True

by Laurann Dohner

  The phone rang and Justice answered. He listened, thanked someone, and hung up. “Slash will be fine. The doctors gave him something to counteract the sedative. He was able to tell them that the two humans arrived at the dorm to transfer Shiver to Fuller. They had paperwork for it, wore the uniforms, and seemed legitimate.” His gaze slid to True. “She protested and repeatedly asked him to call you. They tranquilized him as he reached for his phone.”

  Justice turned his head to pin Tim with a direct stare. “Forget your rescue attempt scenario. True is right. She was not a willing participant. They came to take her by force and we won’t know what happened after Slash went down until Jeanie can tell us. Maybe she overheard something they said and it will point to who is behind this.”

  Breeze cleared her throat and frowned at Tim. “Did you verify that Fuller Prison got your cancel order? Perhaps they don’t know she is to stay here. That fits. If they came here to get a prisoner, too, of course they’d want her alive. I don’t understand why they’d knock Slash out but maybe our male frightened them when the female put up a protest. I can’t see him just standing there meekly if she began to struggle and the humans turned too aggressive. The Fuller guards do carry dart guns to handle unruly prisoners.”

  “The darts used at Fuller aren’t strong enough to take down a Species male.” Darkness faced off against her.

  She didn’t back down. “Obviously, they are now. You didn’t spend a lot of time at Mercile once you reached maturity and they sent you away but some of the technicians they hired were as big as our males. Many of those males are imprisoned at Fuller now. The guards keep strong darts for use on those captured humans when they become aggressive. They must have a new formula that is strong enough to disable us as well.”

  “She has a point,” Flame agreed. “As we grew stronger the technicians they used to control us were changed out for males similar in size to the ones hired by the task force. They might need to be as heavily dosed as our people to keep them down. Whatever Fuller now has access to, it was strong enough to take down Slash.”

  Tim jerked up the phone and placed another call. Seconds ticked by. “Fuller still isn’t answering. What the hell? They should pick up.” He disconnected and placed another call. “I’m assembling two teams to go over there.”

  “I’m coming with you,” True stated.

  “No.” Tim shook his head then spoke into the phone. “Trey? Assemble two teams ASAP and pick me up at Homeland. It looks as though Fuller Prison guards tried to grab Shiver and everyone here is up in arms. Fuller has gone dark. I can’t raise them for confirmation about any of this.” He slammed the receiver into the cradle and turned. “I’m going to put on my uniform and wait for them at the gate. We’ll call as soon as we know something.”

  True blocked the door and fought the urge to punch the human in the face. “I’m going with you. I will know the other human when I see him. I will make him pay for touching Jeanie.”

  “No.”

  Justice got between them before violence could erupt. “We’re all going, Tim. That’s final. True won’t calm down until we know why his female was targeted and I want to know what the hell is going on at Fuller. They told the gate they were here for medical supplies but then darted one of my males and injected the female as well. Something is seriously wrong and I’m going to find out how this could be deemed acceptable by them because we all know it’s not.”

  Breeze gripped True’s arm. “Breathe in and out. I’m sure you’ll get answers at Fuller. Jeanie will be well guarded and well cared for until you get back.”

  “There are bad humans at Fuller. Why did they want to take my Jeanie? A female died there,” he reminded her.

  Her mouth pursed in a tight line. “I’d forgotten about that.”

  “It’s all I’m thinking of. I just want to kill all the humans responsible for harming my female and get back to Jeanie as fast as possible.”

  Breeze released him. “You heard the man. Move your asses but get them covered first if you rushed from bed to make this meeting. We’ll assemble in ten minutes at the main gate.” Her voice lowered as she glanced down True’s body. “Grab a spare uniform and boots from your locker. We’ll scare the shit out those humans so they never forget proper protocols again.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  True couldn’t exit the SUV fast enough after it stopped at the front gates of Fuller Prison. No signs identified the location but tall concrete walls surrounded the property with barbed wire running along the top to add an additional five feet of height. Security cameras and bright lights made certain their presence was known.

  Justice and Tim walked up to the camera directly in front of the double gates and Tim pressed a button to speak to the guard in charge. The camera moved, zooming in on them.

  “What do you want?” It was a male voice that came out of the speaker.

  “This is Tim Oberto with Justice North,” Tim declared. “Open up.”

  “I’m sorry but I can’t do that. The warden ordered a full lockdown of the facility, sir. We’re not permitted to allow anyone entry.”

  “Tell him we’re here, you idiot!” Tim shouted. He turned his head toward Justice. “Sorry. He must be new.”

  “The warden is currently in DC at a conference until tomorrow, sir. You will need to call his cell phone and he’ll have to send me a message to void the lockdown if he agrees to let you inside.”

  “Un…fucking…believable,” Trey muttered. He stepped closer. “Hey, moron, this is Justice North out here in case you aren’t looking at your monitor or lost the ability to hear my boss when he speaks. That means he’s higher ranking than the warden. Open the damn gates or losing your job is going to be the least of your troubles. I’ll personally kick your ass if you make us wait out here any longer.”

  They didn’t open.

  Justice snarled. “I demand you allow us inside right now or we’ll drive through the gates.” He motioned and the team of New Species surrounded him. They all glowered at the camera. “You don’t want that to happen. It will anger us even more.”

  The buzz was loud as the locks disengaged. True rushed forward as soon as they opened wide enough to fit his body through. The teams followed him, staying closely grouped together. The courtyard was empty but a side door to the large building opened and a human in uniform rushed outside. Within seconds another human male followed. That one wore slacks, a dress shirt and was quite a bit older than the guard.

  “Stop right there,” the gray-haired human called out.

  “What is the meaning of this, Jeff?” Justice took the lead, facing off against the shorter male.

  “We’re under lockdown, Mr. North. I apologize for Dill’s rudeness but we weren’t expecting you.”

  “Why wasn’t someone answering the phone and what caused the lockdown order?”

  The human remained quiet.

  “Answer him,” Tim grunted.

  The human looked ill at ease. “I’m not sure. That order came directly from the warden. It’s standard procedure to shut off the phones and cut contact with the outside world.” He patted his front pocket. “We’re only allowed to stand down from the alert when the warden calls me directly on my cell.”

  True was impatient. “Why did your guards come after Jeanie?”

  The male paled, glancing at him. “Um, who?”

  “Jeanie Shiver,” Tim elaborated. “I placed a pick-up order on her but then canceled it. It seems two of your men entered Homeland under false pretenses and tried to take her by force. It was a big mistake and now the only guard we have in custody is dead and unable to answer questions. We’ve come to take the other one into custody and to find out why they deceived the gate guards at Homeland and discover who sent them.”

  Jeff paled even more. “Um, well…”

  “This is where the vehicle they drove was parked,” Smiley yelled from across the courtyard where he stood in an empty parking space. “This area scents of the same human males who were
at Homeland. The oil on the ground scents of the same van that brought them to Medical.”

  “We did send a team to pick up medical supplies,” Jeff admitted, “and a woman prisoner. I didn’t know her name. She didn’t have a file with her name.”

  “Why the hell would your men lie to the gate guards at Homeland by saying they’d just come for medical supplies but then break into the men’s dorms to retrieve a prisoner?” Tim yelled. “They tranq’ed a New Species to nab her.”

  Jeff backed up a few feet. “I didn’t know. I didn’t order that. I’m just the assistant warden.” He raised his hands in a defensive gesture. “We received official orders to print paperwork for the transport of a high-priority prisoner and to go into lockdown in preparation for receiving that transfer.”

  True snarled, ready to tear the building and everyone in it apart. He’d sworn to keep her safe. He should have been there to protect her, yet he’d failed.

  “That’s her male and he’s highly agitated. Your guards tried to take her from his home. One of them died during that attempt. Now, we’re here for the other one. Take us to him,” Justice demanded.

  “The warden said—”

  “I don’t give shit what the warden said,” Tim ground out. “Justice North just gave you an order. Lead us to the other man who was at Homeland or we’ll go in there ourselves and get him. It was a major fuckup. I’m personally going to come down here tomorrow and go over how you train your damn staff. You’re a bunch of idiots. I canceled the request for her transfer.”

  Jeff sputtered. “This isn’t my fault.”

  True grabbed the male before he could kill the impulse but he managed not to shake the life out of him. “Where is the human? Stop stalling!”

  “True,” Fury growled. “Stop.”

  He released the human with a shove and spun on the Species. “Why did they want Jeanie? Do you know a female died here?”

  A motion in his peripheral vision drew his attention. Trey Roberts reacted faster than he did when the human guard pulled a weapon from the back of his waistband and pointed it at True. The task force team leader kicked out, slamming a boot into the man’s arm. The Fuller guard yelled as bone snapped.

  “FUCK!” the guy screamed. “Why’d you do that? Ouch. Mother son of a fucker!”

  “You were going to shoot him,” Trey accused.

  “The warden said no one goes inside.” He dropped to his knees, cradling his damaged arm with his other hand. “My men won’t let you in. I told them to shoot if anyone attempted it.”

  “Why would you do that, Dill?” Jeff gaped at him. “This is Justice North and the task force team. There is a group of New Species with them. Tell your men to stand down. They can’t shoot at them.”

  The injured human glared at the assistant warden. “We’ve been ordered to keep the building secured. No offense, sir, but fuck you.”

  “There was no high-priority prisoner transfer. There is no prisoner! This prison belongs to New Species. The lockdown is over when Justice North says it’s over!” Jeff turned his head and stared at Tim. He looked shaken. “Dill is in control of the other guards. I’ll tell them to stand down but I don’t know if they’ll listen to me.”

  “They won’t do anything you say. You’re nothing but a pencil pusher and an ass kisser,” Dill wheezed. He glared at Trey. “You snapped my arm, asswipe.”

  True growled. “They wouldn’t shoot us. It’s our prison.” He advanced on the building. He was going in there to get the guard who’d attacked Jeanie, even if he had to go through the humans who worked there to find him.

  “Hold,” Justice demanded.

  True ignored him, increasing his pace.

  “Cover him!” Tim yelled.

  The task force team spread out behind True. He heard the assistant warden issuing orders for the guards inside to stand down. He reached the closed door but it was locked. He snarled and shook the handle but it didn’t turn.

  “Move,” Trey insisted.

  He glanced back as Trey pulled his gun and pointed it at the lock. True stepped aside. The blast was loud as the male shot the lock three times. He reached for it but Trey shook his head.

  “Let me go first. I’m wearing Kevlar.”

  Darkness pushed his way forward. “So am I.” He didn’t ask before grabbing an assault rifle from one of the task force members. “We’ll go in together.”

  Trey glanced at the weapon. “You know how to use that? I didn’t think you ever went on missions.”

  Darkness grimly nodded. “Unfortunately I do know how to use it. I never miss what I aim at. I gave my word I’d take responsibility for the female and that also means assuring her safety by retrieving the male who tried to steal her.”

  “There should be two more guards on duty.” Trey exchanged his clip for a new one. “That’s protocol to have three guards and one administrator each shift but who knows what the hell is going on. I think they tossed the damn rule book out the window today.” He made a hand motion to his team. “They’ll spread out behind us and encircle the building.”

  Darkness held True’s gaze. “Stay behind me. Hit the ground if we end up in a battle. Remember your female will expect you to be there when she wakes and you need to be alive to do that.”

  True didn’t like them going in first but the Species had a point. “Okay.”

  “On the count,” Trey urged. “Three, two, one.”

  He yanked open the door and rushed inside with Darkness on his heels. True followed and so did the rest of the task force team. The interior was a long hallway that led to a room where prisoners were processed. They passed a few locked doors, which were offices and supply closets. The double metal doors that led to the interior of the prison loomed ahead.

  One guard faced off against them, blocking access to the doors. He was pale and his gun shook in his hand. “Stop!”

  “Stand down,” Trey ordered, his gun aimed at the human’s head.

  The guard lowered the weapon. “I’m not dying because of Dill.”

  “How many others are there?” Darkness used his scary voice.

  “Just Paul. He disappeared, saying something was seriously screwed, the second we realized the entire task force team had showed up here.”

  Trey tore the gun from the guard’s hand. “No shit. What the hell is going on here?”

  “That’s not one of the males who came to Homeland,” Smiley called out from behind them. “I haven’t seen him yet.”

  “Where is the male?” Darkness grabbed the guard by his throat with a one-handed grip and lifted him until he gasped for breath. The tip of the assault rifle dug into the side of the man’s face. “You have four seconds before I have to decide to strangle you or blow a hole through your head. One of those things will happen if you don’t answer to my satisfaction.”

  “I don’t know,” the guard choked out. “Only one came back. He got their money and left without explaining why he didn’t have the prisoner. We were told to just pay him. He didn’t stay more than five minutes. They were hired to bring the prisoner here. I don’t even know their names and have never seen them before.”

  “What the hell?” Trey sounded baffled. “They were subcontractors?”

  “Yeah. I think.”

  “Here.” Darkness lowered the male and shoved him at one of the task force team members. “Watch him.”

  True inched away from the group and opened the doors, staring at the cages in the long room.

  Humans were locked inside. He strode forward, looking down the rows, searching for the scent of the male who had been in his home.

  “Is that you, 710?” Dean Polanitis yelled from his cell.

  True spun and snarled as he stared at the human who had caused him so much pain and misery. He was pushed up against the bars of his cage, glaring at True with a cold smile.

  “It is you. I fucking knew it. You’re still alive. Did you finally get your paws on that little bitch who worked at Drackwood? I know you had a soft spot for h
er,” Polanitis smirked. “You growled and snarled at everybody until she walked into your cell. Then you were as tame as a puppy, making eyes at her.”

  True growled. “Polanitis.”

  “Why don’t you come a little closer? I want to take a good look at an animal wearing a uniform. The whites looked better on you.”

  “You look better locked inside a cage wearing orange,” True responded.

  Dean Polanitis hesitated. “Things might have turned out better for you than for me but at least I’m not an animal.” He laughed.

  True’s hands clawed and he snarled but he turned his head away and got his anger under control. He looked up and calmly watched Dean Polanitis but didn’t attempt to go after him.

  “I’ll tell you the breeding formula we finally settled on if you get me out of here,” Polanitis promised. “I emailed a copy of it to an online account when we sold it to some holy roller with a hard-on. He really wanted access to that drug after he read about it. He was obsessed with a drug that would work on regular women. You can give it to any bitch you’re attracted to and they’ll beg you to fuck them.” He abruptly grew angry. “I planned to use it myself until I ended up here.”

  Darkness advanced a little. “You have the exact formula of the breeding drug that targets human females?”

  “Human females,” Polanitis mimicked, snorting. “I hate the way you fuckers talk. They are all bitches, aren’t they? I told everyone here I was willing to make a deal to get out but they didn’t give a fuck because they were too stupid to understand what I was offering. You know, though, since you’ve probably taken it. We managed to regulate the formula enough that there’s no pain for the bitch who takes it but she gets so horny she’ll hump your leg while begging to be fucked.”

  His expression changed from angry to something almost jovial. “You want to deal, lion man? Get me out of here and you can have the formula. I want a total pardon and a million dollars sent to the country of my choice. One without extradition, of course. I bet you want proof. And, as part of the deal, once your chemist puts it together, I want to watch your animal friend mount the shit out of some woman because it pisses me off that he didn’t do it when I wanted him to. Give it to that bitch, Shiver. I know you wanted her and I know she’s the cunt who blabbed our location to you assholes. She’s not here, so you must have her locked up somewhere else. I want to watch you fuck her until she bleeds.”