Wrath excused himself to go change his clothing and left her with Shadow at the table. The blond one waited until his friend was out of sight before he spoke.
“He likes you.”
Lauren knew which him he was talking about. Wrath. “I like him too.”
Shadow’s blue eyes were intense and he frowned.
“What?”
“We are not similar to the males you know. I just want you to understand that.”
“What does that mean exactly?”
“I’m just warning you. You’re playing with fire with Wrath.”
“I’m not playing anything.”
His blue eyes narrowed. “It was just a warning. Wrath is very intense and we have had difficult lives.” He stood. “Let’s go.”
Chapter Eight
Lauren got to her feet, wanted to ask Shadow what he meant by that, or why he’d accuse her of playing some kind of game with Wrath but he didn’t give her the chance. His long legs moved fast as he crossed the room and stopped at the elevator. She had to scramble to catch up with him as the doors opened after he punched in a code on a keypad.
“Aren’t we waiting for Brass and Wrath?”
“They are either already upstairs or will be along shortly. This isn’t the only elevator.”
“I don’t have keys to my apartment. They were in my purse.”
“Your car and your possessions are being stored above. We had them moved here last night. Your purse is in your car.”
“Someone drove my car?”
Shadow nodded, stepped into the elevator and pressed a button. She followed him before the doors closed.
“Yes. We were not going to leave it in the parking lot to draw suspicion. We weren’t sure if you were Bill’s girlfriend or not. We wanted him to find nothing wrong if he sent someone looking for you. Finding your abandoned car would have been suspicious.”
Lauren couldn’t fault the logic. “I can see that.”
Shadow smiled. “We know what we are doing. This isn’t our first hunt and capture.”
“You didn’t know I wasn’t Brent’s girlfriend. Sorry—Bill. You thought I was that jerk’s lover. No offense but you were way off the mark on that one.”
He shrugged. “You are the one who came in his place and you smelled of the perfume he gifts females he shares sex with. We have interviewed many of them as we’ve tracked him.”
Shock tore through her. “You have more women locked up down here?”
He shook his head. “We knew he had abandoned the females we spoke to before we reached them. They had all filed criminal charges against him for stealing from them and that’s how we were able to track him. He uses their money to fund his living but victimized women in this area recently. We used their photographs of him—ran them through the driver’s license database—and his false new name showed up.”
“He’s a thief too? What a loser.”
“He is a bad male.” Shadow sighed. “We told the women he had deserted the Army when he was younger and that he would serve many years in prison for this. Those females were very willing to give us any information we asked for to help track him down. Most of them were very pleased to learn he was wanted by us.”
“I bet. He’s batting a thousand for winning the scum-of-the-decade award.”
A comical look passed Shadow’s face as he gawked at her when the elevator doors opened. “There is such a thing?”
“No.” She laughed. “It’s a saying but it gets the point across. He’d win, wouldn’t he? I’ve only been around him three months and I know I could live with him being locked up for a while. The man is a first-rate creep.”
“That is what most of them said about him. They had other names for him as well but none were flattering.”
“I can imagine.”
He motioned that she leave the elevator first and she hesitantly entered a parking structure. It was dimly lit and had concrete walls. Her car sat within sight about twenty spaces away from the elevator and half a dozen black SUVs were parked with it.
“We did not damage your car.”
The elevator closed behind them and Lauren didn’t see Wrath as her gaze continued to study her surroundings. She started to feel nervous about being alone with Shadow. She knew he and Wrath were close but after Vengeance, the only one of them she trusted was Wrath. The driver’s-side door opened on an SUV and a guy dressed in all black climbed out. He approached them quickly, his gaze locked on Lauren.
She tensed but immediately identified him as human since his face wasn’t covered by sunglasses, and his features were clearly shown. He had short brown hair, brown eyes and was almost as big as the New Species she’d met, minus a few inches in height. The uniform was the same that Brass and Shadow wore.
“Who’s the woman?” He glanced at Shadow.
“She’s helping us track our target.”
The man grinned and offered his hand. “I’m Brian. How are you?”
Lauren shook his hand firmly. “I’m Lauren. I’m fine.”
The elevator doors opened and Lauren turned to see who entered the parking level. Wrath and Brass stepped out of the elevator. Brass was dressed in black like Brian and Shadow but Wrath had changed into green fatigues. Wrath growled suddenly and lunged at Lauren.
She gasped as his arm hooked around her waist. He jerked her off her feet and spun her until his body blocked her from Brian. Another snarl came from him as he eased her back to her feet but kept his arm anchored around her middle. She twisted her head to look up at him but he glared at Brian with a scary expression.
Brian stepped back and put his hands up. “What’s wrong?”
Shadow sighed. “You touched her and were standing too close. He’s protective.”
Brian put more distance between him and the angry New Species. “Sorry, man. I didn’t know it would upset you. I was just introducing myself. It’s a normal human interaction.”
“Don’t get near her,” Wrath warned. “Are we clear, Brian?”
“Perfectly clear, sir.”
Wrath relaxed. “You know my name is Wrath. Don’t call me sir.”
The man nodded. “Sorry. It’s just that you’re the boss when I’m assigned to escort you guys. You’ve got the rank. ‘Sir’ is what I usually call the team leader. It’s just how Tim runs the ranks.” He paused. “What’s our game plan today?”
Brass stepped forward, taking charge. “We are driving the female to her apartment for her to change her clothing. She’s going to be taking Wrath into the target’s workplace while we monitor them from a distance. The female will talk to Bill’s coworkers and see if she can locate him.”
Brian nodded. “Good.” He glanced at Lauren. “Do you think they will talk to you?”
She nodded. “They should. I work there too.”
Brian’s eyes widened in surprise. “Okay. Good. Are we ready to go? I assume I’m driving since I know the area?”
“Yes,” Shadow sighed. “Let’s roll.”
Wrath slowly released Lauren’s waist but gripped her hand quickly. She noticed he still appeared slightly upset over her shaking Brian’s hand and wondered if that was taboo with his kind. Maybe it was rude to touch an unknown male in Species culture. She wasn’t too sure about the reasoning but she made a mental note not to do it again. Wrath led her to the SUV and opened the back door.
“Get in. You sit in the middle.”
“What about my purse and keys? I need them.”
“I’ve got them,” Shadow called out, rushing to catch up.
Lauren scooted across the seat to the middle and Wrath climbed in after her. Shadow opened the other door and took a seat next to her, while Brass and Brian entered the front. They all reached for their seat belts and she did the same.
The New Species all put on dark sunglasses before Brian even started the engine and Brass shoved a cap on. It made her really notice the tight braid at the back of his head for the first time. Her eyebrows arched but she didn’t ask why he had
long hair when the other two New Species had cut theirs so short.
Wrath was careful not to touch her and it became more apparent as the miles passed that he avoided her on purpose. He leaned away from her when the vehicle swayed through turns. She studied his features, hated the dark glasses that hid his eyes and leaned into him until he turned his face in her direction.
“Are you mad at me?”
“No. I’m preparing for the mission. I like to go over all possible scenarios we may encounter and plot my reactions.”
“Okay.” She wasn’t sure what that meant but it must be a man thing.
Shadow laughed. “We all do that. This is your world and not ours. Everything is strange to us and we try to make sure our responses are as smooth as we can make them.”
She could see how out of place they would probably feel in the big world. She’d read about the NSO Homeland and the NSO Reservation. They were massive properties that housed all New Species and were run by the New Species Organization. They had their own civilizations on those two properties but little was known beyond bits and pieces of information that the press got wind of. No one really knew what was true or not.
Curiosity piqued her. “What is it like where you come from?”
“I lived at Reservation for over a month before I took this assignment. Wrath and I both agreed our time would be better spent tracking down our enemies than learning how to play sports. Reservation is a big, forested area with few buildings. They have a hotel, just opened a movie theater, and we have a bar where our social events are held. We don’t enjoy drinking alcohol but a lot of us like to dance. It is a good place to live.”
“Do you miss it?”
Shadow hesitated. “What we do is important and we had less to lose than most since we were so recently freed. We volunteered for this duty and we’re honored to represent our people.”
Wrath growled. “Enough.”
Shadow frowned, shot him a dirty look and continued. “We not only hunt criminals who harmed Species but some of our people are still being held captive. Wrath and I are examples of that. We were not rescued in the raids of the original testing facilities that were located. Before that even happened, we were stolen by some of the staff and taken to new locations. They used us to make money to begin new lives in other countries and escape justice.”
“Shadow, enough.” Wrath’s voice came out a growl now.
“She needs to know and I don’t hear you telling her.” Shadow paused. “We are hoping that anyone we capture who worked for Mercile will have information to help us locate other Species.”
Lauren turned her head and stared up at Wrath. He frowned at his friend and once again she wished she could see his eyes. “What is wrong with him telling me that?”
His lips parted but then he sealed them in a tight line.
“He is probably worried that you might think he is cruel to go after humans despite the harm they caused Species.”
“I don’t believe that.” Lauren reached out and placed her hand over Wrath’s. “I think it’s very brave.”
He didn’t pull away and she relaxed in her seat. She turned to Shadow again to get more answers since he was talkative. “I thought all the New Species had been found and freed.”
“We didn’t know a fifth testing facility existed but it was located. There is evidence there may be more and who knows how many others were stolen away in the manner Wrath and I were.”
“That’s horrible.”
Shadow jerked his head in agreement. “Yes. That is why we live away from our kind and sacrifice so much to do our duty.” His chin lifted and he stared at Wrath. “We must not forget the commitment we have made to our people.”
Wrath growled, his head snapped in Shadow’s direction and his fangs flashed in a scary show of temper. “Enough.”
Lauren glanced between the two men, wondering what she was missing.
“What’s your address?” Brian’s gaze met hers in the mirror. “It’s hard to drive there if I don’t know where I’m going.”
Brass gave Lauren’s home address before she could. He turned in his seat to meet her surprised stare. “We learned everything we could about you the second you showed up at that warehouse. I could tell you how much money you made four years ago and what you charged on your credit cards if I wished.”
The silence in the SUV stretched on until she realized they were near her home. “It’s the tan building with the big bushes. You can take the driveway to the left and park in the back. I have a visitor’s parking space.”
Brian parked where she indicated and Wrath helped Lauren climb out of the SUV. She spotted her neighbor and waved at Mr. Adams, flashing him a big grin. Amusement made her chuckle at the way his eyes widened behind his glasses as she passed him with her four large escorts.
“What is funny?” Wrath handed her purse over when she paused in front of her door.
She unlocked the door, pushed it open, and stepped inside. “Sorry if my place is a mess. I wasn’t expecting company.”
Wrath paused next to her. “Why did you find it amusing when the old man gaped at us? You are still smiling.”
Lauren chuckled. “Mr. Adams is a gossiping busybody with a wild imagination.”
“I don’t understand.” Brass spoke. “What is that?”
Brian laughed. “It means he’s very nosy. He’s always talking to everyone and makes things up.” Brian turned to Lauren. “They don’t understand some of our terms.”
Lauren chuckled. “By tonight he’s going to be telling everyone in the complex that I brought four big guys home and he’ll probably say we had an orgy.”
Brian grinned.
Wrath inched closer to her side. “Is that a party?”
Lauren laughed. “Kind of. An orgy is…” She looked at Brian for help. “Do you want to explain that one?”
He laughed. “The old man will tell everyone that Lauren had sex with all of us at once. An orgy is where a group of people all strip down naked and have sex together in a pile of bodies.”
Wrath growled as he turned his head to Lauren, his lips pressed in a tight line from anger before he shot a warning look at every other male in the room. “I’d hurt anyone who touched her.”
Shadow’s mouth twitched with a near smile. “Easy, friend. She wouldn’t survive four of us at once and we don’t share well.”
“Um, okay. I’m going to go change clothes so we can get this over with. Make yourselves at home.” Lauren spun and walked down the hallway.
Wrath followed, his presence something she couldn’t ignore, and both of them paused inside her bedroom. She glanced at him to watch his face as he peered around her room. She really hated that he wore the dark glasses that hid his eyes, more than a bit curious what he thought about her large four-poster bed and feminine décor. It was a far cry homier than what he was used to if his own bedroom was an indication.
Her cat leaped up on top of the bed, startled them both, and Wrath shot his arm out. His hand flattened on Lauren’s stomach and he knocked her back roughly, against the wall.
The cat stared at Wrath and suddenly tensed, his back arched and he hissed. Wrath bent slightly, snarled and showed his own teeth. Lauren was stunned as both of them continued to hiss and snarl at each other.
“Wrath?”
“Don’t move,” he rasped and reached for his weapon.
“No!” Lauren shoved the hand pinning her to the wall and lunged for his body, put hers between him and the bed, and caught his wrist as he raised the gun. “That’s my cat! Don’t shoot him.”
His head snapped down. “What?”
“That’s Tiger. He’s my cat. My pet.”
Tiger hissed again behind them but Lauren didn’t spare him a glance, too worried the man in front of her would shoot her cat. Wrath slowly holstered his weapon at his waist and frowned.
“That is your pet? It’s not some wild creature that managed entry inside your home?”
“I know he probably need
s to go to the groomer but he’s not wild. He goes outside since I hate litter boxes but yeah, he’s my pet.”
He relaxed, the tight muscles bunched under her hand softened just slightly, and Wrath lifted his head.
“Your pet doesn’t appear to be friendly.”
She glanced at Tiger. “He’s usually not like this. Stop it, Tiger. Bad kitty! Stop hissing at Wrath.”
The cat bolted, rushed out the door, and Lauren laughed at the situation. “I take it you don’t like cats?”
“I don’t like cats who are small and don’t talk.”
A loud growl sounded and glass broke. Lauren cursed and darted around Wrath to rush toward the living room. Tiger yowled loudly and a deep, scary growl quickly followed. She halted just inside the entryway where Brass and Shadow had cornered her cat. The poor, terrified cat had his claws extended, his hair stood on end and he hissed at the men.
“Stop that!” Lauren lunged, getting between the men and her pet.
“What is that?” Shadow snarled.
Brian laughed. “They are canine. Dogs and cats don’t get along. You should have warned them you had one.”
“It’s not an animal that got into your home?” Brass stopped growling and straightened to his full height.
Lauren turned and dropped to her knees. “No. Come here, Tiger. It’s all right. They didn’t mean to scare you. Come here, baby. Come here, Tiger.”
“Tiger?” Brass laughed. “You named him Tiger? I have a friend by that name. I can’t wait to tell him about this.”
Lauren scooped up the shaking cat and used her body to shield it from the men in her living room. She moved, keeping her cat from seeing them as well and walked back down the hallway. Wrath stood inside her room at the foot of her large bed. She walked in and placed Tiger in the bathroom away from her guests, closing the door so he didn’t rush back into danger.