“Exactly.” Justice sipped his coffee. “The FBI would like to keep a lid on the Mason investigation. It will make them look bad.”
“Screw them.” Trey frowned.
Justice chuckled. “Always think two steps ahead, Trey. We could hand the real story to the press or we could have the appreciation from the government. Which sounds more helpful to the NSO? Mason is dead. We have Boris in custody.” Justice paused. “They’ll owe us and we could always release the details later, if the need arises.”
“We score brownie points,” Ellie added. “I get it.”
Justice grinned. “That’s one way to put it.”
“Yeah. I get it too.” Trey spoke to Justice. “What story do we tell them? Those TV hounds aren’t going to disappear until they get something or they could just make up shit. You know it won’t be flattering.”
“Our public relations team is working on it. So far they believe we should release a statement saying Katrina Perkins is a consultant for the NSO, assigned by the FBI to assist us. We do get a lot of death threats from across the US and other countries. It sounds reasonable and she did stay at Homeland for a short time. We state that she was supposed to check in but didn’t. The FBI and NSO both sent teams to check on her.”
Trey nodded. “I see where this is going. Katrina and Missy were overcome by fumes from a crack in a gas line. Mason reached the home first and forced his way in to check on them. The house blew up and we arrived on scene. The only thing that pisses me off about that scenario is Mason is going to look like a hero who died trying to save a coworker.”
Justice inclined his head. “I agree that it’s distasteful but it would explain why our team arrived there and it doesn’t cause a corruption scandal for the FBI. We both get to walk away from this with good press. I’m certain they’ll be willing to remain silent on the matter or agree with our version of events.”
“I can spin that.” Trey stood. “Do you want me to handle this?”
“Go see our public relations team first. We pay them a lot of money so put them to use. They set up in the conference room in our office building. They’ll help you manage the press and I’ll have to make a statement within a few hours too. I’ll let Tim know I put you in charge of handling the task force side of this. It will seem more official to have a member of the team address the press.”
“I’m on it,” Trey said as he left Medical.
Justice turned to Fury. “What do you think is going on in your brother’s head regarding Katrina?”
“Hell if I know.” Fury shrugged. “Darkness resists emotional attachments but he seemed really shaken that she nearly died. He’ll either realize what she means or just grow more stubborn to keep her at arm’s length. I have no idea which way this is going to go. I’m just happy she didn’t die.”
“He left Homeland to go into the human world. That’s big.” Ellie glanced at them both. “He has to care a lot about her. He refused to go after that Gift he worked so hard to find.”
Fury pulled Ellie closer. “I know. We’ll have to wait and see how this goes.”
“I hope whatever his future holds, no more explosions are involved. I’m almost afraid to think of the consequences if he does make her a mate.” Justice grimaced.
Ellie frowned. “What does that mean?”
“Shit seems to blow up when Katrina is nearby,” Fury muttered. “That’s one dangerous or unlucky female.”
A door opened on the other side of the room and Sunshine stepped out. She glanced around then addressed Fury. “Is it safe?”
“Trey won’t be back and our guests are surrounded by staff to keep them where they are.”
“Come on out,” Sunshine crooned.
Salvation rushed out of the room toward his parents, holding a paper. “I drew this for you.”
Ellie slid away from Fury and opened her arms. “Come show Mommy!”
The boy hugged her and grinned, holding up a picture he’d drawn with crayons. “That’s you and Daddy.”
Justice laughed. “You both look so thin.”
Ellie laughed. “We’re stick people. I love them.”
“Sorry to interrupt,” Sunshine stated. “He’s hyper and it’s tough keeping him contained in an office.”
“Thank you for babysitting him.” Fury pulled his son onto his lap. “We both want to be here for Darkness.”
“It’s okay.” Sunshine came closer. “I love spending time with him.”
“We’re going to be here a few more hours.” Fury glanced at the clock. “I want to make sure Darkness doesn’t snap if the female’s condition changes. You could take him to our home.”
“He wanted to stay close to you.” Sunshine held out her hand. “Salvation? How would you like to watch a movie with me? I am having someone drop off my laptop.”
“What movie?” Salvation wiggled off Fury’s lap and ran to Sunshine. “I love movies.”
The tall Species female lifted him, held him close. “Any movie you want. That’s the neat thing about the internet. We can rent them. Let’s go back into the office until it arrives.” She glanced around, obviously on alert. “I’d feel better if we were in there. There are hu—”
Fury cleared his throat and shook his head. “He doesn’t understand the need for secrecy.”
Sunshine nodded. “Right.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Kat opened her eyes. The first thing that came into view was a paneled ceiling. She blinked, trying to make sense of why it was there instead of the popcorn one of her bedroom. Memory surfaced fast. She turned her head and stared at a monitor to her right. Her heart rate was normal according to the number.
She’d jumped through a window with Missy and then there’d been pain and a loud noise. The gas must have ignited. She looked down her arm—an IV in her arm and an oxygen sensor on her index finger. Fearful, she moved her legs, shifting her feet on the hospital bed. They were there and intact. Her other arm ached and she turned to see a loose white gauze bandage wrapped around her upper arm.
I’m alive. Missy? Oh god! Panic set in and she tried to sit up. It was easier than she thought it would be and less painful. This isn’t a hospital. She recognized the layout. It’s their Medical center. I’m at Homeland? She was alone in the room with the door partially open to a silent hallway.
Something dark moved at the bottom of her bed. It was just a flash of what looked like black hair and then she gasped, almost falling over when a boy popped his head up. Dark eyes with unusually long, thick eyelashes peered at her. He lifted up a little, his fingers gripping the foot railing. She took in the shape of his nose. He blinked, his expression curious.
He looks like Darkness, except for the shape of his eyes. It might just be the coloring and skin tone but she saw a resemblance. He lifted up more, revealing his mouth. It was closed but that downward slant was a frown. He didn’t talk, just continued to watch her.
Kat cleared her throat. “What’s your name?” She smiled, hoping he wouldn’t leave.
“Who are you?”
“I’m Kat.”
“You don’t look like one.”
He had a gruff voice for a child so young but it was clear he was New Species. She pegged him to be about five years old, from what she could see of him. “It’s just a name. I’m not a real cat.”
He ducked and disappeared. She held still, knowing he hadn’t left the room. She’d have seen him go with her clear view of the door. Something bumped her bed on the left and he straightened. He looked at her from a few feet away, glanced at the monitor then at her face.
“You’re hurt?”
She assessed her body. A blanket covered most of her and she wore a gown. “I think I’m mostly okay. I feel good.”
“You’re in Medical.” He reached out and touched the plastic clip on her finger. “Does that hurt? It is pinching you.”
Kat held still. “No. It’s not on tight.”
He pulled it off and the machine beeped. He growled, dropped the
clip on the floor, but then looked back at her. His eyes were big, almost fearful.
“It’s okay.” She resisted laughing. “Monitors make weird noises. You didn’t hurt it and it can’t hurt you. You didn’t tell me your name.”
“Salvation.”
“That’s a nice name.” She glanced at the door, wondering where everyone was and why the boy was in her room. She couldn’t see New Species allowing children to roam free in Medical. It wouldn’t be safe with all the drugs and supplies he could get into. “Where’s your mommy and daddy?”
“I sneaked away.” He lowered his voice. “Sunshine fell asleep. She was watching me. My parents are in the waiting room. I crawled behind the counter so they couldn’t see me. They were talking.”
Kat was tempted to push the assist button on the hospital bed. She would bet his parents wouldn’t be happy to find he’d slipped away from his babysitter. She didn’t want to get him in trouble though. “You should go back to her. She’ll wake up and be worried if you aren’t there.”
“She snores.”
Kat laughed. “Really?”
He smiled, his expression adorable. “Loud. It woke me up.”
The door suddenly moved and Darkness filled the space. “Salvation.”
The boy jumped, spinning to face the snarling voice. Kat shot Darkness a warning look. “Don’t scare him.”
“He should be frightened. He knows better than to run away from someone watching him.” Darkness entered the room, focused on the boy. He pointed toward the hallway. “Run to your father. He’s to the left.”
Salvation took off, moving fast for a small boy. He was out the door in a flash. Kat gawked at Darkness. “That was mean. You shouldn’t have used that tone.”
“He shouldn’t have been in here. We were looking for him. Sunshine woke to find him gone. Everyone scrambled to search the building.”
“He’s just a little kid. He can’t be more than five years old. What child doesn’t explore his surroundings?”
“He’s three and he’s Species. It’s a safety issue.”
“Three?” She was stunned. “He’s just a baby then.” A big one. “You scared the crap out of him.”
Darkness walked to the end of her bed. “Our children aren’t clumsy, helpless individuals for the first years of their lives. He crawled at three months, began running by the time he was six months old, and spoke complete sentences before his first birthday. He was reading and doing what most of your children learn in school by his second birthday. You may see him as a baby but he’s not human. He knows there’s no excuse for him leaving the care of Sunshine and understands why he must follow rules. They are there for his protection.”
She let that sink in. “Do they age faster?”
Darkness growled. “No. We don’t age in dog years.”
“I didn’t mean it that way.”
“I keep telling you we’re different from you.”
She took a calming breath. “I’m not going to argue with you. Where is Missy? Is she okay?”
“She’s fine.”
Kat closed her eyes, her fear alleviated. “Thank you.”
Darkness snarled. “You nearly died saving her. Don’t thank me. I just arrived in time to see the results of your efforts. You were dying.”
She glanced down her body. “I feel okay. A little sore but—”
Another snarl tore from Darkness and he lunged, getting in her face when he stalked to the side of her bed and bent. “We gave you Species drugs to heal you. You were bleeding out when I found you. Motionless. Near death.”
Darkness’ eyes were almost black and his lips parted, revealing his fangs. Kat held still, assessing what he’d told her.
“You saved me. Thank you.”
“You risked your life for another. I don’t want your thanks. Missy said you turned on the gas and ignited it to blow up your house. She also said you used your body to shield hers from glass and falling debris. Don’t ever do something like that again.”
“She’s my best friend.” She tried to figure out the source of his anger. “You would have done the same. Mason ordered me to kill her and it was the only thing I could think of to do. He had the gun.”
He backed off a few inches. “Just don’t do it again.”
He was worried. She found it touching. “The house?”
“Destroyed.”
It didn’t come as a surprise. “Mason?”
“Dead.”
“Good.”
“I would have killed him if he’d still been alive when I arrived.”
“The explosion took him out?”
“Yes. He was found in the rubble after the firefighters were able to put out the fire.”
More details came to mind. “How upset is Missy—at me?”
“She stated you did everything to save her.”
“I meant about Butch and Gus. That’s her dog and kitten. I couldn’t save them. Mason would have shot her if I’d refused to prove I was all in as his partner. He wouldn’t let me get close enough to disarm him or even attack so she could make a run for it.”
“They survived. Missy told one of our males they were still inside the house and that crazy bastard went in after them. Book is lucky he didn’t get killed. The back of the house was gone and the front was about to collapse and was in flames. He found them under a mattress that had pinned them against a wall next to the window he jumped through to reach them. It probably protected them from most of the blast.”
“Please thank him for me. I don’t think she’d have ever forgiven me if they’d died.”
Darkness growled again. “She owes you her life. How are you feeling?” He seemed to search her eyes, looking for something.
“A little groggy and sore.” She glanced at her arm. “How bad is it under that gauze?”
“You will be fine. They were worried about damage to your head.”
She reached up, examining her hair and the shape of her head with her fingers. “It feels intact. Do I look bad?”
“You’re pale. You also have all of your hair. They didn’t have to operate but you suffered a blow to the head. There was swelling.”
“Was?”
“The Species healing drugs were effective. The open wounds have closed and most of your bruises have faded.”
“Open wounds?” She glanced at her arm again. “There’s more?”
“Your hip and upper thigh were sliced open.”
Kat shoved back the blankets and lifted her gown. She found more gauze on her right side. Darkness gripped her gown and jerked it down. “Anyone could walk in. You have nothing on under that.”
“I don’t care. I want to see what happened to me.”
Darkness straightened, crossed the room and closed the door. He twisted the lock and returned to the side of the bed. He lowered the rail and offered her an arm. “I’ll help you up. The doctors said you can stand and use the bathroom with assistance. You could suffer dizzy spells and weakness for a day or two. There’s a mirror in the bathroom.”
Kat swung her legs over. “I’m a little shaky.”
“You almost died.”
She allowed him to help her out of bed and into the bathroom. Darkness helped her remove her gown and she stared in the mirror. Gauze covered her arm and two places on her hip and thigh. Her ribs appeared discolored under one breast. She turned, staring over her shoulder.
“It was much worse,” Darkness rumbled. His tone revealed his anger. “The drugs have worked very well on you.”
Darkness gently removed the gauze on her arm. She watched him, not surprised at how tender those big hands could be. He tossed the bandage in the trash and Kat stared at the reddened skin. Faint marks revealed stitches had been there. She swayed on her feet.
Darkness bent, scooping her into his arms. “You should have stayed in bed.”
“How long was I down?”
“Just since last night.”
“That’s amazing. I didn’t know there were drugs like
that in existence.”
“Only Species have use of them.”
“You should share them with the world. Do you know what a miracle it is that I’ve healed this fast?”
A muscle along his jaw jumped, his anger clear. “Mercile did trials on humans. The results were deadly. We’re much sturdier than your kind. You wouldn’t have been given the drug either due to the risk of death but you were so injured there was nothing to lose. It’s amazing you’re alive.” He carried her to the hospital bed and laid her on it. “You’re going to have to take it easy for a few days. Your body has endured a lot, Kat.”
She let that information sink in. “I feel good.”
“It took three of our doctors all night to make sure they didn’t sedate you to death in order to keep your rapid heart rate and rising blood pressure from killing you while you were on the drugs. It’s lucky you made it, Kat. You may feel as if you’re fine but your body has probably never suffered such stress.”
“Thank you. I take it that you asked them do it?”
He hesitated. “You were dying anyway. It was your only chance.”
“Please thank everyone for me.”
“It’s their job.”
The subject was closed. He didn’t seem willing or able to accept her gratitude. She changed the topic to a safer one. “I’d like to call Missy.”
“She’s down the hall.”
“She’s here at Homeland?”
“Where were we supposed to send her? Your home was destroyed.” He got her a fresh gown and helped her pull it over her head then tugged it down until she was decently covered.
“Thank you, Darkness.”
He backed away. “Stop thanking me. Was I supposed to allow you to be sent to a human hospital to die?” His tone deepened into a snarl. “Was I supposed to just trust them to do everything they could to save you? I thought you were dead when I found you under the piece of roof that landed on you.”
“A roof landed on me?”
“Only your foot was free of it. That’s how I spotted you.”
“Thank goodness I wasn’t wearing ruby slippers. Missy says I can be a witch at times.”
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