Darkness approached him but stopped three feet away, his confusion clear. “What are you talking about? I read her file when they approached me to perform the interrogation. She worked for two suspected research subsidiaries of Mercile Industries. One of them was where you were kept.”
“Yes. She saved my life in New Mexico. I haven’t figured out what is going on yet but I believe she was there helping save the lives of Species.”
Darkness shook his head. “She was a valued and obviously trusted employee of high rank to work at both facilities.”
“She drew blood from me but she wasn’t a doctor or a high-ranking employee,” True growled, angry the male stood too close. “There is a human pretending to work for the NSO who used her. She believed she was helping us through him. That’s why she was at Cornas where she was captured. She thought she was saving our kind by giving him information.”
“What human?”
“I don’t know. I need to figure that out. He claimed to be an agent and sent her to the last location.”
“You have proof?” Darkness backed away a step but withdrew his cell phone from his jeans pocket. “Let’s deal with this in a rational way. I’ll call Tim Oberto and Trey Roberts.”
“She told me this while drugged.”
“There is no proof then.” The male touched the face of the phone.
“Don’t do that,” True demanded. “Hear me out first before you get them involved.”
“They are already involved. They work for us, deal with the humans.”
“I don’t want them near her. They didn’t believe what she said, but I do.”
“He is highly attracted to her,” Book whispered. “Look at how tense he is and the protective stance. Don’t get close to her again, Darkness.”
True growled, turning his head to shoot the male a dirty look. “This isn’t about attraction. It’s about a debt. I owe her enough to allow her to prove her innocence. She can’t do that from Fuller.”
Book lifted both hands, palms out. “She smells good. I totally understand the desire to just take her home with you. I’ve been there myself. She is out cold, so easy to just pick up and walk off with, and you probably imagine she’ll wake happy to be na**d in your bed. I’d be tempted to do the same. I’ve had that fantasy but I’ve been assured they would scream and not be as impressed as we would wish at the sight of an aroused male, ready to pounce on them for shared sex.”
“Shut up, Book.” Darkness sighed. “You’re not helping.”
“Fine.” The male shrugged. “I was attempting to talk him down from the ledge.”
“What ledge?” True snarled.
“It’s a saying.” Darkness drew his attention. “A stupid one that doesn’t apply here. You can’t just steal a female from Medical and bring her home. We have rules and regulations. You believe something she said and think she was set up by another human? Is that the gist of it?”
He was relieved someone had listened. “Yes.”
“Do this through proper channels. We’ll return her to Medical and put one of our males at her door to make sure she remains there. You and I will sit down with Justice, Fury and Slade to discuss this.”
He debated it. “What if they don’t believe her?”
“You must comply with their decisions.”
“I won’t.” His temper flared again. “Not when it comes to her. She saved my life.”
“I understand you believe whatever she said.” Darkness lowered the phone and returned it to his pocket. “This isn’t the way to handle it though. You don’t comprehend how wrong your actions are.”
The elevator doors opened and Flirt strolled out. The male paused. “What is going on?” His nose flared. “Who is that female? Why is she so still?”
True was grateful to see the male. “Tell them I’m not irrational.”
“Okay.” Flirt shrugged, glancing at Darkness. “He’s not irrational.” He looked back at True. “Why do you have an unconscious female in your arms? I’m trying not to judge but she smells of fear. Did you scare her enough that she fainted and now you’re pulling a caveman stunt to carry her off to your room to kiss it all better?”
“No.” He clenched his teeth, trying to calm his quickly escalading temper. “I didn’t steal her for sex. Why would you think that?”
“Um, the half-naked human you’re holding and she isn’t exactly telling us she wants to be here.” Flirt chuckled. “That hot, huh?”
“It’s Technician Jeanie Shiver,” True growled.
Flirt’s expression sobered. “What?” His nostrils flared again as he inhaled before he quickly advanced, trying to get a better look at her. His hand rose as if he planned to remove the blanket to see her more clearly.
True snarled in warning. “Don’t touch her.”
Flirt’s catlike blue gaze narrowed. “She smells different. I want to see her face.”
“It’s her.”
“Let me see. Do you think I’d harm her?” He appeared outraged. “What is wrong with her? What did you do?” His voice deepened. “Give her to me.”
Darkness moved between them. “Don’t fight. She could be harmed.”
“What did you do?” Flirt roared. “I’ll kill you if you hurt her.” He extended his arms. “Gently hand her over to me.”
“Yes. She saved my life in New Mexico. I haven’t figured out what is going on yet but I believe she was there helping save the lives of Species.”
Darkness shook his head. “She was a valued and obviously trusted employee of high rank to work at both facilities.”
“She drew blood from me but she wasn’t a doctor or a high-ranking employee,” True growled, angry the male stood too close. “There is a human pretending to work for the NSO who used her. She believed she was helping us through him. That’s why she was at Cornas where she was captured. She thought she was saving our kind by giving him information.”
“What human?”
“I don’t know. I need to figure that out. He claimed to be an agent and sent her to the last location.”
“You have proof?” Darkness backed away a step but withdrew his cell phone from his jeans pocket. “Let’s deal with this in a rational way. I’ll call Tim Oberto and Trey Roberts.”
“She told me this while drugged.”
“There is no proof then.” The male touched the face of the phone.
“Don’t do that,” True demanded. “Hear me out first before you get them involved.”
“They are already involved. They work for us, deal with the humans.”
“I don’t want them near her. They didn’t believe what she said, but I do.”
“He is highly attracted to her,” Book whispered. “Look at how tense he is and the protective stance. Don’t get close to her again, Darkness.”
True growled, turning his head to shoot the male a dirty look. “This isn’t about attraction. It’s about a debt. I owe her enough to allow her to prove her innocence. She can’t do that from Fuller.”
Book lifted both hands, palms out. “She smells good. I totally understand the desire to just take her home with you. I’ve been there myself. She is out cold, so easy to just pick up and walk off with, and you probably imagine she’ll wake happy to be na**d in your bed. I’d be tempted to do the same. I’ve had that fantasy but I’ve been assured they would scream and not be as impressed as we would wish at the sight of an aroused male, ready to pounce on them for shared sex.”
“Shut up, Book.” Darkness sighed. “You’re not helping.”
“Fine.” The male shrugged. “I was attempting to talk him down from the ledge.”
“What ledge?” True snarled.
“It’s a saying.” Darkness drew his attention. “A stupid one that doesn’t apply here. You can’t just steal a female from Medical and bring her home. We have rules and regulations. You believe something she said and think she was set up by another human? Is that the gist of it?”
He was relieved someone had listened. “Yes.”
“Do this through proper channels. We’ll return her to Medical and put one of our males at her door to make sure she remains there. You and I will sit down with Justice, Fury and Slade to discuss this.”
He debated it. “What if they don’t believe her?”
“You must comply with their decisions.”
“I won’t.” His temper flared again. “Not when it comes to her. She saved my life.”
“I understand you believe whatever she said.” Darkness lowered the phone and returned it to his pocket. “This isn’t the way to handle it though. You don’t comprehend how wrong your actions are.”
The elevator doors opened and Flirt strolled out. The male paused. “What is going on?” His nose flared. “Who is that female? Why is she so still?”
True was grateful to see the male. “Tell them I’m not irrational.”
“Okay.” Flirt shrugged, glancing at Darkness. “He’s not irrational.” He looked back at True. “Why do you have an unconscious female in your arms? I’m trying not to judge but she smells of fear. Did you scare her enough that she fainted and now you’re pulling a caveman stunt to carry her off to your room to kiss it all better?”
“No.” He clenched his teeth, trying to calm his quickly escalading temper. “I didn’t steal her for sex. Why would you think that?”
“Um, the half-naked human you’re holding and she isn’t exactly telling us she wants to be here.” Flirt chuckled. “That hot, huh?”
“It’s Technician Jeanie Shiver,” True growled.
Flirt’s expression sobered. “What?” His nostrils flared again as he inhaled before he quickly advanced, trying to get a better look at her. His hand rose as if he planned to remove the blanket to see her more clearly.
True snarled in warning. “Don’t touch her.”
Flirt’s catlike blue gaze narrowed. “She smells different. I want to see her face.”
“It’s her.”
“Let me see. Do you think I’d harm her?” He appeared outraged. “What is wrong with her? What did you do?” His voice deepened. “Give her to me.”
Darkness moved between them. “Don’t fight. She could be harmed.”
“What did you do?” Flirt roared. “I’ll kill you if you hurt her.” He extended his arms. “Gently hand her over to me.”
