She had signed a ridiculously long confidentiality contract. She wasn’t allowed to talk about anything she saw or heard at New Species Reservation. She wasn’t permitted to sue them for it if she suffered any injures while being a guest. It was a come-at-your-own-risk kind of deal but they had put in the clause that they’d pay for any medical bills if she were injured. Now she knew why.
“I would never talk to reporters.”
Five minutes later Tiger parked the Jeep in front of her small house and two other vehicles parked behind them. She’d been escorted home with a full security detail. She knew New Species were targeted by hate groups and hadn’t needed to ask why the extra vehicles had followed them to her home.
She glanced at her home and tried to hide her embarrassment. The house had been left to her by her grandmother. It had been in bad shape to begin with and Tammy had never had the extra money to fix it up. The porch sagged in spots, making it appear uneven, paint had chipped off in large sections, and one of the front windows had duct tape over it where the glass had broken. It was a small two-bedroom, one-bath house, but it was all hers. She wondered what the New Species thought as he stared at her home with a confused look on his features.
“Are you sure you don’t want to see a medical doctor or a shrink? We will make him pay if you file a complaint. We’re harsher than your justice system.”
She shook her head as she undid her seat belt. “He didn’t hurt me, I don’t want him punished and I don’t need a doctor. I’m not sure about the shrink part yet but I’m tough.” She paused. “I just want to forget this ever happened. Okay?”
He met her gaze, watched her silently, but nodded slowly.
Tammy climbed out of the Jeep and walked to her front door, unlocked it, and stepped into the small room. She turned and noticed that Tiger watched her silently from the black unmarked vehicle. She firmly closed the door and twisted the deadbolt.
“Son of a bitch.” She sighed. She headed for the bathroom and the shower. “I never saw today coming.” So much for always trying to be prepared. Ha! Man-beasts with killer kissing skills and the ability to seduce women. She shook her head. My life just gets weirder and weirder. Why can’t it ever be normal?
* * * * *
Valiant groaned. His head throbbed and he couldn’t remember why. His eyes opened to stare at the carpet. He lay sprawled on his side. He blinked before someone shoved a big plastic bag of ice in front of his face. It hovered there. He inhaled and softly growled. It made his head hurt worse.
Tiger crouched down, still holding out the bag of ice. “Put that on the back of your head.” He spoke softly.
Valiant grabbed it. His hand trembled a little and he found the spot where it hurt the most. He winced and snarled as the bag made contact. His attention fixed on Tiger.
“Are you all right?”
“What happened?”
Tiger took a deep breath. “It will come to you. Just stay down when it does.”
The ice helped reduce the haze of pain and he took a deep breath, allowing the scents inside the room to fill his nose. Tammy! He tried to sit up but the room spun. He groaned again, sank back to the floor and bared his teeth at Tiger.
“Which one of your men crept up on me?”
“Tammy did it. She hit you with a lamp.” Tiger stood and backed away, putting a safe distance between them. “She’s safe and off Reservation.”
Rage surged through Valiant and he snarled. “Bring her back. She’s mine.”
In response, the other Species leaned against the wall, crossed his arms over his chest, and sighed. “She hit you to get away, asked to be taken home, but refused to press charges. You’re lucky, man. She could have had you locked inside a tiny damn cell and Justice would have had to decide if you needed to be put down for good. If you’re too dangerous to live— Fuck, don’t get me started. That’s a nightmare concept we never want to have to face.”
The pain receded more and Valiant sat up without the room spinning. He glared at Tiger. “She’s mine.”
“I got that.” He sniffed the air. “You had her all right.” His gaze flickered to the bed and back. “But you can’t keep her. She’s human. You wouldn’t even pull that stunt on our women. You know you can’t just claim them and force them to live with you.”
“She’s little. I could easily keep her here and change her mind about leaving. I planned to feed her and care for her.”
“She mentioned you seemed to think she was a pet. I thought she had read the situation wrong. Humans tend to see us in a messed-up light but after hearing you talk, she was dead on. She’s not a pet.”