She rapidly blinked to prevent tears from slipping out. She wasn’t going to prison. Her shoulders sagged a little in reprieve. “Thank you.”
“We don’t trust you anymore though. What kind of message would we be sending if we allowed you to continue to work for us?” Fury leaned forward. “We don’t want to throw you into the out world though, unprotected. It’s too dangerous if anyone discovered your prior association with us. Justice made some phone calls this morning on your behalf and we came up with a solution. We are grateful to you for all you’ve done.”
“I have spoken to Jerry Boris. He heads a special department assigned to us by the government.” Justice paused. “He’s not an easy man to work for but they could use a doctor at the facility he runs. It is self-contained, as the NSO is, and you’ll be assigned living quarters. The pay and benefits will remain the same. You’d be treating humans.”
Fury held her gaze. “This is classified information. Fuller is a prison that contains captured Mercile employees and others who have harmed Species. They would be your patients along with the staff. It’s a completely human facility. You can accept the job or enter the out world. It’s your call.”
Her mind blanked for seconds. They were offering her a job treating criminals but she’d be living in a highly guarded location where she’d never have to worry about NSO enemies coming after her for payback for her time spent at Homeland. She’d been warned of that possibility before she’d agreed to work for them. It was a good, fair solution. It just made her sad that she’d have to leave the home and friends she had made.
“You can think about it.” Justice rose to his feet. “We’ve hired your replacement and he’ll arrive tomorrow evening. We need your answer in the morning so we can arrange for you to move out of this house.” Sorrow filled his eyes. “It’s the best we could do. I hope you understand.”
“I do.”
Obsidian had been silent the entire time but he growled low, alarming Alli. She turned her head to stare at him.
“Don’t.”
He was too strong to hold on to when he stood, almost knocking her off her perch on the edge of the loveseat when he tore out of her grasp. “I go where she does.”
Fury stood. “Fuller is heavily guarded and secure but they aren’t equipped to have one of us live there. It’s in direct violation of its purpose. We send our enemies there to be punished by fellow humans. No Species are allowed. It would be too tempting to kill the prisoners.”
“I go with Alli.” He snarled, hands fisting at his sides, ready to do battle.
She grabbed his thigh, clinging in case he lunged at one of the other men. “Obsidian? Look at me.”
He glared down.
“Stop. You don’t understand what is going on but I do. Trust me. It’s really nice of them to offer me this job and not send me to prison…on the wrong side of the bars.” She shot Justice a grateful look. “I’ll take the job. I don’t need to think about it. I know my contract clause says if I leave the NSO that I’m banned from here but can I visit him?” She glanced at Obsidian, then back at the NSO leader. “Please? Fuller is a subdivision of the NSO, right? That would mean the no-contact clause isn’t in effect, right?” Desperation clawed at her from the inside out, terrified he’d tell her she’d never again get to see the man she loved. “Please?”
Justice’s features softened. “We could arrange visits.”
The tears wouldn’t be held back anymore and slid down her cheeks. “Thank you so much.”
Obsidian growled loudly. The rage refused to be contained anymore. He’d allowed it to build while he listened to his Alli talk to the two males. She’d asked him to trust her but it was clear she had no control of the outcome of her fate. He did.
The males backed away, alarmed. They should be. He wanted to beat on both of them. “She is mine!” he snarled. “I go where she does.”
“Obsidian?” Alli hugged his thigh tighter, on her knees at his feet. “Don’t!”
“Silence.” He bared his teeth and growled at the males. “Try to take her from me and you will die.”
“Fuck,” Fury muttered. “I think Moon understated their involvement.” He raised his hands. “Easy. No one is going to attack you.”
“He’s not feral.” Alli hugged his leg tightly enough to restrict the flow of blood in it. “He’s really possessive of me. I’ll calm him down and explain things after you leave. Please go. You’re only aggravating him. I’ll handle this.” She softened her voice. “Obsidian? Please look at me instead of them. Please?”