“Thank you for everything. Could you please tell Flame that I said ‘thank you’ too?”
He nodded. “You are welcome from both of us. We are glad you are alive.”
“Could you tell Slade to contact me as soon as he’s found? I’m worried about him and I won’t stop until I know he’s safe.”
“I can do that.” Smiley’s gaze returned to the sky as he turned his back on Trisha. “Here we go. Cover your ears. Those things are very loud. They give me a headache but some things can’t be avoided.”
Trisha stood when the helicopter hovered above the treetops at just enough distance to avoid hitting anything. The wind kicked up debris on the ground that swirled around her until it forced her to cover her eyes. She completely understood when Smiley swore—a loud, foul word. She really wasn’t looking forward to the next few minutes.
Someone touched her arm. Smiley gripped her and moved her to where a harness dangled nearby. He gently pushed her toward it and indicated for her to step into the openings of the thing. He lifted it up her legs and two belts were pulled over her shoulders and the last belt snapped closed around her waist. Smiley winked before he stepped back. Trisha gripped the harness in a death grip when Smiley gave the helicopter a hand signal. The harnesses tightened as it lifted Trisha off her feet.
She closed her eyes tightly and tried not to panic when the wind swung her around. She didn’t open them until someone grabbed her around her waist. She stared below and saw Smiley had covered his face with his own arm, not looking up. Dirt and dust swirled furiously near the ground from the massive helicopter blades. The person holding her waist hauled her inside the doors until she couldn’t see below anymore.
The two men in the back of the helicopter were New Species. They were canines and she’d seen both of them at Homeland. Brass appeared grim and she couldn’t remember the other one’s name. They wrestled her out of the harness, slammed the helicopter door closed, and secured her onto one of the seats on the bench. Brass handed her a set of noise-cancelling earmuffs and pointed to his headset to show her how to wear it.
The loud noise of the helicopter muted. She nodded at Brass gratefully, thinking that his name didn’t fit him. He had brown hair, was huge with wide shoulders, about six-foot-three, and had really dark eyes. The other man was a brunette with dark eyes. He was nearly a twin, body-wise, to Brass. Brass took a seat next to her and the other man seated himself on the bench across from them.
The ride wasn’t long until the helicopter touched down on a helipad at a hospital. Medical staff rushed out with a gurney and she had an instant flashback to the night Slade had been airlifted into her life. She was in much better shape though than he’d been.
She let them strap her to a gurney without an argument since she was more than aware of hospital policies. She knew doctors made the worst patients, having treated a few, and tried to forget she was one when the staff rushed her into an exam room. Brass and the other man followed, keeping close.
The doctor on call was in his late thirties, attractive, and appeared, with his golden tan, to have spent a lot of time on a golf course. He smiled at Trisha.
“I’m Dr. Evan Tauras. What’s your name?”
“I’m Dr. Trisha Norbit.” She saw him flinch and grinned. “I swear I’ll be good. I was in a roll-over SUV accident a few days ago, minus a seat belt. It’s a long story. I know I should have been wearing one and I was right up until a minute before the crash. I rolled inside the SUV but I wasn’t ejected. Then I was physically assaulted yesterday by a jerk who hit me in the face a few times. I have no back or neck pain. I’m not showing any signs of internal injuries.” She paused. “I have no medical allergies and no outstanding medical history except I had my tonsils out when I was ten. I’m not on any medications, don’t smoke, drink, or take drugs. I’ll shut up now and let you do your job.”
The doctor nodded. “Thanks. You’re making this easy, actually. Have you exhibited any symptoms of a concussion?”
“Somewhat. It’s mild if I have one. I was dizzy after the crash and again after getting my bell rung yesterday when I was hit in the face twice. No blurry vision and no nausea though.”
“Did they catch the guy who did that to your face?” The doctor examined her head.
“You could say that. He’s dead.”
The doctor studied her for a second and nodded. “You’re the woman who was on the news. I’m glad you were found.”
He moved and opened his mouth at Trisha. She opened hers to mimic him knowing what he wanted her to do. He examined her for oral injures, then her face, feeling the bruised area. Trisha flinched a little but held still. The doctor moved lower as he and a nurse visually examined Trisha. She was grateful they didn’t strip her naked. Brass and the other man stood inside the doors to the side of the exam room watching every move made since they guarded her.
The doctor gawked openly at the two Species a few times, looking slightly annoyed and alarmed. Trisha understood the reasons and wanted to assure him things were fine.
“An attempt was made on my life and they have to be here. I’m sorry if it bothers you to have an audience.”
Dr. Evan Tauras nodded. “No problem. They are just big.” His voice lowered to a whisper. “I’ve never seen them in person but they look smaller on the news. They are very physically fit.”
Trisha whispered back. “Yes. I know. They also have exceptional hearing. Whisper ‘hi’ to them.”
The doctor jerked his head to stare at both men. Brass winked at him and flexed his muscles. The other New Species looked grim but waved. Trisha had to fight a laugh as the doctor’s face blushed slightly before he turned his attention to his nurse to rattle off a list of tests to run. He wanted X-rays. She didn’t think she needed them but she didn’t protest. It was his exam room, his call, and she didn’t want to be a pain in the ass.
* * * * *
Two hours later they released her with some anti-inflammatory medication for her knee, some pain pills for her face, and some antibiotics because she had a few open cuts. She’d considered asking for a morning-after pill but wasn’t worried about what had happened between her and Slade. Without medical help she was pretty certain she couldn’t get pregnant though they hadn’t used protection. There hadn’t been a liquor store nearby to buy condoms and since Trisha wasn’t sexually active she wasn’t on anything.
Brass and Harley—that was the name of the other NSO officer—escorted her to the pharmacy to fill her prescriptions. The helicopter picked them up five minutes later.
No one had heard from or found Slade. Trisha dozed off when the pain medication overwhelmed her. An hour later they touched down at the New Species Homeland and when Brass lifted her into his arms to carry her off the helicopter she awoke.
“You’re safe. Just relax.”
She didn’t ask to be put down. He seemed to effortlessly carry her the way Slade had. They were super strong. “Thank you.”
Justice North waited at a Jeep nearby. He darted a look at Trisha and actually flinched. Brass refused to put her down until he sat her in the passenger seat of Justice’s open Jeep. He and Harley climbed into the back and Justice drove toward her home.
“I can’t begin to apologize enough for all that has transpired, Trisha. This was purely an attack against New Species and you were involved by association.”
“It’s not your fault. You aren’t the idiots who ran us off the road or decided it sounded fun to try to hunt us as though we were deer. Thank you for the helicopter and for having Brass and Harley take such good care of me. Is there any word on Slade yet?”
Justice shook his head. “Our teams are still out there and they have rounded up eight more of those assho— Men who were out there looking for you. We are handing them over to the local authorities as soon as we find them. We were thrilled to get authorization to send our own teams into the area.”
Brass snorted. “They were very happy to allow us go in instead of them.”
Justice nodded. “There was that. We were more equipped to search a large area of woods than they were and with a much smaller manpower force.”
“They didn’t want those crazy fanatics firing at their asses,” Harley ground out. “They gave us jurisdiction to go in and clean up the mess. We won’t get any credit for it, they’ll take that, but the local police force wasn’t in danger.”
Justice glanced at Trisha and frowned deeply as he sniffed. He didn’t say a word but Trisha noticed when he did again. He suddenly looked very angry when he parked the Jeep in her driveway. She saw a Homeland security guard standing on her porch but he wasn’t New Species.
“Sit right there,” Justice ordered her. “I sent him ahead of us because I knew your keys were lost to you after the wreck. We recovered your purse and keys. We returned what could be salvaged to your home. Your clothes that weren’t torn or damaged have been cleaned. What wasn’t salvageable will be replaced with our funds.” Justice rounded the Jeep and lifted a surprised Trisha into his arms and walked to the front door. “I was given a full briefing of the injuries you sustained. The doctor told you to stay off your feet for at least two days.”
The security guard nodded at Trisha while he opened the front door. Justice walked into the house and gently placed Trisha on the couch. He hesitated and turned to study Brass and Harley. The security guard had also stepped into the house.
“Could you please give us a few minutes? I’d like to talk to Trisha alone. She’s been through enough without the added trauma of having to tell me what happened with an audience of males.”
The three men left quietly and the door closed firmly behind them. Justice moved to the loveseat where he sat down. He looked tense. His cat-like eyes met Trisha’s.
“I smell fear, dirt, blood, and sex on you. There was no mention in the briefing from the doctor that you were sexually assaulted. Did one of those fanatics abuse you? I was told your face injures are a result of one of those assho—” He cleared his throat. “Fanatics.”
“You can call them assholes. I do.” She met Justice’s gaze without looking away. “I wasn’t raped but it was close. I don’t really want to talk about the specific details but Slade got there in time. He stopped the guy before he could really hurt me.” She paused. “He had to kill him.”
“You had sex with someone before you left here? I wasn’t aware you were seeing anyone.”
Trisha frowned. “My sex life is none of your business, Mr. North.”
“I meant no offense. I’m going about this wrong. Excuse my poor wording but I’m trying to figure out if you are lying about the rape. You work and you don’t leave Homeland. I am aware of everyone’s comings and goings inside these walls. You had sex with someone because I am getting scents off you. Of course I smell Slade and there are two human males. You also now carry both Brass’ and my scent as well but they are faint because we both carried you. I know Smiley touched you to help you down the side of a hill.”
“How do you distinguish between human and New Species so well?”
He watched her closely. “New Species… It’s hard to explain. I just can tell the difference. One male’s scent is familiar. I just want to know the truth if you were sexually abused.”
“I wasn’t. The familiar scent you might be picking up is probably the driver of the SUV, Bart. I don’t know his last name. He was injured in the roll over and I touched him quite a bit to check him for injures. He’s dead, right? Slade and I heard three gunshots after Bart refused to leave the scene where we crashed. He thought those men wouldn’t hurt him because he was human. We tried to tell him they would kill him but he refused to listen to us. We had no choice but to leave him behind.”
“He’s dead.” Justice nodded. “He was shot in the groin, stomach, and head after being tied up and tortured. We assume they tried to gain information from him on where you and Slade had gone. His body was located next to the destroyed SUV. The coroner stated he was killed soon after the crash.”
Chapter Twelve
Trisha had suspected Bart would die, had been sure of that when they’d heard the gunshots, but hearing the words of what had been done to him leveled her inside. His face flashed through her memory, how afraid he’d been, and he’d just been a boy. One with a mother who worried enough about him to want him to go to a vet to get vaccines against animal diseases.
“Jesus,” Trisha gasped. “The groin?”
Justice hesitated. “What they did was vicious and cruel. It’s one thing to kill a man in cold blood but another to castrate him before death.”
Her stomach roiled just a little. “Castrate?”
“They used a sawed-off double barrel shotgun at close range. We were told by the coroner that they must have put it right against his groin before they pulled the trigger. Those bastards are the animals and yet they have a problem with us. Species would never be that inhuman.”
Trisha stumbled to her feet. “I need a shower. I know you have questions but I’m tired, hungry, and dirty.” She bit her lip and flinched, forgetting how sore it was. She met Justice’s gaze as he stood. “I’ll probably have a good cry too. I wasn’t raped, I swear. Slade stopped my attacker before he could. I am grateful that you care about my well-being but my sex life is personal. I do have a favor to ask though.”
“Anything.”
“When you hear word about Slade, I don’t care what time it is, please have someone call to let me know. He saved my life out there over and over again. I don’t think I’ll rest well until I know what happened to him.”
“I am going to have Brass stay here. I will have food brought to you and it will be waiting after your shower. I swear that when I know something, I will call Brass and have him relay the information to you. We’ll talk about what happened tomorrow.”
“Brass is staying here?”
Justice nodded. “Yes. It’s just a precaution. It seems that some deaths have occurred with the assholes. Some of their associates are pretty pissed they died instead of doing all the killing. You will have around-the-clock protection until we feel there is no longer a threat. You are familiar with Brass and it’s been pretty traumatic for you. He’ll take the first shift. I want him inside your house. He can sit on the couch if that’s acceptable. He’ll be here to accept the food deliveries and relay any information I get to you.”
“But we’re at Homeland and it’s safe here. Those jerks can’t get through the gates to reach my house. I’m sure―”
“Someone told them of our movements,” Justice cut her off. “They knew the route we planned for your SUV, which tells us they have inside information. Only our human security teams knew where we were going, what time, and how we were getting there. You will have round-the-clock New Species officers to protect you until I am assured of your safety and that won’t be until whoever is responsible is found.” He took a deep breath. “I have to go but food will arrive shortly. Eat and rest.”
She was stunned that someone working at Homeland had betrayed the New Species but she believed Justice and his grim expression. “You don’t have to send me food. I can fix a sandwich.”
“No. You need a nice hot, home-cooked meal. I’ll call it in right now. I’ll have them send you a few dishes. I’ll see you in the morning. Just call me when you are up and about.”
“Thank you. Please don’t forget to contact me about Slade.”
“I swear I won’t. As soon as I know, you will.” He left the front door wide open and Trisha heard him softly talking to the men outside.
Trisha slowly walked into her bedroom and grabbed oversized comfortable sweats and a baggy T-shirt. She walked into her bathroom. She got a load of herself in the mirror and wanted to burst into tears. She looked like something a cat had dragged around a backyard before it threw it away to find something else to tear up.
She had bruising from ear to lower jaw that extended inches along her face. Her lower lip was swollen badly on one side where the skin had split. It was red and puffy. Her long b
londe hair had matted and tangled hopelessly. On top of it all, dirt covered her in a fine layer.
The clothes she wore were just as bad. She stripped and flinched more over the painful bruises on her wrists where she’d been tied to the tree. She had more of them on her back, hip and shoulder blade from the SUV roll over and then spotted another large bruise on her thigh from the accident. She knew she must appear hellish.
Trisha moved under the water spray and just stood there for a long time then she washed her injured skin very carefully. It hurt despite the pain pills. The tears began to flow hard until she sat down on the floor of her shower and covered her face with her hands. She knew her life had changed forever. Two men were dead and she’d taken their lives. How could she ever go back to being the person she once was? She didn’t see one single way.
A light tapping on her door finally made Trisha stop crying. “I’ll be out in a minute.”
“Do you need help?” She recognized Brass’ voice. “I’m safe, Dr. Norbit.” He paused. “I’m coming in.”
Crap. She tried to get to her feet but her body refused to respond. She had the shower doors to hide her body but they were frosted glass. She could make out Brass’ shape inside her bathroom when he moved toward her.
“Dr. Norbit?”
“I sat down and now I’m kind of stuck,” she admitted. She hated being this weak and in so much pain. “I’ll eventually get up when I’m feeling better. Could you just toss me a towel?” She shut off the water faucets next to her to kill the shower. “Please?”
A large bath towel dropped over the top of the shower doors. Trisha caught it and used it to cover up as much as she could. Two seconds later Brass stunned her when he opened her shower door.
“I won’t look at you as though you are a woman. Allow me help you, Dr. Norbit. I would never harm you in any way.” He bent, reaching for her. His hands carefully gripped her ribs and lifted her gently to her feet. “Let’s get you into bed. The food arrived and I’ll also get you some more pain medication.”