“We’re protective of our own by nature and they used that,” Darkness whispered. “Do you want to know what they made us do?”

“Sure.” Her gut twisted from a bad feeling that she wouldn’t like the answer.

“They taught us how to fight and kill. We were four breathing weapons with faster reflexes, stronger bodies and keener senses than humans.” He lifted his head and came at her neck from the other side, inhaling again. It brought his chest into light contact with her br**sts. “Our teachers were mercenaries with strange accents. They were brutal.”

Fuck. The strange accents he spoke of were a tipoff. Darwin Havings only hired his bodyguards from his Middle Eastern contacts. They were the sorts usually linked to presumed assassinations. It was really bad news that they had trained Darkness. She could just imagine the things he’d been subjected to.

“I learned everything about how to torture someone into telling me whatever I want to know.”

Suspicion confirmed. She took another deep breath, shaking inside, terrified. She’d been trained to withstand torture but not the hardcore stuff he’d probably learned. Would he use it to break her? If so, he’d do whatever worked to get answers. It meant it could get ugly and dangerous, with the possible loss of body parts or death.

He moved again until he could stare directly into her eyes. “You’re frightened. I can smell it on you. Just tell me the truth.”

She wasn’t sure what to do. “Is that why you’re sniffing at me?”

“I’m not human.”

She really didn’t need the reminder. “May I have some time to think about it?”

His eyebrows rose. “You want me to wait while you try to come up with more convincing lies?”

“I want to tell you the truth but can’t.”

He braced both hands on the table, one on each side of her chest, and leaned in closer until he was almost half on top of her. “Do you know how animalistic some of us can be?”

“Not really. I read the papers and have watched interviews.”

“You see what we want you to. I’m not Justice North.”

She could believe that. Mr. North seemed downright friendly, even cuddly on television. He displayed a quick sense of humor and an easygoing personality. Darkness was none of those things.

He parted his lips and showed off those fangs again. Kat stared at them and hoped he wasn’t implying he’d use them to bite her. That would probably hurt like hell.

“Imagine honing predatory instincts, combined with being encouraged to become the worst of humanity. That’s what I was made to be when I was pulled from Mercile and sent to those humans, if they could be called that. Tell me the truth or you’ll see what I’m capable of. It will be brutal.”

Real tears filled her eyes and there was nothing she could do but blink them back. He was a master at instilling fear since she believed every word he’d said.

“Honestly. I had no hidden agenda. I just wanted to stop those men from hurting your people.” She stared into his striking eyes, hoping he’d see the truth. “I don’t want any New Species hurt. I was looking forward to teaching some classes and getting to spend time here at Homeland. I thought it would be cool, almost a vacation.”

His eyes narrowed. “Don’t do that, sweetheart.”

“I swear on my life that every word I just said was absolutely true.”

“I meant don’t cry.” He closed his eyes and tucked his chin to look away. “Fuck.”

His reaction astounded her. He was either an amazing actor or a master at deception. Otherwise she’d think he was feeling a twinge of empathy. He looked at her again and the tortured expression on his face stabbed at her heart.

“I can’t do this.” He shook his head. “It’s not worth my soul or what’s left of it.”

“Can’t do what?”

“Pretend you’re a female from my past so I can effectively do my job. I actually admired your skill out there. I don’t think I could have done as well as you did or dealt with those humans as quickly. You either think fast on your feet or it was a brilliant strategic move. You’re one of the best assassins I’ve ever met if that’s the case. If I’m wrong…” He looked at her chest. “It makes you exceptionally sexy.”

Kat didn’t know if she should be flattered or offended. She said nothing.

He blinked a few times. “You pose a problem for me, Kat. If that is your name.”

“It is. Everyone calls me that.”

“I doubt it.”

“Why? What’s so unbelievable about my name?”

“You’re at the NSO and have the name of a feline?”

It sank in. “It’s spelled with a K.”

“I don’t care. Why not use a more human name like Mary?”

“That’s not what my parents stuck me with. I’m actually named after my grandmother. She died while my mom was pregnant with me.” That was also true. “It’s just a weird coincidence.”

He didn’t look convinced.

“It’s too obvious if you think about it. I’d have to be dumb to pick that name and I didn’t even make the connection to cats until you brought it up. I’m not an idiot. I would have done a fantastic job at building a false identity for myself.”

“That, I believe.”

“Good.”