“I know I wasn’t the target.”
“A kind, decent human wouldn’t have done that. It’s obvious the Woods Church bought that drug from Drackwood. We know they were working on a version that wouldn’t kill humans. It’s the only way she could have gotten it. The test confirms it’s an altered version of the original. That means they’ve spent a lot of time and money plotting this attack. I don’t want you to feel inner turmoil over a female not worthy of it. She might not have been warned of the pain the drug caused but her intent to hurt Species is undeniable.”
“Perhaps she didn’t understand the impact it would have.”
“Then why did she escape? They were taking her to seek medical assistance. I’m attempting to be logical for you.”
The way his chest tightened and ached was an unpleasant, unexpected feeling for Smiley. “You’re right.”
Jericho stood. “I’m going to get a drink and sleep on your couch. You shouldn’t be alone at a time like this, my friend. I’m sorry this happened.”
“I won’t throw myself out a window.”
Jericho spun, a horrified look plastered on his face.
“That was a joke.” Smiley forced a smile. “I am disappointed. I’ll get over it. You don’t have to stay in my apartment.”
“Would you prefer to stay with a female? I’m sure Rusty would allow you to sleep in her bed this once. She’s concerned about you too.”
“I’m not ready for that.”
“You should be. Forget the human and enjoy a little pampering from one of our females. It will make things seem better.”
Smiley stood. “I’m lonely. One night with one of our females isn’t going to cure that. It would just make it worse. I’m strong. I’ll get past this. I always do. It’s just been a difficult day.”
“I’m sleeping on the couch. You’ll have to pick me up and toss me out if you want me gone.”
There was no use arguing with the male. “I appreciate your friendship.”
“We’re family.” Jericho opened a cherry soda and sipped it. “You’d do the same for me. I wouldn’t want to be alone after something like this either. I’ll wake you if you have nightmares.”
“I’m exhausted. I’m going to turn in.”
“I’ll be here.” Jericho nodded toward the television. “Do you mind if I watch it?”
“Be my guest.”
Smiley walked into his room and closed the door. He paused there, remembering Vanni’s face. He needed to let it go. He needed to let her go. Jericho had made valid points. Then again, he hadn’t been there.
Vanni had blushed when she was stripped bare. There had been an innocence about her that he found endearing. That wasn’t a trait a malicious human would possess. None of it made sense.
He walked to the window and stared out into the darkness. Where are you, Vanni?
Chapter Six
“Vanni! Wake up, damn it. Get out here!”
Vanni shot upright in her bed when Beth started shouting from the living room. She threw off the covers and dashed to the open doorway. “What’s wrong? Are you hurt?” Her gaze frantically sought and found her friend.
Beth was on her knees in the center of the room between the coffee table and the television. Her friend was pale as she pointed a remote control at the television. Vanni glanced at it, seeing a commercial.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s coming up. I just saw the promo for it.”
“For what? Beth? What the hell?”
Her mouth opened, closed and opened again. “It’s on my morning gossip show.”
“What is?” Vanni stepped out of the bedroom, pushing her messy hair out of her face.
“It’s you and that New Species.”
“What?”
“They showed a video clip of you two from last night.”
Vanni had to be hearing wrong. “What do you mean?”
“Nobody else has that ugly-ass skirt you came home in last night and believe me, it was you. They showed a clip of an upcoming story and it’s about the NSO. It showed a few seconds of you wrapped around a big dude and you were making out.”
“That’s not funny.”
“I’m not kidding. I’m being heart-attack serious. It’s coming up after the commercials.”
“You’re wrong. What did they say?”
“I heard NSO on the TV while I was making my oatmeal and looked up. They showed you with your legs wrapped around a big jock type, making out hot and heavy. There’s no mistaking that skirt.”
The commercial ended and the cable show began. Beth turned up the volume as the host couple faced the cameras. The man took the lead.
“I know you’ve heard a lot of stories about the NSO lately but here’s a new one for you. An anonymously submitted video arrived at our station and many others this morning.”
“Usually the stories we bring you regarding the NSO involve them being targeted for hate crimes. Not today.” The woman’s grin spread. “It seems some people are really friendly to New Species.”
Vanni’s knees collapsed under her and she hit the carpet when a grainy video started to play on the screen. It was her and Smiley. The angle was from above and the operator of the video camera zoomed in.
They stood next to each other with Smiley’s hand on her shoulder, the other holding her hip while she straightened. His words couldn’t be heard but Smiley said something. She nodded. His lips moved again. Her hand darted out and clutched a handful of his shirt. It tore open to reveal the bare skin of his upper chest and almost to his navel. She went for his hair too, grabbing a handful behind his neck and used her hold to jerk his face down.
“Oh shit,” Beth gasped.
Vanni watched in horror as she kissed Smiley. She looked desperate and slutty. It got worse when she lifted a leg high enough to hook her calf around the back of his thigh in an obvious attempt to get him to pick her up. He did. That’s when she wrapped her legs around his waist, her skirt hiking up to her thighs in the process.
“No,” Vanni whispered. Memory returned and she wasn’t surprised when she started to grind her body against him. It was horrendous to watch though. It reminded her of a dog she’d once had that humped any leg it could get to hold still.
“No, no, no,” she chanted.
Smiley jerked away from her and tried to avoid her mouth. It didn’t stop her. She buried her face in his neck and his eyes closed. He just stood there allowing her to maul him, except his lips moved slightly, as if he were telling her to stop. She couldn’t remember that part but seeing was believing.
Something happened on the other side of him that the camera couldn’t see but he bowed his back and then spun, pinning her against a black SUV. He seemed to try to stop her from humping him and pulling his hair. He pressed against her, pinning her, but then she grabbed his face to plant her lips over his. It was a good shot of most of her face. Her eyes were closed and she was going to town, kissing the hell out of him.
“We have someone on the roof!” an NSO guard yelled—the one positioned at the front of the SUV. He drew his weapon and pointed it at the camera. The person operating it jerked away and the clip ended.
The show returned to the hosts. The woman fanned herself and grinned. “I’d say that was very friendly.”
The man chuckled. “None of my fans ever do that to me. I only get asked for autographs.” He winked. “I’m single.”
“You don’t exactly look like him and she obviously wanted more than his signature. I think you’d better start lifting weights if you want that kind of response from your fans. Did you see the muscles on that New Species?” The woman wiggled her eyebrows at the camera.
“Turn it off,” Vanni whispered.
Beth looked as stunned and dismayed as Vanni felt. “Did you hear what they said? Every station. Oh Vanni. Your parents watch the news and those gossip shows. There’s no way they aren’t going to see this. Even without that skirt on, I knew it was you. Your face showed a few times.”
The phone rang. Both women jumped. Vanni frantically shook her head. “Don’t get it.”
Beth didn’t move. The phone rang four times before their answering machine picked up. It sank in to Vanni that everyone she knew would see that video at some point. That included her friends, family and coworkers. It made her sick to her stomach.
“Vanni?” Her mother’s voice came out of the machine speaker. “Vanni? We saw the news. Was that you? It looked like you. You—”
“Damn it!” her father yelled in the background. “Did you get hold of her? She’s not answering her cell phone. On the news they said it happened at the same hotel where she was staying this weekend.”
“I got the machine,” her mother told him.
“Call Beth. Make sure Vanni is all right!” her father yelled. “Our girl wouldn’t act like that in public unless she was drunk. Do you think she’s all right? What if she went home with him and he won’t let her go? Should we call those New Species people to see if she’s still with him?”
“I’ll call Beth now.” The phone went dead.
Seconds later Beth’s cell phone blared rap music. Vanni stared at her friend. Beth moved. “I’ll tell them you’re safe. They are worried.”
“I can’t talk to them.”
Beth reached into her purse. “Shut up.” She answered. “Hi. Vanni is fine.”
Vanni was going to hyperventilate. The house phone started to ring again. Beth ignored it as she held her cell phone. She met Beth’s gaze.
“She’s here. I went to get her last night. She’s sleeping. She’s fine. Let me have her call you later. The other phone is ringing. I swear she’s safe.” Beth hung up.
The answering machine picked up. “Vanni?”
She groaned. “Carl.”
“Goddamn it, Vanni!” he shouted into the machine. “What in the hell have you done? My father warned me that you were nothing but trash. How the hell could you?” His voice lowered somewhat but his anger was clear. “Do you know what kind of bad press this is going to cause my father? For me? We’re engaged and you screwed one of those creatures in an alley outside the hotel?” He lowered his voice to a whisper. “I could kill you. Someone identified you to the reporters. Shit. Another news crew is at the door. This is all your fault!” He slammed the phone down.
The house phone rang immediately. Vanni realized tears were running down her face. Beth turned off the ringer and answering machine. The cell phone blared rap music again. Beth cursed and turned it off.
“Vanni? Look at me.”
She wiped at her tears. “This is a nightmare, right? I’m still in bed?”
Beth sat down on the floor and hugged her. “It’s going to be all right. In a few days this will blow over. Someone else will do something to get their attention.”
“Do you think they have more footage they didn’t show yet?”
“I don’t know but it’s going to be okay.”
Vanni pulled away. “How? How can it be?”
Beth had tears in her eyes too. “We’ll get through this.”
“Everyone is going to see that. How am I going to leave the house? Go to work?”
“I don’t know.” Beth sniffed. “Look on the bright side.”
“I’m afraid to ask what just popped into your head, but what? I’m desperate.”
“You don’t have to make any phone calls to tell people you aren’t marrying Carl. I think it’s a given.”
Vanni leaned forward and hugged her again. “Not funny. Try again.”
“Okay,” Beth whispered. “The reporters are annoying the shit out of Carl. He threatened to kill you so I hope they give him hell.”
“Not helping.”
“I don’t know what else to say.”
“Me neither.”
A good minute went by. Beth spoke again. “Did you have sex in that alley?”
“Inside the SUV.”
Beth unwound her arms and sat back. She lifted a hand in the air. “High five.”
Vanni just stared at her blankly.
“Bucket list, remember? Sex in a car.” Beth kept her hand up. “Bright side. That’s one thing you ticked off yours.”
“Oh Beth.” Vanni shook her head. “That’s so wrong.”
Beth lowered her arm. “Work with me here. I’m trying. Otherwise we’re going to cry and stay huddled on this floor.”
“Is that so bad?”
Someone pounded on the door. Beth got up, walked over and peeked out the peephole. She cursed and backed up as the person pounded again.
“Miss Abris? Travanni? Could we please speak to you for a moment?” The voice was muffled through the door.
Beth turned. “It’s a lady with a cameraman.”
Vanni clawed her way to her feet and ran into the bathroom. She got violently sick. Her life would never be the same.
* * * * *
Smiley had been ordered to Fury’s office. He had no idea why but knew it was urgent. The door was wide open and Fury waited inside.
“You better sit.”
“I’m fine standing.” Smiley stiffened his spine. “Has Vanni been found?”
More Species entered the room, including Jericho. The grim look in the male’s eyes had Smiley rethink the offer of taking a seat. He stepped a few feet over and dropped into a chair. He really hadn’t expected to be told Vanni was dead. It was his worst fear. It seemed as good as confirmed. Bile rose but he swallowed it down.
“She’s dead?” He managed to get the question out.
Jericho shook his head. “No.”
Smiley could breathe again.
“Last night there was a human on the roof of the hotel.” Fury rounded his desk and sat. He lifted a remote and turned on the television. “Were you aware of that?”
Smiley nodded. “Yes. I heard Shane shout it out and I moved Vanni inside the back of the SUV to get her under cover in case it was a sniper.”
Fury pushed a few buttons. “This is playing on all the stations. Prepare yourself. The male had a video camera and apparently sent it to anyone with an interest. Here’s one I recorded off the television. I missed the beginning of it but it’s enough.”
The video wasn’t the best quality but it was clear enough, even in the dim alley, to make out details. Smiley squirmed in his seat. It was uncomfortable having a replay of such a personal moment displayed in front of so many males. It also angered him.
The clip ended and a white-haired news anchor took the lead. “The woman in the alley has been identified as twenty-seven-year-old Travanni Abris.” A picture of Vanni and a blond male flashed on the screen. They were smiling. It returned to the anchorman.
“You might recognize the man pictured in the photo with her as attorney Carl Woods, son of Pastor Gregory Woods of the Woods Church. The Woods Church has been a frontrunner in the campaign to shut down the NSO. We’ve been unable to reach Miss Abris for a comment. She’s gone into seclusion at her home.”
The camera focused on a woman standing in front of the Woods Church. She introduced herself. “No one will speak to us but it’s been a flurry of activity for the past hour.” The camera panned to the parking lot full of cars and then back to the reporter. “We were told by someone who wishes to remain anonymous that Pastor Woods and his son are inside the church and this has come as a total shock to the family. As everyone knows, Pastor Woods opposes New Species having civil rights. He started the church—”
Fury turned off the television and sighed. “She was engaged to the son. They were to be married in seven weeks.”
Smiley wouldn’t forget the face of the blond male any time soon. He’d appeared much smaller and shorter than himself. Their coloring was vastly different too. That was the male who had laid claim to Vanni until last night when she’d removed his ring. He clenched his jaw.
“I’m sorry.” Smiley wasn’t sure what else to say.
“For what?” Fury arched an eyebrow.
“We are to avoid news coverage and bad publicity.�
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Jericho snarled. “You did nothing wrong, Smiley. It wasn’t bad for us. The Woods Church is always saying we belong in a zoo and yet that female shared sex with you. It means not everyone eats his bullshit.”
Fury nodded. “Nothing about the breeding drug has come out yet.”
Bestial cleared his throat. “Worst-case scenario, even if it does, she appeared to be the sexual aggressor. That female attacked you, not the other way around. They can’t flip this on us in a bad way.”
Tiger spoke. “I don’t understand why they used her to launch this attack in the media. It wasn’t flattering to them. The last female I’d have fuck my enemy would be the one set to marry someone so high up in their organization.”
“I can think of some good reasons they picked her.” Tim stood.
“Name them,” Fury demanded.
Tim didn’t hesitate. “They probably figured a New Species would end up killing her. She’s frail-looking, judging by that video, and has that girl-next-door look that would piss off everyone. What better way to gain public sympathy for their cause than losing someone so important to the family? They could also have sued the NSO for her death to the tune of millions. They’d assume their pockets would get lined and drain ours at the same time. It would have also kept their name in the papers and made New Species look like hell for killing that girl.”
Rage twisted inside Smiley. “You mean the son fooled Vanni into believing he loved her when he just set her up to be killed?”
Tim shrugged. “I don’t know much about him but I’ve done my research on Gregory Woods. He’s a piece of work. I wouldn’t put it past him to have chosen her out of maliciousness. He wasn’t happy when their engagement was announced. It might have been a way to just stop the wedding and get a shot in at us at the same time. Either way, I bet he’s thrilled their wedding is off.”
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