Darkness Read online

  She hesitated, almost wishing that were true. Darkness would never call to ask her back. He’d made it clear they were over. The urge to cry returned. “He won’t. I breached protocol while I was undercover. I fucked up, Missy. I could lose my job and right now I don’t even think I care.”

  Her friend reached out and took her hand. “Could you face criminal charges?”

  “I don’t think so. Not unless my boss wants to make up stuff just to get a little payback. I wouldn’t put it past him. I’m supposed to still be on assignment but I didn’t call in to tell him I left. I just needed a few days to get my head on straight.”

  “You were starting to hate your job. You know that, right? Ever since you got the dickhead for a boss you’ve been miserable.” Missy took a deep breath. “You know you can trust me with your life. Talk to me. You need to get this off your chest or it’s going to eat you up. It won’t go any further.”

  Kat debated. She needed to tell someone. “I was sent to Homeland.”

  Missy squealed. “You went there! Oh my god!”

  “Shush.”

  “Sorry. Go on.”

  “I can’t go into detail but the guy was a New Species.”

  Missy yanked her hand free and clasped it over her heart. “You nailed a New Species?”

  “Stop that.”

  “Just tell me.”

  She nodded.

  Missy grabbed her. “I hate you right now. No, I love you. I do. Was he good in bed? Don’t crush me.”

  “A 15 on the 1-to-10 scale.”

  “I knew it.” Missy grinned. “You lucky bitch.”

  “Did I mention I won’t ever see him again?”

  Her joy faded fast. “Shit. He won’t be coming to our door, will he? They don’t leave that place.” She rubbed Kat’s arm. “I’m so sorry. What a bastard. I will never go all fan-girl over them again.”

  “Don’t be so dramatic. It wasn’t as if he didn’t tell me it was only sex. I just didn’t expect to feel so much and I really screwed up with my job because it pitted me against him. I chose him in the end.”

  “I heard the NSO is kind of like a different country. I don’t think you sleeping with one is illegal and it wasn’t technically on US soil. I think you’re in the clear on that breach-of-conduct thing. I mean, you couldn’t be fired if you went on a trip to Mexico and hooked up with a resident there. You’re allowed to have sex.”

  “I was on the job and I shared information with him that I shouldn’t have.”

  “That’s bad.”

  “I know. Robert Mason is going to have my ass if he finds out.”

  “What are the chances of that?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “I’m getting the chocolate and the vodka.” Missy rose. “Right now.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Then you’re going to give me more details.”

  “You can’t use it in a book.”

  “Damn.” Missy narrowed her eyes. “That was me kidding. Think of this room like Vegas. What is said here, stays here.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Best friends forever, remember? I’m just glad you’re talking to me. You hold too much in, Kat. I worry about you all the time.”

  * * * * *

  Darkness slammed his front door. Kat had left Homeland. He’d reviewed the footage from Security. She’d hailed a cab after exiting the front gates. Justice and Fury had asked him why she’d left and he’d had to tell them something. He’d shared what she’d told him about the other agents but made it clear it could get her in trouble. He’d even volunteered the information that they’d argued. He just didn’t tell them about what.

  He walked over to the couch and sat, slamming his boots on the coffee table. The wood creaked and he leaned to the side to stare at the new crack along the top.

  “Fuck.”

  He hated feeling as if he’d betrayed her trust. The agents who had posed as workers to fix the damaged front gates hadn’t been able to do anything more. The humans had peered around a lot, their interest too intense, but hadn’t attempted to leave the job site. He should have kept his mouth shut. Guilt and regret ate at him. So did another emotion. He’d never see her again and it left an empty space inside him.

  He leaned back and closed his eyes, adjusting his arm along the side cushion. Something crinkled and he shifted, opening his eyes. A sheet of paper protruded from under the cushion. He pulled it out. It was from a notebook he kept on the kitchen counter to write down grocery lists when he ran low on supplies. The handwriting wasn’t his. He read it and cursed.

  Jerry Boris. You trusted me. I’m trusting you. K

  She must have written it when he’d gone into the bedroom to get her something to wear. He stared at the name, enraged. Why would the FBI be interested in Jerry Boris? It raised all kinds of questions and alarms.

  He jerked his feet off the table and stood. He paced the living room, gripping the note in his fist. She’d be in trouble for giving him that information. Otherwise she would have given it up in the bedroom. Why had she?

  He stopped and smoothed out the paper, rereading. It angered him. Why couldn’t she have just told him once she decided to share the name? I would have tried to get more answers from her. I would have insisted she stay longer. She’d intended the note be found only after she left Homeland.

  “Damn it,” he hissed.

  He walked over to the counter and snatched up the phone and dialed Fury’s extension. The male answered on the third ring.

  “Fury here.”

  “I’m in over my head and I need help.”

  “Darkness?”

  “Who else would call you to say those words?”

  “Where are you?”

  “At home.”

  “I’ll be right there.”

  “Thank you.” He hung up and resumed his pacing.

  Fury must have left his office as soon as he hung up. The knock on the door came faster than expected. Darkness jerked it open and stepped to the side, allowing the male to enter his home. Fury’s nose flared and he turned, a speculative look in his eyes.

  “What?”

  “You need to open some windows.”

  “Shit.”

  “You had sex with the FBI agent. You didn’t tell us about that. I can still smell her. It’s faint but I can pick it up.”

  “Put your canine nose away.”

  “Is this the cause of the disagreement you had with her?”

  “Did you come to help me or to be annoying?”

  Fury spun and walked over to the couch. He sniffed and then sat. “What can I do?”

  Darkness crossed the room and took a seat on the coffee table. He hesitated, not sure where to start or what would help.

  “You want her back?”

  Darkness scowled.

  “You think you’re the only male who allowed a female to walk away and then regretted it? Should I make a list of names that come to mind? I could remind you about my history with Ellie.”

  “Spare me. I’m not like other males.”

  “Bullshit. You mounted her. That says it all. Do you think I don’t make it my business to keep tabs on you? You wouldn’t have let her get that close unless you couldn’t refrain from giving in to your desire to have her. You think you’re different but few males actually want to find themselves dependant on a female. They fight it. It’s Species nature in most cases.”

  “That’s bullshit.”

  Fury smirked. “We have trust issues. It’s tough to admit we need or want anyone enough to risk pain. That’s a common thread all Species share. Did you fall in love with her? Do you want us to get her back?”

  “No.”

  Fury didn’t look convinced.

  It annoyed Darkness. “I don’t want her to pay for trusting me.”

  “You do have feelings.”

  “I admire her and don’t want her to be hurt because she took risks for me.”

  “We went over this. It’s not as if we’re going