Valiant Read online

  “I’m going to give you some pain medication that I brought just in case you needed it. I want you to take two as needed for the pain and if you run out, have Valiant give me a call. I want you to visit the medical center in a few days if the pain in your hip or shoulder worsens or doesn’t subside. We’ll get some X-rays.”

  Tammy nodded. “Thanks.” She retrieved the towel and wrapped it around her. “I really appreciate it.”

  Trisha sat on the bed. “So, have you seen Valiant since the incident at his house?”

  Tammy wanted to wince but didn’t. “You heard about that?”

  Trisha nodded. “Yeah. Slade, Tiger, Justice, and I know you had sex with him but that’s everyone who knows.”

  “No. Tonight was the first time I’ve seen him since that day. I can’t believe he forgave me for knocking him out with the lamp and was great enough to come looking for me tonight.”

  Trisha’s voice dropped in volume drastically. “You knocked him out with a lamp? I was under the impression he let you go. Tiger didn’t tell us that.”

  “I coldcocked him.”

  A grin split the woman’s lips. “Thank you,” she whispered. “I’m going to have a great laugh about that when it’s safe. Their hearing is amazing so always keep that in mind.”

  “Thanks for the warning,” Tammy whispered back. Her gaze lowered to Trisha’s stomach. “I bet you and your husband are really happy. Is this your first baby?”

  The woman touched her stomach with a grin and her voice rose loudly when she spoke. “I’m not married. The guy knocked me up and just took off on me.”

  A growl sounded from the hallway and someone knocked on the door. “Is she decent? I’m coming in.”

  Trisha winked at Tammy. “Come on in, Slade.”

  Slade looked furious as he shot a glare at Trisha. Valiant followed at his heels. Trisha chuckled.

  “I was just telling Tammy about my baby.” She tapped her stomach.

  “When are you going to have the baby?” Tammy gripped her towel tightly around her body, trying not to feel too weird that Slade was inside the room.

  The woman hesitated. “I’m not really sure. I’ll find out whenever he decides to be born.”

  Tammy let that sink in. “I meant when is your due date?”

  The woman hesitated again. “I’m five months pregnant.”

  Tammy’s gaze dropped to the doctor’s protruding stomach again. “Wow. Are you sure you aren’t carrying twins? One of my friends is eight months pregnant and she…” Tammy closed her mouth and blushed. “I’m sorry. You aren’t big or anything. I just realized how that must sound. It’s just that you are so small and your tummy looks as if you’re more pregnant. I―”

  Trisha burst into laughter. “Stop! I’m not insulted or offended. I know I’m huge and look as though I’m ready to pop. The father is a big guy and the baby is too.”

  Tammy was happy she hadn’t offended her. “Do you even speak to the father? You really should force him to pay child support. Kids are really expensive these days.”

  Slade growled again. Trisha laughed. “We worked things out and he realized he was a bonehead for leaving me. I’m going to make him marry me. I love the jerk a hell of a lot but he’s kind of thick-headed, you know? I brought up marriage just a few weeks ago and he said it wasn’t necessary since we were already a family.”

  “Men.” Tammy shook her head. “They just don’t get it.”

  Trisha grinned. “All too true. I’m thinking of going on a sex strike.”

  Tammy smiled at her. “That might work. You could also tell him that, if he won’t marry you, someone else will. You’re beautiful. I’m sure another man would be happy to if he’s not smart enough to seal the deal.”

  Slade growled again. Tammy glanced at him with concern. Her gaze flashed to Trisha. “Is he all right?”

  Trisha handed Tammy a bottle of pills. “He gets cranky when he gets woken up but he’ll be fine. I’ll send him to the guestroom when we get back to where I’m staying and he can take a nap. It was nice meeting you, Tammy. Have Valiant call me if you need anything. Maybe one day this week I can bring lunch. It will be nice to talk to another woman.”

  Tammy grinned. “I’d enjoy that if I’m still here. Thank you again, Trisha. It was really nice meeting you.”

  Trisha turned to study Tammy. “By the way, Tiger interfered with you making a statement tonight. The sheriff is going to come back in the morning. I hope that’s all right but I told him you would need rest. I asked him to tell the sheriff that you’d been given pain medication already and he will be back at nine in the morning to interview you.”

  “That’s great. Thank you. I am kind of done in.”

  Trisha stopped next to Valiant. “She’s got some bad bruising. Be nice to her and make sure she gets plenty of rest. She needs two pain pills every four to six hours, depending on how much pain she is in. Have her eat before taking them.”

  “Thank you.” Valiant hesitated before he opened his arms.

  Trisha laughed as she hugged him. “You’re learning.”

  He stepped back. “It’s not so bad. You still smell nice.”

  These people are just weird. Tammy watched as the woman left the bedroom. Her security officer suddenly slapped the woman on her ass when he stepped into the hallway with her. Trisha jumped, turned her head, and laughed up at the large man following her before they moved out of sight. Tammy gawked after them. Valiant moved suddenly, blocking her line of vision.

  “Did her security guy just slap her butt?”

  Valiant smiled. “Yes.”

  Tammy shook her head. “Her boyfriend might not like him doing that.”

  Valiant shrugged, grinning. “I don’t think he’d object. He and Slade are very close.” He laughed.

  Tammy let that one slide, not wanting to ask questions that were too nosey. “Did I get clothes yet?”

  “They are in the other room.”

  “Could you bring them in to me, please?”

  “You don’t need them.” Valiant moved to the bed and threw back the blankets. “Drop the towel and get into bed. It’s late and you need sleep. I will get you a glass of water to take your pills. Have you eaten tonight or should I have some food brought to you?”

  “I ate.” She hesitated. “Could you at least turn around?”

  He turned. Tammy dropped the towel and climbed into the bed. She pulled up the covers to her shoulders. “All in.”

  Valiant walked toward the bathroom. He returned with a glass of water. Tammy still held the pill bottle. She took out two pain pills and swallowed them down with the drink. Valiant set the glass down on the nightstand by the bed.

  “Are you tired?”

  “Yeah. I’m wiped.”

  He blinked. “Does wiped mean tired?”

  She nodded. “Slang isn’t your thing, is it?”

  “I’m learning. I was raised around doctors, techs, and security guards. I’m afraid my vocabulary is limited to what they taught me. I didn’t get as much exposure to them as some of the other Species did. I was different.”

  She frowned. “Do you know how to read?”

  “Yes. I learned after I was freed in the months we spent in hiding waiting for our home to be established.” He sat on the edge of the mattress. “Most of my kind were taught before then but I wasn’t slated for any interaction with humans. It was a waste of time according to them. They just wanted to keep me alive because I was so strong and closer to animal than most.”

  Tammy stared at him mutely. She was too shocked to even reply. Valiant looked a little sad as he gazed into her eyes.

  “How much do you know about New Species?”

  “Just what I hear on TV and read sometimes in the newspapers. I know that some pharmaceutical company did illegal research on you guys and they finally got popped. I know they made you part human and part animal. That’s really about it except for how you guys have your own Homeland down south near Los Angeles and how you opened