Slade (New Species #2)(31)

“I wasn’t. The familiar scent you might be picking up is probably the driver of the SUV, Bart. I don’t know his last name. He was injured in the rollover and I touched him quite a bit to check him for injures. He’s dead, right? Slade and I heard three gunshots after Bart refused to leave the scene where we crashed. He thought those men wouldn’t hurt him because he was human. We tried to tell him they would kill him but he refused to listen to us. We had no choice but to leave him behind.”
“He’s dead.” Justice nodded. “He was shot in the groin, stomach, and head after being tied up and tortured. We assume they tried to gain information from him on where you and Slade had gone. His body was located next to the destroyed SUV. The coroner stated he was killed soon after the crash.”
Chapter Twelve

Trisha had suspected Bart would die, had been sure of that when they’d heard the gunshots, but hearing the words of what had been done to him leveled her inside. His face flashed through her memory, how afraid he’d been, and he’d just been a boy. One with a mother who worried enough about him to want him to go to a vet to get vaccines against animal diseases.
“Jesus,” Trisha gasped. “The groin?”
Justice hesitated. “What they did was vicious and cruel. It’s one thing to kill a man in cold blood but another to castrate him before death.”
Her stomach roiled just a little. “Castrate?”
“They used a sawed-off double barrel shotgun at close range. We were told by the coroner that they must have put it right against his groin before they pulled the trigger. Those bastards are the animals and yet they have a problem with us. Species would never be that inhuman.”
Trisha stumbled to her feet. “I need a shower. I know you have questions but I’m tired, hungry, and dirty.” She bit her lip and flinched, forgetting how sore it was. She met Justice’s gaze as he stood. “I’ll probably have a good cry too. I wasn’t raped, I swear. Slade stopped my attacker before he could. I am grateful that you care about my well-being but my sex life is personal. I do have a favor to ask though.”
“Anything.”
“When you hear word about Slade, I don’t care what time it is, please have someone call to let me know. He saved my life out there over and over again. I don’t think I’ll rest well until I know what happened to him.”
“I am going to have Brass stay here. I will have food brought to you and it will be waiting after your shower. I 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 rollover 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 to 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.”