Wrath Read online

  Lauren hesitated and decided to just tell her friend the truth. “I didn’t peek while you were changing. I’ve showered with him.”

  “No! Get out! You’re lying just to make me jealous.”

  “We spent last night together.”

  Amanda let her eyes roam up and down the man on the pink inflatable mattress. Her gaze returned to Lauren. “You are my hero, girlfriend.”

  Lauren stood and entered the kitchen. “I’m getting hungry. How about you?”

  The doorbell rang. Lauren instantly felt fear as she spun and her gaze flew to Amanda’s. “What if it’s the jerks from my work?” she whispered.

  Amanda hesitated, paled, and whispered back, “How would they know where I live?”

  “We work in real estate. Duh! We do title searches all the time.”

  “Do they know my last name?”

  Lauren shrugged.

  Amanda rose to her feet and tiptoed closer to the door. “I’ll peek.”

  Lauren grabbed the largest knife in the kitchen and a rolling pin. She ran for the door too, ready to do battle if they tried to break down the door to steal Wrath. Amanda frowned and glanced at the things Lauren gripped in her hands, before rising up to peek out the tiny hole in the door. Amanda jumped back, spun, and looked terrified as she met Lauren’s gaze.

  “Two really large men wearing all black with sunglasses are out there. They look huge,” she whispered.

  “Lauren Henderson?” The male outside spoke loudly. “You called the NSO. We are here as you requested. We know you aren’t a crazy female anymore and we’ve come for our male. Will you please allow us in to see Wrath? We mean you no harm.”

  Lauren eased closer to the door, rose on tiptoe and peered through the tiny hole. The two men were really large but the glasses and prominent bone structure assured her they weren’t trying to trick her. She dropped back.

  Amanda gave her a questioning look.

  Lauren nodded at her. “Let them in.”

  Amanda shook her head. “Did I mention they are really badass looking and huge?”

  “Open the door. Damn it, Amanda. Wrath needs help.”

  “Fine but I am going to annoy the shit out of you in the afterlife if you get us killed.”

  Lauren rolled her eyes. Amanda unlocked the door and slowly opened it. She jumped back, almost tripped, as two very tall, wide men wearing all black stepped into the room. They had long hair, down past their shoulders, and were wearing identical sunglasses. They closed the door behind them.

  One of them frowned and slowly reached up to remove his sunglasses. Lauren was shocked when she met a pair of catlike eyes. He blinked at her before his attention dropped to her hands.

  “Are you going to cut us or try to beat on us with those?”

  Lauren realized she was still holding the knife and wooden rolling pin. She flushed and put them down on the nearest table. “I’m sorry. We were afraid you were the men from my work. Wrath is over there.” She pointed.

  They had to walk around the couch to see the unconscious Species. The man who’d spoken to Lauren suddenly laughed. “Is that a pink castle?”

  “It’s my niece’s,” Amanda admitted. “She loves to sleep in my room so I bought her that. It’s got a princess under him.”

  The man grinned. “I’m Flame and this is Slash.”

  Slash was as tall as Flame, about six foot three, but he had streaked, light-brown hair with silver highlights. He removed his glasses. He had the same catlike eyes and they were an odd shade of blue. The man nodded at Lauren and Amanda.

  “What happened?” Flame focused on Amanda.

  “Talk to her. I’m just the getaway driver. I didn’t know what he was or I might have at least bitched more on the drive here but she’s my best friend so what else could I do? She said to drive and I put the pedal to the metal.”

  Flame turned to Lauren. She quickly explained everything that had happened and retrieved the dart she’d saved, handing it to Flame.

  “This was what they stuck him with. I kept it in case you could test it to tell what drug they used.”

  Flame took the dart and sniffed it. He cursed. He dug out a cell phone and quickly dialed someone. “We need a helicopter out here now. Wrath has been tranquilized with a heavy dose of sedative and a paralyzing agent. There’s a park half a block from here. We’ll meet it there.” He hung up and stared deeply into Lauren’s eyes. “You did really good, human female. The sedative lasts longer with the paralyzing agent. It’s a trick those bastards discovered to stop our bodies from working through their drugs as quickly. His heart could stop if they overdosed him.”

  Lauren nodded. “Will he be all right?” She was worried.

  Flame nodded. “I believe so. His breathing is steady and strong. Grab some clothing quickly. We are taking you with us.”

  “But—” Lauren started.

  “Let me grab my bag,” Amanda said at the same time. Amanda shot Lauren a dirty look. “They want to take us with them. Be a friend, shut your mouth and let’s grab some clothes.”

  Lauren frowned.

  “Duh! Hunky guys. Move your ass, Lauren.” Amanda was already turning, running for the stairs. “Don’t leave without me!”

  Lauren glanced at Flame and couldn’t miss his shocked expression or widened eyes.

  “Did she say hunky guys?”

  Lauren sighed. “She’s single and looking.”

  Flame frowned. “Looking for what?”

  “She doesn’t have a man in her life and she wants one. You’re both men.”

  Flame relaxed and laughed. “Oh.”

  Slash made a weird noise. “What does she want one of us for?”

  Flame grinned. “She’s looking for a mate.”

  Slash shook his head. “Not me. Females are trouble and I don’t want a mate.”

  Flame chuckled. “One wouldn’t want you either.” He stared at Lauren. “The helicopter will be arriving in fifteen minutes and we must leave here in seven to meet it. You may want a spare set of clothing.”

  Lauren ran upstairs to find Amanda in a fit of packing. Lauren shook her head, staring at three open suitcases on the bed and her friend tossing clothes at them.

  “Put the cocktail dress down. We’re leaving in a helicopter and that means one bag.”

  “But I have to look good. Did you see the both of them?” Amanda fanned herself. “So hot.”

  “They either fit you inside the helicopter or all those bags you’re packing. How badly do you want to leave with them?”

  Amanda hesitated. “Right. I can do one bag.” Her voice lowered. “Who knows. Maybe I won’t need any clothes.” She winked. “Dibs on the talker. He’s got the deepest, sexiest voice, and did you see those eyes? Meow! I totally want to rub him.”

  Lauren lowered her voice too. “They have really good hearing and he probably just heard what you said.”

  “Then he knows how I really feel. Life is too short not to go after something you want. I’ve learned that.”

  “I know you have. Let me help you. One spare outfit, something to sleep in and we should be good.”

  “You can borrow whatever.”

  “Thanks.”

  They returned downstairs and Lauren immediately went to Wrath’s side to check on him. He was breathing slowly and deeply, his coloring was good, but he still didn’t rouse. She was really worried about him. She turned her head to find both Flame and Slash a few feet away watching her intently.

  Flame stepped forward. “I’ll take Wrath. Please don’t try to run. You will be safer with us than staying here. The people who shot him may be looking for him.”

  “Oh, we won’t run,” Amanda assured sincerely as she smiled up at him. “Try to lose me—it won’t happen. I don’t want to leave your side.”

  Flame grinned. “I like you, female. You are direct.”

  “That’s me.” Amanda winked. “Direct and single but you could change that.”

  Lauren stood and allowed the other man