Best Friends (New Species Book 15) Read online

  Snow roughly did so, glaring at the masked human. Once Brass was in place, he lifted off the human, getting in his face, and tore off the hood.

  The unfamiliar male was about thirty, had swelling and raw scratches to his face, and sported some bandages. Snow grinned in satisfaction. Mel had hurt him.

  The human’s dark eyes widened with fear. “I have the wrong apartment. This was a joke between me and my girlfriend, Sheila. You know. It’s a sex thing. She gets off on the burglar fantasy.”

  “Shut up,” Brass growled. “Stupid human. I take it Mel has good aim. She said she nailed you with some plates and glasses to your face.” Brass frisked the front of him, pulling plastic zip-ties from the male’s pockets.

  Snow snarled at the sight of them. “Were those meant for my female?” He wanted to tear the human apart.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” the human lied.

  Brass stood, reached down, and grabbed the human by the front of his shirt and his throat, lifting him. Timber grabbed his other arm, yanking it back roughly, and snapped on the other cuff.

  “Go let your female know it’s safe and we have him,” Brass ordered Snow.

  He hesitated.

  Brass clasped his shoulder. “I understand wanting to hurt this male. I do. But we need answers. He can’t give them if you break his scrawny neck. Go to your female and tell Torrent to keep watch in the living room. We’re not expecting another idiot to arrive, but it’s best to be cautious.”

  Snow gave a sharp nod, leaving the bedroom. Mel was his priority. He could hurt the male who’d attacked her later, after the NSO learned what they needed to know. He met Torrent’s gaze where the male stood in the living room down the hall and gave a sharp nod.

  Torrent grinned and lifted his cell phone to his ear. He was in contact with Reservation. They had two teams waiting in SUVs a few blocks away.

  Snow opened the bathroom door and flipped on the light. Mel was inside the tub, curled into a ball.

  “We got him.” He rushed forward, helping her stand. He lifted her over the edge of the tub, hugging her. “You did damage his face.”

  “I want to see him.”

  “Later.” He breathed her in, refusing to let her go.

  She clung to him. “I’m just so glad this worked.”

  “It did. You’re a very smart female.”

  She sniffed, sounding emotionally overwrought. “Vermin are pests, no matter where you live.”

  He chuckled. She was too damn cute.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Mel woke to Snow kissing her forehead. She opened her eyes, immediately smiling at the sight of him. His hair was a little mussed and his beautiful blue eyes were locked on her. His hand gently caressed her cheek.

  “Brass called. They have finished interrogating the male. We’re to meet downstairs in ten minutes.”

  That information brought her fully awake.

  After her intruder had been captured, they’d all returned to Reservation. She’d packed some clothing, since Snow insisted on her staying with him until they figured out what was going on and if she was still in danger. She’d been too exhausted to argue. Once they reached Snow’s place, they’d both stripped naked and cuddled. She’d fallen asleep right away.

  “Did he say anything else?”

  Snow shook his head. “Let’s get ready.” He pulled away, getting out of bed. He wore sweatpants, indicating she’d slept longer than he had.

  Mel shoved back the covers and padded into the bathroom. Once she’d used the toilet and splashed water on her face, brushed her teeth, she returned to the bedroom. Snow waited, now wearing a shirt, too. He’d placed her bag on the end of the bed. She chose some comfy cotton stretch pants and an oversized long-sleeved shirt.

  “Don’t bother with the bra.”

  She turned her head, arching her eyebrows at him.

  He grinned. “Species females don’t wear them unless they are working out or training. Free your beautiful breasts.”

  She laughed at that. “Fine.” She dressed quickly, putting on slip-on shoes.

  Snow led the way downstairs and to the same conference room they’d used for their meeting the day before. The smell of food hit her as they stepped inside the double doors. Brass, Timber, Torrent, and a male she hadn’t met before but recognized waited inside for the two of them.

  Mel halted, openly gawking at Jaded Wild. She’d seen him plenty of times on the news, and his pictures were splashed on magazine covers at the checkout lines in grocery stores.

  Snow wrapped his arm around her waist and drew her closer. “He doesn’t bite.”

  “I know. I mean, it’s Jaded Wild. The Jaded Wild.” Mel sealed her lips, realizing she was babbling.

  The handsome feline man in question grinned and came forward. “Humans have made me a big deal in your world but I’m just a normal Species.” He held out his hand.

  Mel lifted hers, hating that it trembled. She’d never met a celebrity before. He gently shook her hand and then stepped back after releasing her, his gaze leaving her to stare at Snow. “Your female is adorable.” Then he looked down at her and winked. “Thank you for not screaming. Some of your females do that when they meet me now. It hurts my ears.”

  Mel gave a sharp nod, keeping quiet. She didn’t want to embarrass herself or Snow by saying something she’d regret. Jaded Wild was in the same room as her! He wore jeans and a button-down silky black shirt. She couldn’t help but glance down, noticing his bare feet. Every time she’d seen him in pictures or on the news, he usually wore tuxedos or nice suits with dress shoes.

  “Let’s sit. I had the kitchen staff bring us breakfast.” Brass waved a hand at the long table.

  Snow took a seat to her immediate left. The center of the table had been set up buffet style with pancakes, bacon, sausage, toast, hash browns, scrambled eggs, and pitchers of juice, milk, and coffee.

  Mel felt too nervous to eat but Snow quickly filled her a plate and placed it in front of her. He even poured her some milk, remembering that she liked it. He was the first to speak.

  “What did you learn from the male?”

  Brass had taken a bite of pancakes but paused.

  Jaded cleared his throat across the table. “Justice can’t leave Homeland right now. Since I’m the other Species who must dress up in suits and ties to be paraded around the humans like I’m part of a dog and pony show, they figured you’d feel sorry enough for me to remain calm…and possibly forgiving. You won’t like what you’re about to hear.”

  Snow softly growled.

  Jaded sipped his coffee. “The male’s name is Darren Barrow. He’s somehow related to one of the males who shot Wind.” He glanced at Brass.

  “His half-brother,” Brass stated.

  Jaded nodded. “Darren said he got a message on his phone from that male, telling him what he was about to do. Darren was at work and didn’t hear it until after his shift ended later that evening. His half-brother actually admitted he was about to kill eight New Species who’d shown up at the diner and gave his location. He wanted to warn his Darren that he would be on the news later that night.”

  “Darren said they aren’t overly close but when he tried to call Brad back—that’s the male who shot Wind—it went to voicemail over and over. And nothing was on the news.” Torrent paused. “He drove here from Arizona searching for his half-sibling. He swears he had no prior knowledge of what they planned to do.”

  “He claims it shocked him that Brad would want to kill our kind,” Timber grumbled. “I’m not sure I believe that part but we’ve found no proof that he hated Species so far. We’re running background checks now but what information we have indicates no history of violence. Darren couldn’t find Brad, since we have both males in custody. That’s when he decided to go after the waitresses who were working that shift at the time his brother had left him the message.” Timber met Mel’s gaze. “He was afraid to call the NSO, since it’s known we trace all incoming calls. He says