak onto NSO lands.”
“I don’t have any clothes. I’ll need to take at least one trip home to get my stuff.”
“No. I’ll order you clothes from our store.” He glanced down her. “I apologize but we don’t get too many small females staying here. You’ll probably have to wear more sweats and T-shirts.”
“There’s a dress code for work.”
“Don’t worry about that. I’ll make certain no one says anything. You are safer here at Reservation until this blows over. We’ll extend the same courtesy to all NSO human employees.”
That killed her assumption that he’d done something special for her by asking her to stay where he knew she’d be safe. It drove home another reminder that they didn’t have a relationship. It stung.
“Fine. You do that. I need to get to work. I guess I’ll see you later.”
She turned away from him and he had no choice but to release her hip. The limp was noticeable as she headed toward Smiley. He saw her coming and came at her quickly.
“Zandy?” Tiger hissed.
She paused and turned her head to meet his gaze. “Yes?”
“Is something wrong? Are you angry with me?”
She swung back around and limped so close to him that she had to tilt her chin up to stare into his handsome face. He looked past her and held up his hand to halt the officer. His hand dropped to his side.
She was in pain and had been assaulted, her patience already at the limit. They didn’t have a real relationship but she wanted to be honest. It was probably the last time they’d talk anyway. She might as well give him a piece of her mind.
“I’m having a shit day if you haven’t noticed. I’m sure you are too since I know you’re the head of security here. I guess when I saw you speeding around that corner I assumed you’d heard what happened and it shook you up enough to want to see me.” She paused. “Hell, this is why I don’t get involved with men. I suck at it and we don’t have a relationship, right? Thank you for caring and checking on me. I know you need to get back to work. We’re fine.” She turned away again.
Tiger’s hand clamped down on her arm to prevent her from getting away from him. He stepped around her until he blocked her path. “Are we in a relationship?”
Her gaze dropped to his NSO work shirt. “I don’t know. Are we?” She gazed back up at him.
“I wanted to invite you to stay at my house but you’d already told me no. I didn’t want to be rejected a second time. I also have to work long hours and my home is too far from the office to sleep there while this crisis is happening. You’d be out there alone. I wanted to keep you close.”
“It wasn’t a rejection. I just said no because we barely knew each other then.”
His exotic eyes narrowed. “We know each other extremely well now.”
Sexually. “I don’t know where we’re heading and it’s scary. I missed you today and hoped you’d invite me to meet you later.” I’m falling in love with you.
“I missed you too.” He hesitated. “I will come visit you tonight and we’ll talk.”
“Okay.” She wasn’t sure if that was bad or good.
“It might be late.”
“I understand.”
His cell phone buzzed and he reached for it, never looking away from her eyes. “Yes?”
He paused. “Understood. I’m on my way.” He hung up. “I have to go. Some of the humans outside the gates are acting up again.” He lifted a hand and waved Smiley forward. “Try to take a nap before I arrive.” His voice lowered even more. “I plan to do a lot more than just talk to you.” A soft purr came from him before he backed away.
Zandy’s body instantly responded to the sexy noise. The idea of seeing him later and possibly spending another night sleeping together had her nipples growing taut and her belly quivering. Him licking his lips only reminded her of what he could do with that tongue and her clit throbbed.
He faced Smiley. “I’m reassigning you to Zandy today. Take her to work and I want you to stay close to her building until after her shift is over. She’ll be staying at building H, apartment HJ until this mess ends. It’s too dangerous for her to leave Reservation. I’ll have officers meet you there later. Wait for them if they are running late. She isn’t to be left unguarded.”
“Understood.”
Tiger glanced at her one more time before he strode back to his Jeep. Another one turned the corner, probably the transportation Smiley had called. She resisted waving at Tiger as he drove away. The officer next to her sniffed loudly and she jerked her head to stare at his face.
He frowned. “Forget about that one, Zandy.”
“What?”
“You are aroused and Tiger isn’t a male you wish to pursue. He isn’t the type to take a mate. He avoids sharing sex with human females.”
Her cheeks warmed as she blushed. Oh hell. “Is there anything you guys can’t smell?”
He hesitated. “I’m not opposed to taking a mate and open to a possible lasting bond with a female. You’re injured and having a stressful day but keep me in mind if you wish to share sex. Just think about it.”
A new officer watched them from the waiting Jeep while Zandy limped toward the passenger seat. She wasn’t going to touch that one with a ten-foot pole. Not the man or the offer. She wasn’t even sure how to respond.
Chapter Ten
A noise woke Zandy and she glanced at the clock on the nightstand. It was just after eleven. Tiger had finally arrived. She was on her stomach under the covers but had left the light on in the living room of the one-bedroom apartment. Her hair was still damp from the shower she’d taken. She used her arm to lift up and turn in bed. The covers slid down a little as her gaze swept the dark room until she found his darker shape near the dresser.
“I was wondering if you’d ever show. Thanks for the clothes and all the stuff you had deliv—”
The shadow lunged at her, hit the bed hard enough to knock her flat, and a gloved hand clamped around her throat. Shock tore through her as fingers squeezed painfully tight until she couldn’t breathe. Her mouth opened to scream as the body on the bed with her scooted even closer when she tried to struggle under the covers.
It wasn’t Tiger. She couldn’t see the man’s face. The hand felt big and he was heavy as he tried to pin her body down. Panic and sheer terror made her claw at her throat—he was strangling her. She found his skin just above the leather gloves and dug her fingernails in. Her lungs burned from lack of oxygen and she focused on hurting her attacker.
He cried out and the hold on her throat loosened for a split second. It was just enough time for her to suck in much-needed air. She screamed. The sound came out as more of a shriek. The man let go to roll away. He fell off the edge of the bed as Zandy screamed again, blindly turning the other way to put space between them.
A dark shape lifted from the floor and rushed toward the corner of the room. He hit the glass window hard enough to break through when he slammed into it. Cool air filled the room while she continued to pant. Wood splintered from the other side of the apartment and two New Species rushed inside her room from the living room. One flipped on the light, both of them sniffed the air and the blond rushed toward the destroyed window.
“Stay with her. It was a human male,” he snarled before he leaped out the opening to chase her attacker.
The remaining officer held up his hands in an almost calming way to show he posed no danger to her. “Are you all right?”
She nodded and tried to speak but coughed instead. Her throat hurt. It took some work to swallow before she tried again. “I woke up and someone was in the room.”
He stalked slowly around the bed and bent down. One hand gripped the sheet and lifted it to her upper chest. “You’re naked.” He sniffed. “He didn’t sexually assault you.”
She clutched at the sheet that the officer had handed to her, still gripping her throat with the other. He’d seen her bare breasts. Her hair falling over her shoulders hadn’t totally hidden them but at that moment she was too confused and frightened to be embarrassed.
“Did you see his face?” He backed off as soon as she held the sheet up without his assistance. “Do you know who it was?”
She’d thought it was Tiger but couldn’t state that without admitting they were sleeping together to explain why he’d be in her bedroom. “No. It was too dark.”
He crouched and gently moved her hand from her throat. A soft growl came from him as he studied her neck. “He hurt you.”
“He tried to strangle me. He was wearing gloves. I felt them when I tried to make him let go.”
The officer took her hand and sniffed her fingertips. “You made him bleed. Wipe them on the bedding. We will want his blood scent.”
Shock prevented her from responding so the officer used part of the bedding to clean her fingertips. Blood stained the material and she realized she must have really nailed her attacker. He released her hand and rose to his feet.
“I will guard the door. Go into the bathroom and wash your hands. Human males can carry diseases. Use soap.”
“I’m naked,” she reminded him.
He paused to glance at her. “I won’t look. Hurry, more officers are on the way.” He strode to the dresser and removed some of the clothes Tiger had ordered for her. He returned to her side and offered them. “Just come out when you are dressed.”
He spun, moved to the bedroom door and turned his back to her. She glanced at the broken window, the curtains swaying in the breeze, before tossing back the sheet to streak to the bathroom. Once the door was closed she realized how badly she was shaking.
Someone had attacked her in her bed. When she looked in the mirror she saw red marks on her throat where she’d been squeezed. She tilted her head to get a better look. She’d probably have bruises. Her hand rose to touch the sore spots but the sight of blood on her fingers stopped her. She lowered her gaze to the sink to turn on the water. Her hands trembled badly as she soaped them and scrubbed under her fingernails.
The T-shirt and sweatpants were too large but she didn’t have a choice. She opened the door when she’d put them on. Two officers were in her room. The one who’d tended her was stripping the comforter off her bed. He folded it to keep the blood stains on top.
“Here,” he passed it to the other officer. “Take this to Security immediately.” He turned to face Zandy. “Are you well? We’re tracking the male who attacked you. Did he say anything to you?”
“No. He was by the dresser when I woke and he just attacked me. He grabbed my throat and I couldn’t breathe.”
“He wanted to keep her silent,” the second officer stated. “He had to have known we were posted outside.”
A third officer walked into her room. “We found his point of entry. He broke through the kitchen window in the back. Smashing this window to escape cost him severe injuries, judging by the amount of blood we found outside. It shouldn’t take us long to track him. He won’t be able to get away.” He grimly regarded Zandy. “Are you well, female?”
“I’m okay. Shaken, but I’ll live.”
“He harmed her throat,” the first officer informed the one who seemed to be in charge. “We should escort her to Medical.”
“It’s just red. I can breathe fine now and it’s just a little sore. I’m sure I don’t ne
ed a doctor.”
“Are you sure?” All three of them studied her.
“Yes. I just want a drink.” She inched past them and entered the living room. Her purse was on the floor and all the contents had been dumped out over the coffee table.
She picked up her wallet and opened it. Her cash was still there and she showed it to the officers who’d followed her. “He wasn’t a thief. I don’t know what he was looking for though.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll find out when we catch him.”
She dropped her wallet on the table and entered the kitchen. It was small and her gaze immediately focused on the window. It was closed but she could see where the lock had been broken along the bottom.
* * * * *
Tiger was furious as he glared at Vengeance. The male snarled at him, in a foul mood. He was really testing Tiger’s patience. He had spent the past few hours trying to calm the male but admitted to being ready to call in someone to tranquilize him and put him down for the night.
“You attacked a female human while working for the task force and that’s how you ended up here. I know you want to do something but you blew it. I’m not arguing with you anymore, Ven. I have things to do tonight and I’d like to get some sleep. More important things are happening than you throwing a fit because you aren’t happy here.”
“I should be doing something.”
“I understand but you tried to force mate a female.” Tiger’s cell phone rang and he reached for it. “Tiger here.”
“The human female, Zandy Gordon, was attacked at her apartment at human housing.”
Tiger snarled from rage and shock that someone had harmed Zandy again. “How? Who did it? Is she well? Where were the officers I assigned to guard her?”
Timber sounded angry too. “They were near the curb, in front of the building. You said to keep them outside. A human male broke in through a back window. He tried to strangle her in bed but she managed to scream. The human attacker is injured and bleeding. We’re tracking him now and he’s heading toward the Wild Zone. He’s going to be one sorry bastard if he makes it there. The unstable ones will kill him if they find him before our officers do.”