Valiant(85)

“Lie here with me and rest. You are safe from me, little one with pretty eyes.”

“My name is Tammy.”

He inhaled her skin at her neck. “It is good to smell another of my kind on you.”

“They don’t let you see others?”

“No.”

He was alone. She shifted her arms and wrapped them around his neck. He didn’t protest the hug-like hold she had on him. He had her totally trapped under his big body but she didn’t feel threatened.

Deep down she understood one thing. He was alone and he needed to hold her too, probably longed for the comfort just as much as she did. She closed her eyes and relaxed. Her mind instantly drifted to Valiant. He’d find her somehow. He had to. A yawn surprised her and all the adrenaline started to drain from her body.

* * * * *

Tiger glared at Charlie Artzola. The man had been found tied up inside his car near Reservation. He’d pleaded innocent to willingly stealing Tammy but Tiger wasn’t buying it. The human was ignorant of their sense of smell or he just thought they were really stupid.

“I told you. I was in my office and suddenly this man entered. He held a gun on me until Miss Shasta and her officer arrived. I didn’t have time to even warn them before he killed her security officer. It horrified me. He forced me outside with her and explained if I didn’t drive them out of the gates, he’d blow her brains out. I was trying to save her life when he shoved her into the trunk, climbed in with her, and told me to close the trunk. I knew he’d kill her if I tipped off the officers at the gate. I was terrified for her life so I did what he said.”

Tiger growled and took two menacing steps toward the attorney. He didn’t even glance at Justice for permission. He reached the human and backhanded the man’s cheek hard.

“You lie,” he snarled. “We scented your office and followed your trail to your car. We also scented your car. Only she was inside the trunk. There was no other human male. You took her and you are going to tell us where you are holding her. Where did you take her?”

The man groaned from the pain and he licked his bloodied lip where it had split near the corner. A red mark marred his pale skin. Charlie Artzola’s wide gaze focused on Justice.

“You know I’d never lie to you. I’ve worked for you for almost a year. I’m trusted, and everything I’ve said is the truth. That is what happened. I had no choice. The guy with the gun told me where to drive and that’s what I did. Maybe he wore something to hide his scent. He did have military-type clothes on and a cap over his hair. That’s why you probably didn’t smell him. Another man waited at the location where I was told to drive and he held another gun on me, ordered me to open the trunk, and his friend climbed out. They took Miss Shasta, tied me up, and drove away with her. I sat there helpless until your people found me. I swear, Justice. I’m a victim in this as much as that woman is.”

Justice slowly reached up and loosened his tie. He kept a calm expression on his features. He yanked the tie off over his head and reached for his jacket buttons next, unfastening each one. He shed his jacket and unbuttoned his white shirt. He removed it and his chest was bare. He reached for his belt next as he kicked off his loafers.

“What are you doing?” The attorney’s voice shook with fear. “Justice? Why are you getting undressed?”

Justice snapped his gaze up and glared at Charlie Artzola. “This is a two-thousand-dollar suit. I don’t want to get your blood all over it. My people found you because we put trackers on all your vehicles but unfortunately we can’t track your destinations until they are activated. We don’t know where you took her because you’d already parked when we realized she’d been taken. You knew that though since you were the one who drafted the agreement that allows us to make all human employees agree to those devices and you knew your car would be found. You should have disappeared. Instead you counted on my trust and your ability to lie well to shield you from our rage.”

“I’m sorry you lost one of your men but it wasn’t me. It’s that guy’s fault who forced me to drive him and Miss Shasta out the gates. I didn’t tie myself up. See? That’s proof I’m not lying.”

Justice folded his pants, now wearing only his black boxer briefs. He turned and handed all of his folded clothing to one of the New Species officers positioned at the door. “Please take these to another room. Blood splatters.”

“Jesus Christ,” Charlie Artzola moaned. “What are you doing? It’s me, Justice. I’m your friend. You know I would never betray your people. Never. I know we are all upset that Miss Shasta has been taken but I just drove her out of here to prevent them from blowing her brains out.”