“I owed them.”
“You bitch,” Mike groaned, doubled over.
Valiant lunged and punched him in the side of the face. Mike hit the ground hard and groaned. A snarl tore from Valiant. “Don’t talk to her. You’re lucky I’m not allowed to kill you or I would.” He spun and marched to Tammy.
“Thank you, Valiant. He made a remark about holes that I didn’t particularly like.” She rubbed his arm. “My hero.”
Valiant hesitated. “Any time, Tammy. Do you feel better now that you kicked them and took the property of one away?”
Tammy hesitated. “In one second I’ll feel great.” She turned and stormed over to the older man. “I hope you rot in hell, you miserable bastard. I hope they give you ten years for every day you tormented them and those poor women. You’re a vile monster.”
The older man glared at her, his eyes squinted since she’d taken his glasses. “I’ll never see prison.”
“You think not?” She snorted. “If it’s not prison, you’ll be facing the death penalty.”
“I know I won’t. I’ll cut a deal. I know too much.”
Justice was there suddenly. “You think so?”
“I’m too valuable not to be given a deal. I know where two smaller testing facilities are located where more of your kind are being held.”
Justice paused. “Do you want total immunity for your information from your law? I can give you that. I have the authority.”
Outrage blasted through Tammy. “You can’t give them that.”
Justice shot her a look. “Quiet, Tammy. I know what I am doing. Saving New Species is paramount.”
She closed her mouth and stewed silently. Valiant squeezed her shoulder. She studied his relaxed features, it dawning on her that he’d be really mad if there were a real possibility of any of those men being released to harm anyone else. It made her understand that something was going on that she wasn’t aware of and she should trust Justice.
“Yes,” the older man said. “I demand total immunity for any crimes.”
“Fine. We’ll take you to Reservation, you will tell us whatever it is that we need or want to know and you shall have total immunity from prosecution on all charges, from your people.”
“I want that too,” Mike groaned from the ground.
“I will give it happily if the information you share saves the lives of more of my people.” Justice glanced at him with a frown. “You better know something useful.”
Valiant gripped Tammy and turned her. He took her for a walk far from the men. Tammy was steaming mad but she held her tongue until they’d moved out of earshot of Justice and the captured men.
“He’s going to give them immunity? Are those jerks just going to get away with everything they’ve done?” She hissed the words to make sure they didn’t carry.
Valiant leaned down, his face inches from hers. “Justice is giving them exactly what they are asking for. Immunity from the human prison system.” His eyes sparkled. “Justice will learn everything they know before he introduces them to New Species law.”
It took her a few seconds to grasp that meaning. Her anger drained quickly. “What is the punishment for kidnapping and being evil bastards who enjoy torturing people under your laws?”
Valiant pulled Tammy into his arms, holding her. His lips brushed her ear. “They will be locked up and eventually they’ll die. We have the right to defend ourselves and the right to punish those who put themselves under our law. By asking for immunity from their own justice, they now belong to ours.” He turned his head, his gaze purposely fixing on Justice North. “He’ll show them the same amount of mercy they showed you and our people.”
Tammy was glad he held her when she glanced at Justice North. As she studied the handsome New Species leader, she detected his anger and nearly felt sorry for those jerks. That was until she replayed everything she’d overheard them say since she’d met them.
That old doctor had been doing horrendous things to Valiant’s people for a long time. The two thugs who had helped him had made a twenty-dollar bet on whether she’d get raped or murdered. Her sympathy fled instantly.
“I’m glad,” she admitted. “They deserve it.”
Valiant suddenly growled. “His scent is on you.”
“Whose?”
“927.” He pulled back, frowning. “Did he touch you? I smell him all over you. I was told he slept on you. Why?” His voice dropped deeper.
“It was cold. He didn’t touch me in any sexual way, Valiant. I swear.”