New Species 02 Slade (26 page)

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 blonde 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.”

It humiliated her slightly knowing she needed the

help. She didn’t struggle as the large man guided her to

step out of the tub. His arm kept her on her feet and she

needed it. She clutched the towel around the front of her

but there was no helping her back being totally bare.

Trisha knew her face must be flaming pink. Brass

suddenly gripped her towel and pulled it from her

grasp.

Trisha’s mouth hung open. Her focus flew to the man

holding her towel. He kept his gaze locked with hers. He

released her arm and then opened the towel to wrap it

around her body securely before he reached for her

again. He just scooped her up into his strong arms and

gently placed her on the counter. Brass turned, grabbed

another towel, and without a word went to work on her

dripping hair.

“Thank you.”

Brass nodded. “You’ve been very strong. For

someone so little, you have my full respect, Dr. Norbit.

You have been very tough but now it is time for you to

allow someone to take care of you.”

“Please call me Trisha.”

He flashed a smile. “I’m going to pick you up again

now that your hair won’t soak your bed and put you on

it. I see you have pajamas but I’ve suffered enough

injures to warn you from past experiences that you are

better off without anything on while you heal. Up you

go.”

He dropped the towel from her hair into the sink and

lifted her up into his arms. Brass gently carried her out of

the bathroom and to her bed where someone had already

lowered the blankets. Brass eased her down onto the

mattress and removed his arms from around her. He

held out his hand and closed his eyes.

“I’ll take the wet towel into the bathroom to hang

while you cover up.”

Trisha handed the towel over and pulled up the

blankets to her chest. She watched Brass return to her

bathroom where he stayed for a few minutes cleaning it.

Then he walked out, flipped off the light behind him,

and gave her a nod before he disappeared out of her

room. He immediately returned, pushing a food cart that

had three shelves with multiple covered dishes. Trisha

gawked at the sight.

“That can’t all be for me.”

He shrugged. “Justice didn’t know what you wanted

to eat so he ordered six dishes to be prepared. The

Council has its own personal chef. Justice placed a phone

call for food to be prepared when he knew you would be

arriving. There are also desserts. Again, Justice didn’t

know what you would eat so he had them send a little of

a lot.”

Brass removed a large tray. He placed it over

Trisha’s lap and smiled. “I’ll open up the dishes to show

you what you have to choose from.”

“You will help me eat all this, right?”

Brass chuckled. “I was hoping you would ask. I’m

starving.”

Trisha’s stomach rumbled loudly. Her face blushed

warmly when Brass chuckled again. He’d obviously

heard it. He started removing the covers while he listed

the food that had been prepared. He didn’t touch the

desserts.

“I’ll take the prime rib and the tri-tip dinners. Is that

all right?”

He grinned. “That’s fine. I’m grateful you didn’t want

the ribs. I saw those and my mouth began to water. You

are hungry, aren’t you?”

“I’m starving.”

Brass set both dishes on the tray. He left the room

and returned minutes later with a few sodas. Trisha took

a cherry-flavored one. She kept three kinds in her fridge.

Brass hesitated.

“I’ll go into the living room and eat. Call out if you

need anything.” He lifted the pork-rib dish.

“You can sit there.” She pointed to the chair next to

her bed. The nightstand was cleared on that side so he’d

have a table to eat on. “I was going to turn on the TV. I’m

sorry there isn’t one in the living room. I planned to buy

a few things for the house but I haven’t gotten around to

it yet. You could stay in here to watch TV and I’ll even

give you the remote if you promise no history stuff or

sports.”

He laughed. “You pick the channel.” Brass sat down

and put his plate on the table. He opened up one of the

sodas. “Thanks. What are you planning on changing? It’s

a nice house.”

“I hate this bed and I want to turn the spare bedroom

into an office.” She motioned toward the corner where

she had a desk set up. “I don’t want my office in my

bedroom. I need to relax in here and every time I glance

at it, all I think about is work.”

Brass turned his gaze to her. “What’s wrong with the

bed? I enjoy a big four-poster and that one looks solid.”

“It’s too big. I feel as though I’m five years old every

time I climb into it and I do have to climb.” She glanced

at the floor. “See that stepstool?” She shrugged.

Brass darted a look down and started to chuckle. He

tried to stop but he looked too amused to hide it. “You

are short, in the bed’s defense. You’re a few inches

shorter than average for a woman.”

“Yeah, I know.” She cut her prime rib and took a bite.

She moaned. “So good.”

Brass choked on his soda. Trisha turned her head to

find him staring at her and he thumped his chest.

“Are you all right?”

“Fine.” He nodded. “I take it from that sound you

made that you’re enjoying it and the Council chef is

worth the money they pay him?”

“He’s worth every penny.” She cut into the tri-tip and

took a bite. She moaned again as she smiled. “Perfect.

Delicious. Almost melts inside my mouth.”

Brass stared at her.

“Do you want to try some? They gave me large

portions.”

“No thank you. It’s all yours. I love the ribs. I might

hit up that roast-beef plate though after I eat this if you

don’t want it. We tend to eat a lot.”

“Help yourself. I’ll never finish all this.”

They ate. Trisha found an action movie they both

agreed on. Brass managed to eat three dishes and found

room for dessert. He gave her two pain pills. Sometime

during the movie she drifted off to sleep.

* * * * *

She woke feeling fuzzy. She stared up at Brass,

seeing his face about a foot over hers in the dim but not

seeing his face about a foot over hers in the dim but not

totally dark room. She blinked up at him, letting memory

return. He was staying inside her house to guard her. He

smiled at her.

“Those drugs really hit you hard. I’ve been trying to

wake you for a few minutes. I just got word on Slade.”

Those words shoved all lingering sleep away and

she tried to sit up. Brass suddenly shoved her down. His

hands gently gripped her shoulders and he grinned.

“Watch your blankets, Trisha. You almost flashed your

breasts.” His hands released her.

Crap. She’d forgotten she wasn’t wearing clothes. She

gripped the blankets to keep them in place. “Sorry. Is he

all right?”

“He is fine. They are bringing him in right now to

Homeland. He ran into one of our teams about twenty

minutes ago. He has been shot but it’s just a flesh

wound. They are taking him to a hospital to have him

checked over but he should be returned to Homeland

within a few hours.”

Tears welled but she blinked them back over hearing

the news that Slade was safe and alive with only a flesh

wound. He’d been shot. All that registered. She’d seen

firsthand how tough New Species could be and how

quickly they healed. She wasn’t too worried that the

injury would be life threatening if they expected him at

Homeland soon.

“Thank you.”