He peered at her. “You have many of them. What do you want to know?”
She glanced around. “Does someone else live here when you’re at Reservation?”
“No. I spend most of my time here so it’s a permanent residence.”
“Okay.”
“Why do you ask?”
“I was just wondering where I’d live if you have to go there.” His expression tensed and his eyes darkened. “What? You plan to stay that long?” She dropped her gaze. “Let’s eat. This looks really good.”
They ate in silence. They were almost finished when the phone rang. It startled Kat but Darkness just got to his feet and answered it in the kitchen. He spoke low and then hung up.
“I have to go.”
“Is everything okay?”
“Fury wants to talk to me in his office. He’s taken over while Justice is on vacation for a few days.”
“Where do you guys go?”
“He went to Reservation with his mate.” He picked up his plate and put it in the sink. “Don’t leave the apartment or make calls. Can I trust you to do as I ask?”
“Yes. I want to talk to Missy but I will do it when you get me a secure line. I heard you earlier.”
He looked uncertain.
“Trust me,” she urged. “I won’t leave the apartment or touch your phone. Even if it rings. I understand your need for security and procedure. I might not be a big fan of it and think it’s a bit paranoid but rules are rules. I have to follow them while I’m at Homeland.”
“Thank you. I’ll be back soon.” He walked over to the door and picked up the hamper.
Kat watched him go and finished her omelet. She’d keep her word.
* * * * *
“What can I do for you?” Darkness sat in Fury’s office. He’d made a few stops on his way.
“What took you so long?”
“I had errands.”
Fury leaned forward and braced both elbows on the desk, resting his chin on his fists. “Is there something you want to tell me?”
“No.”
“I took over for Justice, remember? I read all the security reports.”
“Nothing happened in the out world. One team is still there but I checked on my way here. They are fine. It’s quiet and no one has attempted to break in at the home they are occupying.”
“What about Katrina Perkins?”
“She’s here. I was able to retrieve her.”
Fury frowned. “You didn’t take her to guest housing. I had a spare officer without a job since he’d been assigned outside duty to keep an eye on her.” He lifted his head and tapped a finger on a file. “This is a report of a disturbance at the men’s dorm. The male below your apartment reported loud noises coming from your home. He was too afraid to approach your door. He’s a primate from Reservation, only here for a few weeks a year.”
That angered Darkness and he decided to speak to the male who’d dared complain.
“Don’t. I can almost read your mind. You have Katrina Perkins at your home. She’s not at guest housing so I’ll assume she’s still there.”
“I didn’t break any rules. I asked one of the males to keep an eye on my door. Kat is secure. I followed protocol.”
“This isn’t official, damn it. You’re living with her?”
“She insisted. Those were her requirements to return to Homeland with me.”
Fury’s eyes widened. He recovered from the astonished look fast. “She’s a human female. You could have subdued her easily and just forced her to go with you.”
“I didn’t want to do that.”
The male had the nerve to laugh. “And the disturbance in your home? I take it she wasn’t happy there?” He studied Darkness. “I don’t see injuries.”
Darkness growled low and stood. “I have better things to do than be the brunt of your amusement.”
“Sit down. That’s an order.”
Darkness froze. “You said this wasn’t official.”
“Not for the NSO. Family business. What is going on? Talk to me.”
“What is wrong with everyone?” Frustration rose. “Why does everyone require me to talk? She’s here and fine. I’m not breaking rules by having her in my home and I had a male watch her since she’s not a mate. That’s all you need to know.”
“Please sit.”
Darkness slammed his ass in the chair and it groaned under his weight. He crossed his arms. “It’s none of your business.”
“I care anyway.” Fury stood and rounded the desk, taking a seat in the chair next to him. “Is this better? We’re just two males having a conversation. Talk.”
“She wanted to stay with me. There’s nothing else to say.”
“You don’t allow anyone to get that close.”
“I told her that.”
Fury schooled his features. “Is there anything else going on?”
“No.” He avoided meeting Fury’s curious gaze.
“Trisha called.”
Darkness snarled. “So much for confidentiality.”
“She just said we needed to speak. I’m the closest male to you. What does she know that I don’t? Did you lose your temper and harm your female in some way?”
Darkness shot to his feet, resisting the urge to punch him. “I’d never harm Kat.”
She glanced around. “Does someone else live here when you’re at Reservation?”
“No. I spend most of my time here so it’s a permanent residence.”
“Okay.”
“Why do you ask?”
“I was just wondering where I’d live if you have to go there.” His expression tensed and his eyes darkened. “What? You plan to stay that long?” She dropped her gaze. “Let’s eat. This looks really good.”
They ate in silence. They were almost finished when the phone rang. It startled Kat but Darkness just got to his feet and answered it in the kitchen. He spoke low and then hung up.
“I have to go.”
“Is everything okay?”
“Fury wants to talk to me in his office. He’s taken over while Justice is on vacation for a few days.”
“Where do you guys go?”
“He went to Reservation with his mate.” He picked up his plate and put it in the sink. “Don’t leave the apartment or make calls. Can I trust you to do as I ask?”
“Yes. I want to talk to Missy but I will do it when you get me a secure line. I heard you earlier.”
He looked uncertain.
“Trust me,” she urged. “I won’t leave the apartment or touch your phone. Even if it rings. I understand your need for security and procedure. I might not be a big fan of it and think it’s a bit paranoid but rules are rules. I have to follow them while I’m at Homeland.”
“Thank you. I’ll be back soon.” He walked over to the door and picked up the hamper.
Kat watched him go and finished her omelet. She’d keep her word.
* * * * *
“What can I do for you?” Darkness sat in Fury’s office. He’d made a few stops on his way.
“What took you so long?”
“I had errands.”
Fury leaned forward and braced both elbows on the desk, resting his chin on his fists. “Is there something you want to tell me?”
“No.”
“I took over for Justice, remember? I read all the security reports.”
“Nothing happened in the out world. One team is still there but I checked on my way here. They are fine. It’s quiet and no one has attempted to break in at the home they are occupying.”
“What about Katrina Perkins?”
“She’s here. I was able to retrieve her.”
Fury frowned. “You didn’t take her to guest housing. I had a spare officer without a job since he’d been assigned outside duty to keep an eye on her.” He lifted his head and tapped a finger on a file. “This is a report of a disturbance at the men’s dorm. The male below your apartment reported loud noises coming from your home. He was too afraid to approach your door. He’s a primate from Reservation, only here for a few weeks a year.”
That angered Darkness and he decided to speak to the male who’d dared complain.
“Don’t. I can almost read your mind. You have Katrina Perkins at your home. She’s not at guest housing so I’ll assume she’s still there.”
“I didn’t break any rules. I asked one of the males to keep an eye on my door. Kat is secure. I followed protocol.”
“This isn’t official, damn it. You’re living with her?”
“She insisted. Those were her requirements to return to Homeland with me.”
Fury’s eyes widened. He recovered from the astonished look fast. “She’s a human female. You could have subdued her easily and just forced her to go with you.”
“I didn’t want to do that.”
The male had the nerve to laugh. “And the disturbance in your home? I take it she wasn’t happy there?” He studied Darkness. “I don’t see injuries.”
Darkness growled low and stood. “I have better things to do than be the brunt of your amusement.”
“Sit down. That’s an order.”
Darkness froze. “You said this wasn’t official.”
“Not for the NSO. Family business. What is going on? Talk to me.”
“What is wrong with everyone?” Frustration rose. “Why does everyone require me to talk? She’s here and fine. I’m not breaking rules by having her in my home and I had a male watch her since she’s not a mate. That’s all you need to know.”
“Please sit.”
Darkness slammed his ass in the chair and it groaned under his weight. He crossed his arms. “It’s none of your business.”
“I care anyway.” Fury stood and rounded the desk, taking a seat in the chair next to him. “Is this better? We’re just two males having a conversation. Talk.”
“She wanted to stay with me. There’s nothing else to say.”
“You don’t allow anyone to get that close.”
“I told her that.”
Fury schooled his features. “Is there anything else going on?”
“No.” He avoided meeting Fury’s curious gaze.
“Trisha called.”
Darkness snarled. “So much for confidentiality.”
“She just said we needed to speak. I’m the closest male to you. What does she know that I don’t? Did you lose your temper and harm your female in some way?”
Darkness shot to his feet, resisting the urge to punch him. “I’d never harm Kat.”
