True Read online

  “Fuck,” the guy on the carpet groaned. “Security. Get to True’s place now.”

  She wasn’t sure if he used a radio or a cell phone to call for help. She couldn’t look away as the two New Species exchanged punches. The sound was horrific as their fists made contact with flesh. True had Flirt pinned in the damaged wall. His ass and part of his back was actually inside the hole they’d created but his arms were free enough to hit back.

  “Stop it!” She realized she’d been the one to yell.

  They ignored her. Flirt managed to brace his body and shoved True away. He stumbled but regained his balance. Flirt jerked out of the wall, chunks of white crumbling to the carpet as he straightened. They snarled at each other and lunged forward at the same time. Their bodies slammed together hard, clawed hands tearing into flesh. Bright-red blood appeared on their skin.

  Jeanie had to break up the fight, not caring that it would be dangerous. Flirt grabbed True’s throat in a move to choke him. True responded by bending his arm, throwing it forward with all his strength behind it and ramming his forearm into his opponent’s face. The feline’s head snapped back, blood exploding from his nose.

  “STOP!” She rushed forward but a hand snagged her ankle. The air was knocked from her lungs when she hit the carpet on her belly. It took a few seconds to gasp in a breath. She used her arms to push her chest from the floor and look over her shoulder, ignoring the dull ache of her injury that throbbed from the impact with the floor. Tiger had tripped her.

  “Don’t,” he warned. “Stay away from them.”

  She tried to kick free of his hold, desperate. “Let go.”

  “You’ll get hurt.”

  She didn’t care. True and Flirt had separated enough to exchange punches again. Blood marred both their arms where they’d been clawed and it ran down Flirt’s face. His nose looked broken. True’s mouth had taken a hit if the bright red smeared over his lips and chin was any indication. The sounds of blows hitting flesh made her wince.

  “Stop them,” she pleaded, looking away from the fight, unable to watch anymore. Her gaze locked on Tiger. “Do something.”

  “I am. I’m keeping you safe until help…” he paused, cocking his head as if he heard something, “arrives.”

  Four New Species burst into the bedroom. Two of them wore uniforms but two didn’t. A big blond male in a pair of black boxers grabbed Flirt when he stumbled back after True’s fist slammed into his chest. The new guy wrapped his arms around Flirt from behind and yanked him off his feet. One of the uniformed security officers grabbed his flailing legs, suspending him midair between them. He struggled but couldn’t get away.

  The New Species sporting a pair of sweats and a tank top prevented True from attacking Flirt again by grabbing his arm, spinning him around and shoving him against a wall. The second uniformed New Species helped keep True pinned there as they whispered words at him she couldn’t hear.

  “Never get between aggressive males.” Tiger released her ankle. “Especially if you’re what they are fighting over.” He sat up. “You’re a troublemaker, Jeanie Shiver.”

  “This isn’t my fault.” She looked away from him to check on True. The two New Species prevented her from seeing much but he didn’t appear to be struggling to break free any longer. She should stand but hesitated when a deep rumble reached her ears. It was something she couldn’t identify and had never heard before.

  A tall black-haired male stomped into the room, the source of the sound. A chill crept up her spine as she studied him. The New Species stopped making the disturbing noise but it didn’t make him any less fearsome. He was good-looking but there was something sinister about him. She could just sense it deep down as if he threw off vibes screaming “predator” and “danger”.

  The room grew eerily silent and the hairs along her arms rose. The dark-haired News Species slowly assessed the room with his icy gaze until it lingered on her. He frowned, not something she took as a good sign, before he turned away to stride closer to Flirt. He stopped a few feet away.

  “It’s about time you got here, Darkness. You took responsibility for this. Handle it.” Tiger got to his feet and paused next to Jeanie, offering her a hand. “Allow me to help you up.”

  Jeanie put her hand in his, using her other one to keep the shirt from exposing the fact that she wore nothing under it as he pulled her to her feet. Her healing wound pulled a little internally but she doubted any real damage had been done. Her legs felt a little shaky but they held her weight. Tiger released her.

  Darkness ignored Tiger, addressing the New Species holding Flirt off the floor instead. “Put him down.”

  Both males deposited their burden on the carpet and backed away. Jeanie noticed no one made eye contact with Darkness and in fact, didn’t seem comfortable being near him. Flirt climbed to his feet and put a hand over his bleeding nose to pinch the bridge of it to stop the blood.

  “Go to Medical,” Darkness ordered.

  Flirt didn’t move. “I’ll leave if I can take her with me.”

  “She stays here.” True sounded pissed.

  “She’s not yours,” Flirt snapped. He began to circle around Darkness to reach True.

  Darkness made that disturbing, low rumble.

  Flirt stopped, retreated to where he’d originally stood and released his nose to wipe the blood covering his hand on the side of his pants. “He has no claim to her. She saved my life, too, Darkness.”

  “She’s mine to protect.” True’s rage seemed to be growing worse, judging by his harsh snarl. “He can’t have her. I’ll kill him if he tries to take her.”

  Darkness slowly turned, his scary gaze finding Jeanie. A sense of dread pitted inside her stomach and she took a step back. The guy was seriously unsettling.

  “Let me go,” True demanded. “Jeanie? Come to me.”

  She would have done it if her feet didn’t feel glued to the floor as Darkness stared at her without blinking. Her heart pounded and her mouth turned dry. There was nothing she wanted more than to run to True and hide behind him if it meant feeling safe, something she lacked at that moment.

  “Species shouldn’t kill each other.” Darkness paused. “Decide now before one of them dies. You may stay with True, go with Flirt, or I’ll return you to Medical where guards will be assigned to watch over you. Answer me now. We’ve lost enough of our people because of humans and I refuse to allow it to happen again.”

  “True,” she managed to get out.

  The second he turned away, she could breathe normally again.

  “You heard the female,” Darkness calmly stated. “She chose True. Flirt, get your ass to Medical and you’re banned from this floor while she’s here. There will be no more fighting or it will be against me. I’d hate to ever kill another one of our males but I’ll do it. Am I clear? No female who picks another male is worth the loss of your life.”

  Flirt refused to look at her as he gave a sharp nod, spun on his heel and marched out of the room. Jeanie watched him go, filled with sadness. They’d once been close but she felt as if she’d somehow let him down. It didn’t make any sense that he’d attack True. Did he think she was in danger? She could understand his desire to protect her after she’d done the same thing for him at Drackwood.

  Darkness crossed the room and both New Species released True and stepped out of the way. “Do papers need to be sent here?”

  True didn’t answer.

  Darkness remained quiet for at least half a minute. “Figure it out and don’t forget we need answers from that female. You should know all the facts before you make a decision. I would hate to see you hurt.”

  “I understand,” True acknowledged.

  “Good.” He turned his head, studying the damaged wall. “Please ask first before you remodel your home. I’ll notify someone that you need a few panels of drywall to repair that unless you just kick out the other side to open up the space. You might want to get someone to look at it first. The damage might be structural.”